INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY
THINKING GREEN
NEW NABERS RATINGS FOR RETIREMENT LIVING AND RESIDENTIAL CARE WILL HELP YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
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t NABERS we know that environmentally friendly buildings are not only better for the planet, but they also make happier and healthier spaces for everyone.
With COVID-19, we have seen the adaptability and resilience of aged care providers in response to unprecedented global events. This has reinforced the importance of robust, top-quality facilities to support a healthy and safe environment in which older generations can live and thrive comfortably. To support Australia’s transition to a net zero built environment, NABERS (which stands for the National Australian Built Environment Rating System) is expanding its program to service the residential aged care and retirement living sectors, with a building rating tool available for these sectors from September 2021. NABERS ratings for residential aged care and retirement living facilities will help you to accurately measure, understand and communicate your site’s energy and water performance, while identifying areas for cost savings and future improvements. NABERS is an Australian Government program that rates the operational performance of buildings on a 6-star rating scale. It provides simple, reliable and comparable sustainability measurement you can trust across building sectors like hotels, shopping centres, apartments, offices, data centres and more. Over the last 20 years, we have proven that ‘what gets measured gets managed’. Our customers have saved an average of 30 to 40 per cent on their energy over 10 years. To develop the tool for the residential aged care and retirement living sectors, we consulted extensively with providers, peak bodies and experienced consultants, and gathered and analysed data from around 300 facilities across Australia. Our expert analysts analysed the data for benchmarking the environmental performance of the sectors, with a trial phase in April to test the benchmarks and ensure the robustness of the tool.
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We also received valuable feedback and expert guidance through our Advisory Panel, which meets every quarter. Organisations that we are working with to develop the NABERS rating tools include Aveo Group, Stockland, Lendlease, Estia Health, Retire Australia, Southern Cross Care, Uniting, Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent Institution, Hall & Prior, St Basil’s Homes (SA), the Property Council of Australia, Aged Care Industry Association (ACIA), Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) and Aged and Community Services Australia. LASA CEO Sean Rooney has been an active member of the NABERS Advisory panel. “We strongly support the development and launch of NABERS in the residential aged care and retirement living sectors,” he said. “These sectors’ primary focus in 2021 and beyond will be safety, viability and sustainability. “The launch of NABERS in aged care settings will support not only environmental responsibility, but will also demonstrate the potential profitability and cost savings.” Supratik Ghosh is Lead - NABERS Sector Expansion, NABERS. If you would like to find out more about how NABERS can help your organisation, email nabers.expansion@ environment.nsw.gov.au and a NABERS team member will get in touch. You can also download a fact sheet at www.nabers.gov.au/nabers-accelerate.
