Publications

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) provides a standardised approach to rating the thermal performance of Australian dwellings.  

The NatHERS Software Accreditation Protocol outlines the requirements and processes for:

• accrediting new energy rating software tools
• updating existing accredited tools

This ensures that software meets standard requirements and produces consistent results in calculating energy loads and star ratings of residential buildings.

2025 Software Accreditation Protocol

• Software Accreditation Protocol - New Homes (pdf)

2022 Software Accreditation Protocol

• Software Accreditation Protocol - Thermal (pdf) 
• Software Accreditation Protocol - Whole of Home (pdf)
• Standard Operating Procedure NatHERS accredited software tools -  Processing Minor Updates (pdf)
• Minor Update request form (pdf)
• NatHERS Software Accreditation Terms and Conditions (pdf)
• Standard Operating Procedure - Feature exemption application (pdf)

2019 Software Accreditation Protocol

• 2019 Software Accreditation Protocol (pdf) 

2012 Software Accreditation Protocol

• 2012 NatHERS Software Accreditation Protocol (pdf)

The Existing Homes Technical Note outlines the requirements which must be met during a trial assessment. It clearly outlines the data required which is used to calculate the thermal performance and Whole of Home energy performance of a home.

NatHERS Existing Homes Technical Note for Trials - 26 February 2025

The Existing Homes Guidance Note provides additional direction for assessors who are working onsite conducting a trial assessment. The easy reference guide helps users quickly identify the required inputs based on example images. 

NatHERS Existing Homes Guidance Note for Trials - 26 February 2025

NOTE: Expressions Of Interest (EOIs) have reopened for this Technical Working Group.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department) is seeking expressions of interest to join a technical working group to inform the development of the user interface protocol for Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) tools for existing homes (www.nathers.gov.au/expansion). 

In 2019 the Australian Government invested substantial funds, with the backing of the states and territories, in the development of a ‘cloud-based’ version of AccuRate, named AccuRate Enterprise.

As part of the expansion of NatHERS to existing homes, the proposed approach is to create the opportunity for the market to develop third-party user interfaces (UI), with all calculations undertaken by AccuRate Enterprise (existing homes mode).

The user interface protocol will set out the requirements for third-party UIs to undertake home energy ratings for existing homes using AccuRate Enterprise.

This expression of interest is seeking suitably qualified and interested experts to join a technical working group that will inform the development of the user interface protocol. 

The participation in the working group does NOT disqualify applicants from future participation in pilots, trials of software or further work around the development of tools and advisory in this space. 

Please note however, the confidentiality and disclaimer section in the EOI document stating that this is a consultative activity and is not commitment to any course of action.

For details on how to submit your expression of interest refer to User Interface Protocol Technical Working Group Submission requirements.

Contact information

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to us at admin@nathers.gov.au

Spreadsheet listing NatHERS Climate Zones by postcode - aligns with the climate zones displayed in NatHERS Accredited Software tools.

• NatHERS Climate Zone Postcodes [csv] - Updated February 2025
• NatHERS Climate Zone Postcodes [pdf] - Updated February 2025

This report covers results from a recent study by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) investigating the air infiltration rates achieved by newly constructed houses and apartments in five Australian capital cities. The study compared some of these results to the assumed air infiltration rates calculated in the NatHERS software. It also identified air leakage points in each dwelling and tested the specific flow rates for some of these leakage points. The report provides recommendations for some of the common performance problems found in Australian homes. 

The study was supported and funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Air Infiltration of New Dwellings in Australia Report (PDF)

The documents below detail the NatHERS assurance strategy for existing homes: 

• Assurance Strategy Presentation PDF / PPT
• Assurance Strategy Draft PDF / DOCX

Keen to provide feedback?

Download and complete a stakeholder response form below  and submit via email to the NatHERS Admin inbox admin@nathers.gov.au. 

Your response is required by 5pm AEST on 30 August 2024

Assurance Strategy stakeholder response form 

Visit the NatHERS Expansion page to find out more about the existing homes consultation process and supporting webinars.  

The documents below detail the accreditation requirements for existing home assessors (including a draft code of practice), as well as the proposed complaints management policy: 

• Assessor Accreditation Presentation  PDF / PPT
• Assessor Code of Practice Draft  PDF / DOCX
• Complaint Management Policy Draft  PDF / DOCX

Keen to provide feedback?

Download and complete a stakeholder response form below and submit via email to the NatHERS Admin inbox admin@nathers.gov.au. 

Your Response is required by 5pm AEST on 30 August 2024.

Assessor Accreditation stakeholder response form

Visit the NatHERS Expansion page to find out more about the existing homes consultation process and supporting webinars.  

A list of the current material properties used in NatHERS software tools can be viewed in the link below.

Material Properties Used in NatHERS Software Tools - Updated August 2024

The below document outlines the process for updating the NatHERS material properties library to include new building materials in NatHERS Software.

New materials in NatHERS software process - Updated June 2020

If you need advice or cannot find the document you are looking for, please email: admin@nathers.gov.au 

In June 2024, the Preliminary Impact Analysis (PIA) for Centralised Services and the proposed Apartment Centralised Services Method were released for public consultation. The consultation period has now closed. 

The PIA documented the need and rationale for including centralised services into the NatHERS Whole of Home National Calculations Method. 

The Method provides a framework for assessing shared hot water and space conditioning systems in apartment buildings under NatHERS.

NatHERS is currently reviewing the feedback received during the consultation and once completed, the findings will be shared with all stakeholders.

For access to any documents related to this consultation, please contact admin@nathers.gov.au.