Why Is a High NABERS Rating Important, and How Can You Achieve It?
Sustainability is becoming an important aspect for the commercial property owners in Australia and one way of addressing this is through the NABERS rating.
The NABERS rating system measures building’s performance in energy, water, indoor environmental quality or waste as controlling factors. If you’re planning to enhance your NABERS rating, this article suggests several recommendations geared to property owners and building managers.
What Is a NABERS Rating?
In Australian context, the NABERS rating is an established and independent rating system. In this scheme, commercial buildings are rated on the environmental impact scale from 1 to 6 stars. Thus, the more NABERS rating stars are possessed by the building, the lower is its environmental impact, making it more attractive to future tenants and investors.
Core notable NABERS ratings include:
- NABERS Energy: Addresses the use of renewable energy sources and estimates greenhouse gas emissions originating from energy consumption.
- NABERS Water Rating: Focuses on water consumption, its management and recycling rate.
- NABERS Indoor Environment and Waste: Concentrates on the waste produced and the indoor environmental quality of a building.
Buildings are rated annually, providing property owners with a clear and actionable benchmark to drive improvements.
Why Is a High NABERS Rating Important?
It goes without saying that achieving and retaining a high NABERS rating brings along several benefits:
- Cost Saving: Saving in electric bills or operational costs come as a result of reduced energy and water consumption.
- Marketability: Eco-friendly structures are preferred by various investors. If your property possesses a high NABERS energy or water rating your property has a higher chance of sale.
- Regulatory Requirements: In Australia there are some states which require commercial buildings of a specific size to have NABERS ratings. For instance in NSW, properties measuring more than 1,000 square metres are obligated to reveal their NABERS energy rating while selling or leasing the properties.
- Reduced Global Warming: The more your NABERS score the lower the carbon emissions that your building produces which further aligns your business with Australia’s commitment towards attaining carbon-neutral status.
How Do I Improve My NABERS Rating?
Start With A Complete Evaluation Of Your Buildings Performance
Hire a registered NABERS assessor who will be able to conduct an extensive analysis of your building’s energy and water utilisation tendencies. This will enable you to formulate ideas to improve energy and water efficiency and boost NABERS water rating or energy scores.
Upgrade Energy Systems
- Lighting: Replace the conventional lighting fixtures with energy-efficient LEDs or motion-sensor lights.
- HVAC Systems: Upgrade your building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems so that have reduced energy requirements. It is important to make sure that there is a regular maintenance to stop loss of energy.
- Solar Energy : By investing in solar panels, you offset your dependence on non-renewable energy sources and may enhance your NABERS Energy rating.
Improve Water Management Strategies
- Smart Water Management: Use fixtures such as low-flow faucets and toilets to reduce unnecessary water consumption.
- Rainwater Management: Set up ways of saving rainwater for use in maintenance purposes or for activities that do not require potable water.
- Leak Detection: Conduct frequent checks on plumbing to see if there is leaking so as to save more water and boost the NABERS Water Rating.
Establish Monitoring Systems
Make use of smart devices and Building Management Systems to monitor the energy use and water use at any time of the day. This is useful data that will prompt changes when inefficiencies are detected.
Engage Tenants in Sustainability Efforts
Encourage the tenants to turn off appliances that are not being used and recycle water so that more energy and resources are saved. The overall environmental rating of the building will depend on how tenants use the space.
Get More Certifications as a Green Builder
Start working on getting more certifications such as a Green Star that fit in with the ideological principles of NABERS and might improve your building’s overall sustainability practices.
How Building Consultants Can Simplify the NABERS Rating Process?
For commercial property owners, navigating the complexities of the NABERS rating process can feel overwhelming. That’s where building consultants come in.
Professional Advice
Construction consultants are familiar with NABERS rating requirements and advice on compliance, energy, and upgrades to enhance your building performance.
Cost Effective Improvements
Consultants can propose changes that would be ideal for your building within its budget. Their experience within the industry allows them to ensure that any renovations meet the necessary requirements and standards.
Effortless Submission
Managing documents and communication with NABERS approved assessors consumes a lot of time. Building consultants assist in this making it easy and effective for submission, enhancing accuracy and timeliness of submissions.
Alternative Approaches To Maintenance And Supervision
Consultants may assist in installing systems such as dashboards, controls and other tools that facilitate performance management so that the building does not lose efficiency. This may even guarantee that the building is efficient at all times.
Being involved with such professionals also helps property owners shift their attention to the general operation of the business aspect while knowing their buildings will achieve and stay at the top of the NABERS system.
Conclusion
It is vital to understand that enhancing your NABERS rating is not only compliance with rules and regulations but it is also a long term investment into the sustainability and profitability of your property. Utilise building consultants and deploy energy and water-effective technologies to see tremendous improvements in your NABERS energy and NABERS water ratings respectively.
FAQs
How frequently can a NABERS assessment be carried out?
One NABERS assessment certificate stands valid for a period of twelve months. You need to renew your ratings every year to ensure consistent compliance with applicable laws and regulation.
Do all commercial buildings need to have a NABERS rating?
NABERS rating disclosure is not mandatory for all commercial buildings but some Australian states such as NSW requires this certificate for buildings measuring greater than one thousand square metres.
Is it possible to earn six-star NABERS rating stars without major renovations?
In most cases, six-star rated NABERS buildings have advanced energy and advanced water efficiency systems in place and follow best practice operational processes. Making such improvements can potentially upgrade your NABERS rating level.
