NABERS for Apartment Buildings

NABERS for apartment buildings Increase your property value with a NABERS rating

The introduction of NABERS for Apartment Buildings In June 2018 NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) for Apartment Buildings was launched.

NABERS rates the energy and water efficiency of a building’s common property. NABERS for Apartment Buildings ratings are awarded using a six-star scale, borne out of the success of the NABERS Commercial Building Disclosure Program which started about 20 years ago.

A NABERS rating allows owners, strata managers, building managers and investors to benchmark the efficiency of a strata building regarding its use of energy and water for normal operations, against similar buildings across Australia.

Ratings are conducted by a qualified assessor who are authorised by the National Administrator, on behalf of the Federal Government.

The importance of having a NABERS rating NABERS’s aim is to slow down the heating of the planet and minimise water wastage. To date, NABERS have assisted commercial buildings to achieve the following:

Reduce emissions by an average of 11.5% per building

Increase water efficiency by an average of 9% per building, saving a total of 1,100 megalitres of water each year

In addition to this, buildings with a higher NABERS rating have increased market value and has allowed owners to attract the right tenants because high performing buildings generally support high performing businesses.

Save over $350 million in energy bills since 2010

The NABERS rating process enables committees to: • • •

Investing in a NABERS for Apartment Buildings rating gives strata committees a true representation of how a building’s common property is performing based on a six-star rating energy efficiencies scale, where three is average and six is market leading.

Demonstrate the building’s operational value Understand what improvements are needed to unlock potential savings Create a sense of community and contribute to a sustainable future.

The advantages of having a NABERS rating: •

Increased market value

•

Attract the right tenants

•

Increased rental income

•

Reduced vacancy rates

•

Reduced operating costs

How to qualify Minimum requirements For a building to be eligible to participate in a NABERS for Apartment Buildings assessment, the property must be a registered strata plan and contain multiple apartments in a configuration that includes: •

At least four apartments in total; and,

•

At least two apartments stacked vertically; and,

•

One or more points of entrance to the scheme footprint that serve more than one apartment.

These apartments must be lived in during the rating period. This ensures there is sufficient common property usage to be rated.

For the purposes of NABERS for Apartment Buildings an apartment is defined as a self-contained unit of accommodation comprising of a kitchen, sleeping, living and bathroom facilities within a building that contains many such residential dwellings.

The following details must be available for an assessment to take place: Bills of electricity, gas and water

As-built drawings of architectural,

Building operations manual (where

from the last 12 months and for all

lift, electrical, hydraulic and

applicable) that include:

accounts that are paid for by the

mechanical services. Specifically:

owners corporation •

Registered strata plan/strata management statement

•

Floor plans of each service

•

Schematic diagrams of each service

•

Equipment schedules that includes specification for each piece of equipment

•

An executive summary of each service system installed in the building

•

Operation hours of common areas such as a pool and gym etc.

Assessment criteria Facilities that are assessed include:

Lifts and lobby areas

Car parks

Gyms

Pools

Gardens

All lighting in common areas

A star rating is calculated using a benchmark that fairly compares the energy and water performance of an apartment building to others in the Australian market.

1 STAR

2 STARS

3 STARS

4 STARS

5 STARS

6 STARS

poor

below average

average

good

excellent

market leading

It is not uncommon to get a poor or below average rating after the first assessment. Should this occur NABERS for Apartment Buildings does not require the building to disclose the rating publicly.

Assessment process 1

Contact one of PICA Group’s accredited NABERS for Apartment Building assessors

2

Once successfully engaged, your PICA Group NABERS for Apartment Building assessor will work with your strata committee to compile data, visit your property and calculate your building’s rating

3

Your assessor will submit the property’s rating application to the technical team at NABERS

4

NABERS staff will review, verify and certify your buildings rating

5

Finally, NABERS for Apartment Buildings will issue your strata committee with an electronic rating certificate, valid for 12 months.

With your PICA Group NABERS for Apartment Buildings Assessor you can discuss strategies on how to improve your buildings rating.

Book your assessment: Visit www.picagroup.com.au/nabers

Fee options The fee consists of a lodgement fee (NABERS administration fee) and rating fees by an accredited assessor.

Lodgement fee (NABERS administration fee) Until 30 June 2019 (50% discount) Apartment buildings

Single (energy or water)

Combined (energy or water)

$595

$841

Single (energy or water)

Combined (energy or water)

$1,189

$1,681

Lodgement fee (including GST)

From 1 July 2019 Apartment buildings Lodgement fee (including GST)

Rating fee inclusions The rating fee is for the following items:

Collection and compilation of data, including record keeping

Physical inspection of the building, including photography

Calculation of the rating

Submission of the rating application to NABERS

Option 1 - Rating fee for combined services (energy AND water)

A building that has Combined services

more than 50 and less than 100 lots

more than 100 and less than 300 lots

more than 300 lots

$200

$200

$200

$400 (4 hrs)

$600 (6 hrs)

$900 (9 hrs)

$1,200 (8 hrs)

$1,800 (12 hrs)

$2,100 (14 hrs)

$100

$100

$100

$1,900

$2,700

$3,300

$950

$1,350

$1,650

$1,900

$2,700

$3,300

more than 50 and less than 100 lots

more than 100 and less than 300 lots

more than 300 lots

$200

$200

$200

Physical inspection

$200 (2 hrs)

$300 (3 hrs)

$450 (4.5 hrs)

Calculation of the rating

$600 (4 hrs)

$900 (6 hrs)

$1,050 (7 hrs)

$100

$100

$100

$1,100

$1,500

$1,800

$550

$750

$900

$1,100

$1,500

$1,800

Collection and compilation of data Physical inspection Calculation of the rating Submission of the application Total (including GST) Until 30 June 2019 (50% discount) From 1 July 2019

Option 2 - Rating fee for single services (energy OR water)

A building that has Single services

Collection and compilation of data

Submission of the application Total (including GST) Until 30 June 2019 (50% discount) From 1 July 2019

nabers@picagroup.com.au www.picagroup.com.au/nabers The information provided is a general guide only, and is not intended as a substitute for legal advice. The company disclaims all responsibility and liability for any expenses, losses, damages and costs which might be incurred as a result of the information provided by the company. Last updated in January 2019.