NABERS has expanded its Energy for Offices rating scheme to include both whole building and tenancy ratings. This move is significant as it provides a more comprehensive assessment of a building’s energy performance.
NABERS’ introduces 2 new rating systems
Previously, the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) Energy for Offices scheme only rated the energy performance of the base building systems, such as heating and cooling, lighting, and ventilation. However, the new scheme now also includes the energy performance of individual tenant spaces, including the use of energy-efficient equipment and practices.
The development helps to provide a more accurate picture of a building’s overall energy performance. This is because tenant energy use can account for a significant proportion of a building’s overall energy consumption. By including tenancy ratings, building owners and managers can now identify areas where improvements can be made and encourage tenants to adopt more sustainable practices.
The NABERS Energy for Offices scheme is being rolled out in the UK by the Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) and is already being used in Australia, where it has been successful in promoting energy efficiency in commercial buildings. The scheme has also been adopted in other countries, including New Zealand and Canada, further demonstrating its effectiveness.
What does this mean for building managers?
The expansion of the NABERS Energy for Offices scheme is an important step forward in promoting energy efficiency in commercial buildings. With buildings responsible for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential that we improve their energy performance to combat climate change.
NABERS Director Carlos Flores added: “Until recently, NABERS UK ratings had been restricted to buildings with highly sophisticated energy metering. This expansion makes a huge leap forward in terms of inclusivity in the scheme, providing an easy path for any office building to receive a NABERS UK Energy rating, even those with simpler metering arrangements. Building owners can now certify all their existing office buildings under NABERS UK, and use these to set improvement targets across their entire portfolios. It is an incredibly exciting moment for industry and the environment.”
How can Priva help?
Priva welcomes regulatory changes that improve building performance, reflecting its own ongoing commitment to finding innovative solutions that will increase the effectiveness and sustainability of buildings worldwide.
We look forward to working with commercial landlords, commercial real estate operators or managers who want to improve the performance of their buildings. If you’re looking to progress your energy journey, get in touch.
