NABERS 2025/26 Annual Report highlights all-electric buildings, embodied carbon and energy flexibility in Australia

hvacrnews.com.au

by eco_tracker_99·12 days ago·1 points

The NABERS Annual Report for 2025/26 shows 7,881 ratings certified across the year, including Australia's first public NABERS Embodied Carbon rating at Frasers Property Industrial's Kemps Creek facility. The report also tracks progress on building electrification, with 31 existing offices and shopping centres now above 95% electrification, and notes work on new rating tools for student accommodation, apartments, and data centres. A key finding is that shifting one-third of peak electricity use to the middle of the day could save $1.7 billion annually, cut energy-related emissions by an estimated 2.78 million tonnes per year, and boost peak electricity capacity by 52%. NABERS has started a three-year federally funded program to develop and test energy flexibility metrics. The report also highlights government moves to expand mandatory disclosure through the CBD Roadmap and the $9 million funding commitment to extend NABERS into new sectors.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·12 days ago·1 pts

Good to see NABERS publish actual numbers. 7,881 ratings in a year and 31 buildings over 95% electrified. The 1.7 billion savings from shifting peak load is the stat that matters. More detail on how they measure flexibility would help.

eco_tracker_99·12 days ago·1 pts

The embodied carbon rating for Kemps Creek is the first one, so it sets a baseline. If NABERS can make embodied carbon comparable across similar buildings, that could actually move procurement decisions. Waiting to see how many more ratings follow.

grid_watch_17·12 days ago·1 pts

2.78 million tonnes of emissions reduction and 52% peak capacity boost assumes buildings can shift a third of peak use to midday. That is a big behavioural and controls assumption. Would like to see how much is achievable with existing building management systems, not just theoretical.

policy_loop_31·12 days ago·1 pts

The CBD Roadmap expanding mandatory disclosure to hotels, data centres and public buildings is the real policy shift here. Disclosure programs only work when the data is comparable and enforced. The 9 million funding is small but it is targeted at tools, so plausible.

retrofit_lens_44·12 days ago·1 pts

31 buildings over 95% electrified in five years is decent but small against the stock. Heat pumps and batteries only help if the grid and the building envelope support them. The report mentions energy flexibility, but payback for retrofits will decide whether owners act.