The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) provides reliable energy ratings and information to improve the energy performance of Australian homes.
New homes and major renovations
Currently, around 90 per cent of new home designs are assessed using NatHERS software tools. These tools rate a home’s energy performance, considering its design, materials, major appliances, onsite energy production and storage, climate and location.
States and territories use NatHERS ratings as the most common way of demonstrating compliance with the National Construction Code energy efficiency requirements for new homes.
NatHERS assessors use accredited software, house plans and local climate zone information to measure a home’s energy performance and produce a rating.
Learn more about NatHERS for new homes.
Existing homes
NatHERS is currently expanding to provide ratings for existing homes. These can be obtained by householders to inform upgrades, gain access to green finance or be disclosed at the point of sale or lease under the Home Energy Ratings Disclosure Framework.
A staged approach to expand NatHERS has commenced and there is a trial of existing homes assessments currently underway.
Learn more about the NatHERS trial.
Learn more about NatHERS for existing homes.
Improving home comfort and reducing bills
NatHERS supports the energy efficiency requirements in the National Construction Code (NCC).
In 2022, the minimum requirement for new houses increased from 6 to 7 stars (out of 10) and an energy use budget was introduced to account for a home’s major fixed appliances and any energy generated (e.g. solar panels).
The updates are helping make homes more comfortable, and climate resilient, while also saving new house owners an average of $183 on their power bills every year.
The NCC changes are also helping to elevate and drive energy efficient design and construction beyond minimum standards, from 7-stars, up to world-class net zero home designs.
Learn more about zero energy (and carbon) ready homes in the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings.
History of NatHERS
NatHERS was initiated in 1993 by the Australian and New Zealand Minerals and Energy Council (later the Ministerial Council on Energy) to provide a standardised approach to rating the thermal performance of Australian homes.
The scheme was developed by state and territory energy agencies and the Australian Government, in conjunction with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Originally used by industry to market energy efficient homes, NatHERS was gradually adopted to support regulation of new building standards by state and territory governments.
Over the course of its life, NatHERS has continued to evolve to support residential energy efficiency goals. Two recent major developments include:
- the expansion to include Whole of Home energy assessments and ratings in 2022
- the expansion to include existing homes from mid-2025.
NatHERS is continuing to help improve and transform the design and construction of homes across Australia to make them more energy efficient. Driven by CSIRO-science, it is now a world-leading program featuring the most reliable, and trusted, home energy software and measurement tools.
Get in touch
Email questions to admin@nathers.gov.au
You can also sign up for the NatHERS Newsletter for updates about the scheme.