Evaluating Building Sustainability

With the recent changes to the National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) emissions factors in 2021, building owners and operators are increasingly focused on reducing their carbon footprint. As the Australian property sector moves towards a more sustainable future, obtaining a higher NABERS energy star rating and reducing operating costs and emissions have become crucial goals.

Understanding NABERS and Green Building Council: In the realm of building sustainability, two primary organizations take the lead – NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) and the Green Building Council of Australia. Both organizations offer exceptional benchmarks for building owners to measure, report, and evaluate their energy efficiency. However, it’s important to understand the differences between these two systems and determine which one best suits your needs.

NABERS: Measuring Building Performance:

NABERS is a comprehensive rating system that assesses a building’s water, electricity, waste, energy usage, and indoor environment. It equips building owners and managers with the necessary tools to accurately measure the operational energy output of their facilities. The NABERS rating scale ranges from 1 to 6 stars, where a higher rating signifies better energy efficiency. A good NABERS rating not only enhances a building’s value but also highlights areas for energy reduction, leading to cost savings on power bills and improved working environments. Additionally, it is legally required to have a NABERS certificate for offices when leasing, subletting, or selling commercial spaces over 1000 square meters.

Benefits of NABERS: Evaluating your building’s energy efficiency annually through NABERS benchmarks allows you to identify potential savings opportunities, improve upon previous strategies, and set new goals for reducing your carbon footprint. This proactive approach ensures the long-term sustainability and optimal performance of your building while meeting high tenancy expectations. Moreover, having an accredited NABERS rating positions your building above competitors, signaling to the Australian property industry that your sustainable initiatives meet high standards.

What is Green Star?

The Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star is a rating tool used to determine the sustainability of a facility’s fit outs and designs. It measures a building’s sustainability involving the built environment; this can be during the design, construction or fit out stage. The Green Star also has six-star ratings: 1 being the lowest sustainability and 6 being world leading in sustainability. Having a Green Star rated building means building owners will follow the best sustainability standards with an asset designed to achieve high energy efficiency results. Green Star rated buildings produce around 55% less greenhouse gas emissions and send minimal waste to landfill during the building’s construction phase. Benefits Having a certified Green Star rating on your building’s design and fitouts will provide you the capability to ensure that your future operational costs will be low as your building is using less energy and producing less carbon. The sustainability of your building will also work to keep employees comfortable and satisfied with a workplace that is healthier for them and the environment. The Green Star rating will demonstrate your commitment to high social and corporate responsibility, giving your building a competitive advantage, increasing the value of your building. The difference? Both energy rating systems are tools for building owners and operators to reduce their carbon footprint and save costs on energy consumption. NABERS provide energy ratings based on the productivity and usage of the building, focusing on the operational energy output. While Green Star provides its star rating based on the level of sustainability of the facility’s built environment. Green Star measures the sustainability of the building’s design, while NABERS measures the sustainability of its operations. Both share the same advantages of improving your building’s productivity and reducing operational costs, as well as improving the morale of your building’s occupants while ensuring a more sustainable future to benefit the environment.

When it comes to evaluating and improving building sustainability, NABERS and the Green Building Council play significant roles. NABERS provides a comprehensive assessment of building performance, enabling owners and managers to optimize energy efficiency and reduce costs. By obtaining a NABERS rating, you not only enhance your building’s value but also demonstrate your commitment to sustainability in the Australian property market. Embrace these organizations and their frameworks to drive your building towards a greener and more sustainable future.