How to Get NABERS Certification for Your Office Building

If you manage, own, or lease commercial office space in Australia, NABERS is a name you need to know. Pursuing NABERS Certification affects your property value, your legal obligations, your tenants’ expectations — and increasingly, your reputation. This guide explains what NABERS is, how to get certified, and one factor that facility managers often overlook: the role your commercial cleaning partner plays in your rating. Many owners also refer to this as a NABERS rating when discussing performance.

What Is NABERS?

NABERS stands for the National Australian Built Environment Rating System. Managed on behalf of the Commonwealth, State, and Territory governments by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, it is Australia’s national benchmark for measuring the environmental performance of buildings.

Using real-world operational data — utility bills, metering records, occupancy figures — NABERS produces a star rating from 1 to 6:

• 1 star — significant room for improvement
• 3 stars — average market performance
• 5 stars — market-leading performance
• 6 stars — best practice / industry leading

Unlike design-based ratings such as Green Star (which assess what a building is built to achieve), NABERS measures what a building actually does over a 12-month period. That makes it a far more honest reflection of day-to-day building management.

Key fact: NABERS ratings are renewed annually. Your score reflects current operational performance, not historical achievement.

Is NABERS Certification Mandatory for Your Building?

For many Australian office buildings, NABERS is not optional. Under the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Scheme, most sellers and lessors of office space of 1,000 square metres or more are legally required to obtain, register, and disclose a Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) — which includes a NABERS Energy rating (commonly called “nabers energy”). This disclosure must also appear in any advertisement for the sale, lease, or sublease of the affected space.

Beyond the legal requirement, many government tenants now require a minimum NABERS rating as a condition of lease. For example, Commonwealth government offices must achieve at least a 4.5-star NABERS Energy rating, while NSW government-owned and leased offices in Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong must reach 5 stars.

Even where it is not yet mandatory, market expectations are shifting. Sustainability-conscious tenants, ESG-reporting organisations, and institutional investors are increasingly factoring NABERS ratings into leasing and acquisition decisions.

The Four NABERS Rating Types for Office Buildings

NABERS rates office buildings across four environmental dimensions. Each can be assessed independently or in combination:

1. Energy

The most commonly required rating. Measures greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption for the base building (shared services: lifts, HVAC, lighting in common areas) and/or the tenancy. Required for the CBD Program disclosure. This is often the focus of early NABERS Certification efforts and is sometimes referred to as “NABERS energy”.

2. Water

Measures the volume of potable water used and recycled within the building. Relevant for buildings with cooling towers, irrigation systems, or high-occupancy amenities.

3. Waste

Measures how much waste the building generates and how effectively it is diverted from landfill through recycling and other means. This is an area where your commercial cleaning contractor has direct influence — more on this below.

4. Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ)

Rates the comfort and health of the indoor environment — air quality, temperature, lighting, acoustics, and the absence of pollutants. This rating type is directly affected by cleaning practices, products, and protocols used in your building.

How to Get NABERS Certified: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting NABERS certified for the first time typically takes up to four months, so starting early is essential. Here is the process:

1. Determine which ratings apply to you. Identify whether you need a Base Building, Tenancy, or Whole Building rating — and which categories (Energy, Water, Waste, IEQ) are relevant or required for your situation.
2. Gather 12 months of operational data. This includes electricity, gas, and diesel bills; certified survey plans showing net lettable area; metering configuration details; occupancy hours; and any renewable energy information.
3. Engage a certified NABERS assessor. Only accredited assessors can conduct official assessments and submit ratings for certification. A directory of current assessors is available through the NABERS website (nabers.gov.au). Engage them to conduct a NABERS assessment.
4. Complete the assessment. The assessor verifies your data against the NABERS rating methodology, conducts any required site inspections, and submits their findings to NABERS for review.
5. Receive your rating and certificate. Once approved, your rating is valid for 12 months. You are then legally entitled to promote your building’s NABERS rating. To maintain compliance, the assessment must be renewed annually.

Cost guide: Assessment costs typically range from $2,000 to $7,000 depending on building size and rating type. Turnaround is generally 5–10 business days once data is provided.

How Your Commercial Cleaning Partner Affects Your NABERS Rating

This is where many building managers leave points on the table. Two of the four NABERS rating categories — Waste and Indoor Environment Quality — are directly influenced by the commercial cleaning program operating in your building.

Waste Rating: Separation, Diversion, and Documentation

A NABERS Waste rating measures not just how much waste your building produces, but how much is diverted from landfill. A cleaning contractor who properly manages waste separation, maintains clear recycling streams, and documents disposal volumes gives your building a measurable advantage. Poor waste practices — contaminated bins, collapsed recycling streams — actively drag down your score.

Indoor Environment Quality: Chemicals and Air Quality

The IEQ rating considers the cleanliness of indoor air, volatile organic compound (VOC) levels, and overall occupant comfort. The cleaning products used in your building contribute directly to these measurements. Environmentally certified, low-VOC cleaning solutions improve air quality scores. Harsh chemical products do the opposite. The frequency and method of cleaning also affects dust levels, particulate matter, and perceived air quality — all NABERS-measurable factors.

What to Look For in a NABERS-Aware Cleaning Partner

When selecting a commercial cleaning contractor for a NABERS-rated building, ask specifically about:

• Use of certified, low-VOC cleaning products that support IEQ scores
• Waste separation and recycling protocols that align with your NABERS Waste program
• Documented cleaning procedures that can withstand third-party NABERS audit scrutiny
• Experience working in certified commercial buildings and familiarity with environmental rating requirements
• Flexibility to adapt cleaning schedules and methods as you work toward a higher star rating

A cleaning company that understands NABERS is not just a service provider — it is an active contributor to your building’s sustainability performance.

What Star Rating Should You Be Aiming For?

A 3-star NABERS Energy rating represents average market performance across the Australian commercial property sector. If your building is currently below 3 stars, there are likely significant operational improvements — and cost savings — available.

For buildings seeking premium tenants or government occupants, a 4.5 to 5-star rating is increasingly the minimum expectation. A 6-star rating signals industry-leading performance and positions your asset at the top of the market.

Carbon Neutral certification, available to buildings with a current NABERS Energy rating of 4 stars or above, extends the rating framework by accounting for carbon offsets and credits — a growing consideration for organisations with net-zero commitments.

Supporting Your NABERS Goals with the Right Cleaning Partner

Associated Cleaning has provided commercial cleaning services to Australian office buildings, corporate facilities, and managed properties for over 55 years. We understand the operational standards that high-rated commercial buildings require — and we work with building managers and facility teams to ensure our cleaning programs support, rather than undermine, your sustainability objectives and NABERS Certification goals.

Whether you are pursuing your first NABERS rating, working to improve an existing score, or maintaining certification for a premium-grade asset, the right cleaning partner makes a measurable difference.

To discuss how our commercial cleaning services can support your NABERS program, contact Associated Cleaning today for an obligation-free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get NABERS certified?

Allow up to four months for your first NABERS Energy rating. Subsequent annual renewals are faster once data collection processes are in place.

Does my building need NABERS if it is under 1,000 square metres?

The mandatory CBD Program disclosure applies to office space of 1,000 square metres or more being sold or leased. Smaller buildings are not legally required to hold a NABERS rating, but voluntary certification is available and may support leasing and ESG reporting objectives.

How often does NABERS certification need to be renewed?

NABERS ratings are valid for 12 months. Annual renewal is required to maintain compliance and to reflect current building performance.

Can a cleaning contractor improve our NABERS score?

Yes — specifically for the Waste and Indoor Environment Quality rating categories. A cleaning provider using environmentally certified products, maintaining proper waste separation, and operating with documented sustainability protocols actively contributes to higher scores in both areas.

What is the difference between NABERS and Green Star?

Green Star, managed by the Green Building Council of Australia, rates the environmental design and construction of new buildings. NABERS measures how a building actually performs in operation over 12 months. The two systems are complementary but distinct — CBD Program compliance requires NABERS Energy, not Green Star.