In December 2021, the NABERS National Steering Committee approved the development of a new indicator that will recognise and reward the generation and purchase of renewable energy.
It will provide clear and transparent information on the NABERS rating certificate on the proportion of renewable energy used in the building.
The Renewable Energy Indicator (REI) will be launched in 2023 and will be provided for free with every NABERS Energy rating certified.
To test this indicator and the associated documents, NABERS is launching a pilot program for 10 buildings to calculate their Renewable Energy Indicator and obtain a new certificate featuring their result.
About NABERS Renewable Energy Indicator
Once launched, the Renewable Energy Indicator will be included in every NABERS Energy rating. That means that the new indicator will be displayed on every NABERS Energy certificate.
The indicator will recognise the following sources of energy as renewable energy:
- Renewable electricity from the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target and other State/Territory-based renewable energy targets (for example the retirement of LGCs on behalf of consumers in the ACT)
- GreenPower purchases
- Voluntary renewable energy purchases (through voluntarily surrendered LGCs)
- Onsite renewable electricity generated from small-scale and large-scale systems (if LGCs generated have been surrendered)
Please note that the above information is only applicable to the Renewable Energy Indicator. There will be no changes to the way NABERS Energy ratings are calculated and how on-site renewable energy is treated in ratings.
After a two-year transition period, the indicator will eventually replace the NABERS Energy with GreenPower rating result. During the transition period, the NABERS Energy with GreenPower result will remain available in the rating report.
Pilot Program: Renewable Energy Indicator
NABERS ran a pilot program in April/May 2022 with 10 buildings. The pilot is now completed. The ruling that was used is available in the download box on this page.
Further information
If you have any questions about the REI please contact NABERS via email nabers@environment.nsw.gov.au.