The built environment, whether residential or commercial, contributes to significant greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. In fact, the built environment, along with the construction process, is responsible for almost 40% of greenhouse gas production.
The NABERS Rating or National Australian Built Environment Rating System) is a sustainability rating that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by offering measurable metrics to track building impact and improve performance efficiency.
With COVID restrictions Getting lifted and the world returning to normalcy, more and more workers are returning to traditional offices. Consequently, more energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are polluting the environment. The gradual increment in occupancy can bring down your NABERS Rating.
So what can you do to maintain your NABERS Rating in the post-pandemic NABERS assessment?
To maintain your NABERS energy rating with growing building occupancy, you should prioritize energy consumption that aligns with real-time performance data.
This blog will discuss specific building designs and alterations you can incorporate to score a higher NABERS rating.
Similarly, for residential buildings, NatHERS assessment is applicable.
5 Ways To Improve NABERS Rating in 2022
Here are five ways to maintain or improve your NABERS rating in 2022.
1. Optimize your artificial heating, air-conditioning systems, and ventilation provisions (HVAC system)
HVAC systems contribute to the greatest base energy consumption. In fact, the HVAC system alone is responsible for 65% of energy consumption. With increasing occupants, the load on the HVAC system also increases.
Therefore, optimizing your HVAC system is the best way to retain and increase your NABERS rating.
Here are a few ways to optimize the HVAC system:
- Retrofit an old system
- Increase the insulation of your space
- Use quality duct sealing to avoid duct leakage
- Install programmable controls and thermostats
- Preserve the system airflow by removing dust and debris
- Make use of curtains and blinds
- Perform regular maintenance
- Limit chiller/boiler operation through lock-outs, staging, or widening setpoints
- Watch the thermostat
- Change air filters regularly
- Have the right size system
- Get proper duct sizing
- Consider duct design
- Lock-out unleased zones, tenancies, and floors
These measures can save almost 10-15% of total HVAC energy consumption.
Also Read : 5 Things We Should Know About BASIX Certificate
2. Consider long-term energy-efficient planning.
Small modifications and installations, such as installing solar panels or LED lighting, represent a substantial financial investment for commercial buildings.
Therefore you don't need to replace your existing systems all at once. NABERS Ratings are valid for 12 months, and you can take sufficient time to replace less efficient systems.
Some energy-efficient upgrades include:
- Installing solar panels
- LED Lighting
- Upgrading window glazing and covering
- Replacing old motors and fans
- Considering Timers and sensors
- Installing start-rated appliances
3. Leverage Technology For Monthly NABERS Assessment
The yearly or annual NABERS assessment can be performed by a certified assessor to assign an official star rating. However, you can personally use software and tools designed for tracking your regular performances and providing monthly ratings.
By tracking performance, you can identify the areas of improvement and introduce modifications as required.
You can use these tools not just for energy assessment but for water, indoor environment, and waste disposal assessment as well. Gradually improve your building performance to get ready for a higher NABERS Rating.
Remember, these tools and software are just for understanding your personal energy performance. These software is not certified for providing official ratings.
4. Prepare A Performance Enhancing Strategy
If you simply assume that your conservation and upgradation methods will consistently increase the NABERS Rating, You might be going in the wrong direction.
Preparing a performance enhancement strategy to make an actual difference is essential. Include both short and long-term goals. Implement real-time monitoring to track performance and overall results against the predefined goals.
Educate your staff about energy conservation. Communicate with your tenants, contractors, and other relevant stakeholders about your energy-efficiency strategy. Building awareness is the most primitive step toward energy conservation.
5. Collaborate with a professional building consultant
Professional building consultants are specifically trained to understand pain points and identify opportunities for improving overall building performance.
Before hiring an energy consultant, understand the work experience, go through their client feedback, examine industry track record, etc.
Apart from providing insights on NABERS rating, building consultants can also help with JV3 modelling, NatHERS assessment, Section J report, BASIX, etc.
Takeaway
Follow these guidelines to design an energy-efficient building operation system and maintain your NABERS rating even with increasing occupancy.
