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Energy efficiency standards

Mandated agencies with offices 2,000m² and over must comply with the following standards, including getting and disclosing a NABERSNZ energy efficiency rating to help meet government strategic priorities.

Government energy strategies

The New Zealand Government is committed to making government office buildings energy efficient, as there is scope for significant energy improvements in the commercial sector.

As well as reducing emissions, the improved energy performance of government office buildings contributes to several strategic priorities:

  • The New Zealand Energy Strategy 2011 to 2021 has an environmental responsibility priority that includes a focus on reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy 2017 to 2022 includes an action to increase the number of government-owned or leased buildings that get regular NABERSNZ ratings.
  • The Government has set a target for 100% of electricity to be renewable by 2035.

The Carbon Neutral Government Programme has been set up to accelerate the reduction of emissions within the public sector.

Carbon Neutral Government Programme – Ministry for the Environment Manatū Mō Te Taiao

The Building for Climate Change programme will help to reduce emissions from buildings during their construction and operation.

Building for Climate Change programme – Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Hīkina Whakatutuki

Minimum standards for mandated agencies

These standards are compulsory for all mandated agencies who occupy single-tenant, co-tenanted, or co-located government office accommodation. Non-mandated agencies are encouraged to follow these standards.

Mandated agencies that own/lease office accommodation at or above 2,000m² must have a base build rating by December 2025. A tenancy rating is also required when a building is at or above 5,000m².

Government property mandate

The Government Property Group collaborated with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) to develop these standards.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority

Process for mandated agencies

Get a NABERSNZ rating

A NABERSNZ rating assesses the energy use of an office building and its tenants.

NABERSNZ

EECA's NABERSNZ intro video – YouTube

The benefits of getting a NABERSNZ rating include:

  • identifying ways to lower yearly operating costs
  • identifying cost savings across a property portfolio
  • measuring the impact of sustainability initiatives
  • making the office building more desirable to tenants
  • meeting environmentally responsible reporting criteria
  • creating a better work environment for employees
  • meeting tenant and community expectations.

NABERSNZ assessments and ratings

Meet the target rating

Agencies entering a new lease, or renewing an existing lease should target a rating above five stars, and achieve a minimum of four stars.

Agencies planning a new build project need to achieve a minimum rating of five stars.

Update your building's assessment status

As part of the NABERSNZ assessment and under the Carbon Neutral Government Programme, agencies must disclose their ratings, and report their progress through the Government Property Portal (GPP).

If you have started or already completed a NABERSNZ assessment, email the Government Property Group team your completed GPP NABERSNZ assessment form and copy in your Portfolio Specialist. We will then add your information to the GPP.

 

Get updated assessments every 1 to 3 years

Assessments are valid for 12 months.

To reduce the burden of annual re-rating, agencies that meet the target rating only need to re-rate every three years.

If the target rating hasn't been met, an agency must implement a work programme within 12 months to achieve the target rating, and re-rate the building annually until the minimum star rating is achieved.

Examples of rating requirements

Single tenancy

Example 1: Agency 1 is over 5,000m² (tenancy) and 2,000m² (base building) and also occupies over 25% of the building’s NLA.

A tenant rating assessment and base building assessment is required, unless utility meters cannot be measured separately, then do a whole building rating.

A graphed representation of one agency (labelled Agency 1) occupying 100% of the Net Leased Area (NLA).Example 2: Agency 1 is under 5,000m² (tenancy) and over 2,000m² (base building) and also occupies over 25% of the building’s NLA.

A base building assessment is required, unless utility meters cannot be measured separately, then do a whole building assessment.

A graph representation of one agency (labelled Agency 1) occupying 45% of the Net Leased Area (NLA) and a non-agency occupying 55% of the Net Leased Area (NLA).

A representation of one agency (Agency 1) occupying 45% of the Net Leased Area (NLA) and a non-agency occupying 55% of the Net Leased Area (NLA).

Example 3: Agency 1 is under 5,000m² (tenancy) and under 2,000m² (base building) and also occupies less than 25% of the building’s NLA.

There's no requirement to do an assessment in this case. However, Agency 1 may want to do one by choice.

A graph representation of one agency (labelled Agency 1) occupying 19% of the Net Leased Area (NLA) and a non-agency occupying 81% of the Net Leased Area (NLA).

A representation of one agency (Agency 1) occupying 19% of the Net Leased Area (NLA) and a non-agency occupying 81% of the Net Leased Area (NLA).

Co-tenancy and co-locations

Example 1: The combined agency NLA total is over 5,000m² (tenancy) and 2,000m² (base building) and also occupies over 25% of the building’s NLA.

Agency 1, being the lead agency, completes a tenancy rating; agencies 2 and 3 may carry out tenancy ratings by choice. A base building assessment is to be completed by the landlord unless utility meters cannot be measured separately, then a whole building assessment.

A representation of three different agencies (labelled Agency 1, Agency 2 and Agency 3) occupying 100% of the Net Leased Area (NLA).

A representation of three different agencies (Agency 1, Agency 2 and Agency 3) occupying a combined 100% of the Net Leased Area (NLA).

Example 2: The combined agency NLA total is under 5,000m² (tenancy) and over 2,000m² (base building) and also occupies over 25% of the building’s NLA.

A base building assessment is required, unless utility meters cannot be measured separately, then do a whole building assessment.

A representation of two different agencies (Agency 1 and Agency 2) occupying 25% and 75% of the Net Leased Area (NLA), respectively.

A representation of two different agencies (Agency 1 and Agency 2) occupying 100% of the Net Leased Area (NLA).

Example 3: The combined agency NLA total is under 5,000m² (tenancy), over 2,000m² (base building), but occupies less than 25% of the building’s NLA.

There's no requirement to do an assessment in this case. However, the agencies may want to do one by choice.

A representation of two different agencies (Agency 1 and Agency 2) occupying 21% of the Net Leased Area (NLA) and a non-agency occupying 79% of the Net Leased Asset (NLA).

A representation of two different agencies (Agency 1 and Agency 2) occupying 21% of the Net Leased Area (NLA) and a non-agency occupying 79% of the Net Leased Asset (NLA).

Ways to improve the energy efficiency of buildings

Buildings perform better when:

  • they have current good practice façade and service technology
  • facilities management is at least partially in-sourced
  • asset, building or portfolio managers feel able to affect efficiency
  • they disclose their NABERS performance to tenants
  • the facility manager reports a higher level of energy efficiency knowledge.

Improving operating efficiencies

NABERSNZ case studies of high performing buildings:

Charles Fergusson

133 Molesworth Street

15 Stout Street

Aurora Centre

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