NABERS

What NABERS does

NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) is a national government rating program founded in 1999 and administered by the NSW Government on behalf of the Federal, State, and Territory governments of Australia. The program measures and benchmarks the environmental performance of buildings and tenancies using a 1-6 star rating system grounded in actual operational data (rather than design estimates) across five metric families: Energy, Water, Waste, Indoor Environment, and (more recently) Embodied Carbon and Renewable Energy. NABERS rates 100% of Australia's office space and serves ten additional vertical markets — data centres, hotels, shopping centres, apartment buildings, public hospitals, retail stores, schools, residential aged care, warehouses and cold stores, and retirement living — plus an Energy Performance Indicator product for smaller sectors. International operations NABERSNZ (since 2012, licensed to EECA and administered by NZGBC) and NABERS UK (since November 2020, administered by CIBSE) extend the model into New Zealand and the United Kingdom respectively.

The core technology stack consists of sector-specific rating calculators, the NABERS Perform Platform (for rating submission and quality assurance), the NABERS Waste Platform (month-to-month waste data visualization), a public NABERS API (launched April 2026) for programmatic access to rating calculations and the rating register, and a Rating Register database of all current public ratings. Ratings are delivered exclusively through a network of 362 NABERS Accredited Assessors across Australia, who conduct physical assessments, verify data, and submit ratings for government certification. NABERS ratings are embedded in adjacent frameworks — Climate Active Carbon Neutral certification (4+ star pathway), GBCA GreenStar Buildings (Embodied Carbon credit), IWBI WELL certification (crosswalk for IE ratings), and tourism schemes (EarthCheck, Ecotourism Australia, Green Key, plus Google Travel sustainability badges) — creating an ecosystem of cross-recognized certifications.

The revenue model combines: set NABERS Rating Lodgement Fees payable to the NSW Government (one-time, set regardless of sector or size); annual Assessor Accreditation Fees (subscription); Assessor Training Course fees (one-time, with NABERS Essentials currently free and Indigenous Training Discount at 50%); annual Waste Platform access fees; and API/data-request charges. Marketing and distribution are conducted through government channels, industry partnerships, a national assessor channel, the NABERS website, social media, newsletters, the annual NABERS Conference, and fact sheets. Notable commercial levers being deployed as of 2025 include a 50% small-building discount extended across all sectors and a 3-year 50% discount for new sectors post-launch, designed to accelerate penetration outside the saturated office segment. NABERS is not a privately held or venture-backed commercial entity — it is a public-sector program with no disclosed revenue, no funding rounds, and no parent company.

Name

NABERS

Legal name

National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS)

Website

https://nabers.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

NABERS is a government-administered national rating system (founded 1999) that benchmarks the operational energy, water, waste, indoor environment, and carbon performance of Australian buildings on a 1-6 star scale, serving building owners across offices and ten additional sectors via 362 accredited assessors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Environmental Rating Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Carbon Credit Ratings & Due Diligence (Quality Scoring, Integrity Assessments) (EUABADAF)

Keywords

• Building energy rating
• Environmental performance benchmarking
• Sustainability certification services
• Carbon neutral certification
• Green building assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Parramatta

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. NABERS Rating Lodgement Fees: NABERS charges set lodgement fees for all ratings, payable to the NSW Government. These are set fees regardless of sector or building size. Additional fees apply for accreditation, training courses, and data requests.
2. Assessor Accreditation Fees: Annual accreditation fees for NABERS Accredited Assessors who perform ratings on behalf of building owners.
3. Training Courses: Revenue from Assessor training courses including NABERS 101, Energy & Water accreditations, and specialized training for different building types.
4. Waste Platform Access: Annual fee for access to the NABERS Waste Platform for buildings that want to use the platform without doing a full Rating or Verification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NABERS operates a national rating system that measures and benchmarks the environmental performance of Australian buildings and tenancies through independent, third-party verified star ratings (1-6 stars). The system covers energy efficiency, water usage, waste management, indoor environment quality, and embodied carbon, supported by software platforms including the NABERS Perform Platform, NABERS Waste Platform, NABERS API, and online rating calculators. Ratings are delivered exclusively through a national network of 362 NABERS Accredited Assessors.

Product overview

NABERS is a national government rating system managed by the NSW Government that provides sustainability measurement for Australian buildings across multiple sectors. The core offering consists of star-rated assessments (1-6 stars) covering Energy, Water, Waste, Indoor Environment, and Carbon Neutral certification. The portfolio includes specialized tools like the NABERS Energy Performance Indicator for smaller sectors, NABERS Embodied Carbon for upfront construction emissions, and the Renewable Energy Indicator for renewable energy tracking. Supporting infrastructure includes the NABERS API for programmatic access, the NABERS Perform Platform for rating submissions, the NABERS Waste Platform for waste data management, and various calculators and estimation tools. Additional programs include Co-Assess for combined building-tenancy ratings, Commitment Agreements for pre-construction energy commitments, and NABERS Accelerate for expanding into new building sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NABERS Energy Rating
• NABERS Water Rating
• NABERS Waste Rating
• NABERS Indoor Environment Rating
• NABERS Embodied Carbon Rating
• NABERS Energy Performance Indicator
• NABERS Renewable Energy Indicator
• Climate Active Carbon Neutral Certification
• NABERS API
• NABERS Perform Platform
• NABERS Waste Platform
• NABERS Rating Calculators
• NABERS Sustainable Portfolios Index
• NABERS Assessor Training and Accreditation
• NABERS Rating Register

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-40% energy reduction over 10 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• EarthCheckminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2025Tourism sustainability certification partnership. Hotels with NABERS ratings can use them toward EarthCheck certification.
• Ecotourism AustraliaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2025Tourism sustainability certification partnership. Hotels with NABERS ratings can use them toward Ecotourism Australia certification.
• Green KeyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2025Tourism sustainability certification partnership. Hotels with NABERS ratings can use them toward Green Key certification.
• CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2020CIBSE administers the NABERS UK scheme. The scheme is overseen by a steering committee comprising CIBSE, Better Buildings Partnership, and NABERS.
• EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2012EECA licensed NABERS to operate NABERSNZ in New Zealand. The scheme is administered by NZGBC with assessors trained in NZ.
• NZGBC (New Zealand Green Building Council)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2012NZGBC administers NABERSNZ for Energy ratings in New Zealand offices.
• Climate ActivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABERS has partnered with Climate Active to provide Carbon Neutral certification. Buildings with NABERS Energy ratings of 4+ stars can achieve Climate Active Carbon Neutral Building Certification through NABERS.
• Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GBCA for development of the Embodied Carbon rating tool. The tool is expected to be accepted for GreenStar Buildings tool and integrated into Climate Active Carbon Neutral Buildings Standard.
• Better Buildings PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based building efficiency partnership that acts as scheme ambassador for NABERS UK and has been integral to its development.
• International WELL Building InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABERS IE ratings can be used as inputs for WELL certification, recertification, and annual monitoring. Crosswalk document published for integration.
• Australasian Health Infrastructure Alliance (AHIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AHIA for development and operation of NABERS Energy and Water ratings for public hospitals.
• Infrastructure NSWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmbodied Carbon tool aligns with Infrastructure NSW and Infrastructure Australia guidelines.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Climate Active: Climate Active is the Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification scheme. NABERS Energy ratings of 4+ stars feed into Climate Active Carbon Neutral certification, creating a partner/competitor dynamic in the carbon neutral building market.
• EarthCheck: EarthCheck is a sustainability certification scheme for the tourism and hospitality sector. NABERS has a formal partnership with EarthCheck for hotels, making it both a partner and indirect competitor for sustainability certification in hospitality.

Regional players

• DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council): DGNB is Germany's comprehensive building certification system covering environmental, economic, and social quality. It is a regional peer operating in a different geography but pursuing comparable whole-of-building performance certification.
• CASBEE (Japan Sustainable Building Consortium): CASBEE is Japan's building environmental efficiency rating system covering energy, indoor environment, and resource efficiency. Comparable methodology to NABERS but operates regionally in Japan.

Direct peers

• BRE Group (BREEAM): BREEAM is the UK's leading building environmental assessment method, rating new and existing buildings across energy, water, waste, and indoor environment. It is the closest international functional analogue to NABERS and a direct competitor in NABERS UK.
• International WELL Building Institute (WELL): WELL focuses on indoor environment quality for buildings. NABERS Indoor Environment ratings formally cross-walk into WELL certification, making WELL a partial direct competitor and partner for IE-focused building owners.
• Green Building Council of Australia (Green Star): GBCA's Green Star is the Australian voluntary green building rating system. NABERS and Green Star are complementary in Australia (GBCA is a NABERS partner for the Embodied Carbon tool) but overlap in certifying new builds and existing building performance.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Green Building Council (LEED): LEED is the most widely used green building rating system globally, covering new construction, existing buildings, and interior fit-outs. While broader in scope than NABERS, it directly competes for developer attention and ESG certification budgets in commercial real estate.
• ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA): ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is the U.S. government's building energy benchmarking platform. It is the closest international government-administered analogue to NABERS Energy and competes conceptually for global operational benchmarking standards.

Others

• Bureau Veritas (Building Certification Services): Bureau Veritas is a global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) major with building sustainability verification services. It is adjacent to NABERS as a third-party verifier operating in similar asset certification and ESG assurance markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NABERS_AUS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3rQdKUHvww8S35kHT5VIbw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nabers

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NABERS