As buildings take on a bigger role in Australia’s emissions challenge, NABERS is preparing for a bigger job too.
A bigger job for buildings.
As buildings take on a bigger role in Australia’s emissions challenge, NABERS is preparing for a bigger job too. This year, we updated our tools, extended our reach and explored new ways to measure and support the performance Australia will need from its buildings.
"The more we follow the emissions trail across the economy, the more it leads back to the built environment. This is a huge responsibility, but also an extraordinary opportunity."
Carlos Flores, Director, NABERS
From supporting all-electric buildings and energy flexibility to advancing embodied carbon measurement and opening our data to industry, FY26 was a year of preparing the built environment for the decade ahead.
What NABERS achieved in FY26
- Keeping the stars meaningful: We finalised a major update to the NABERS Energy rating, scheduled for 2030, to ensure buildings continue to be rewarded for energy efficiency as Australia’s electricity grid decarbonises.
- Embodied carbon moves from tool to action: We awarded Australia’s first NABERS Embodied Carbon rating.
- Exploring when buildings use energy: We completed a major feasibility study into energy flexibility, kickstarting a new conversation about how buildings can support a more flexible electricity grid.
- Opening NABERS data to industry: The launch of the NABERS API allows organisations to connect their own systems directly with NABERS rating calculations and data.
- Ratings reach more buildings: We progressed work in the student accommodation and apartment buildings sectors.
- Better performance goes beyond energy: Updates to the NABERS Waste methodology place greater weight on genuine material recovery.
- Australian expertise travels further: NABERS New Zealand announced its biggest expansion yet. In the UK, the first building achieved a 5-star NABERS UK Energy rating.
We invite you to explore the full NABERS Annual Report FY2026 and be part of the journey towards a more sustainable built environment. Visit the Annual Report Hub.