Fees and grants

Fees and grants

A NABERS Energy rating is the only cost associated with CitySwitch – but it’s an important part of our program because it helps you understand the energy performance of your tenancy.

The cost of obtaining a NABERS Energy rating includes:

  • NABERS Accredited Assessor's fees and charges
  • NABERS certification and administration fee.

The fees and charges for a NABERS Accredited Assessor will depend on the size of your tenancy, and the time and difficulty involved in gathering the appropriate data. As a rough guide, if your tenancy is around 1,500 sqm you should expect to pay between $1,000 and $4,000. However, as with any other product or service, compare quotes before selecting an Assessor.

NABERS certification and administration fees are paid to the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage (OEH), which administers the NABERS rating system. Visit the NABERS website to understand the fee structure.

CitySwitch Discount Vouchers

All CitySwitch Signatories can claim a 50% discount on the certification fee which is charged by OEH. This is a saving of $566 including GST per NABERS Energy rating.

When you sign up for CitySwitch you will receive a CitySwitch Discount Voucher. Make sure this has been signed by a CitySwitch program manager, and give this to your NABERS Accredited Assessor who will do the rest.

Please note, CitySwitch Signatories with tenancies under 1,000 sqm cannot claim both the CitySwitch Signatory 50% discount and the NABERS Small Tenancy 50% discount.

For more information
 

The CitySwitch NABERS Energy Grants program

Businesses located in Sydney and Adelaide can receive funding towards a NABERS Energy rating for their office tenancies when they join CitySwitch.

  • The City of Sydney ratings and assessment grant covers half the cost of a NABERS rating each year for up to two years for commercial office tenants and other organisations based within the local government area. The grant funds up to a maximum value of $12,000 in the first year and $6,000 in the second.
     
  • The Adelaide City Council rebate offers up to half the cost of a NABERS rating assessment relative to office size (up to $2,500) for organisations based within the local government area who join CitySwitch. Contact your program manager to find out more

How to save on the cost of your rating

  • Apply for local council financial assistance towards the cost of your NABERS Energy rating.
  • Compare quotes before selecting an assessor - there is no set fee for a NABERS Energy rating as every tenancy is different so costs will vary
  • Ensure all rating information is available at the time of the assessment - costs will increase if the assessor needs to locate missing information such as energy bills
  • Avoid unnecessary site visits - costs may increase if an assessor needs to make multiple visits to your tenancy
  • Note that subsequent costs of an assessment should be lower following the initial rating provided the same Assessor is engaged

Learn more:

What is the Commercial Building Disclosure scheme?

How do I find a NABERS Accredited Assessor?

NABERS rating CitySwitch discount

CitySwitch Signatories can claim a 50 per cent reduction off the standard certification fee charged by the Office of Environment and Heritage for obtaining a rating.

Find out more

CitySwitch Grants - Is my organisation eligible?

Eligibility for financial assistance differs for each participating council. Generally though, your tenancy must:  

  • be located within the cities of Sydney or Adelaide
  • sign-up to CitySwitch as a new Signatory
  • complete a baseline NABERS Energy rating assessment once joining
  • submit an application form

CitySwitch Signatory of the Year and New Signatory Awards - category judging criteria

  • Delivering outcomes as demonstrated by an improved or maintained current NABERS Energy rating and achieved energy savings* (up to 28 points)
  • Implementing one or more energy saving initiatives (up to 10 points)
  • Demonstrating leadership by undertaking innovative, creative or progressive office energy efficiency activities (up to 10 points)
  • Engagement of staff/ customers/suppliers and/or stakeholders to educate and create market transformation (up to 10 points)
  • Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points).
Note, new Signatories submitting for New Signatory of the Year Award need only complete an indicative rating – all other submissions must be accredited.

CitySwitch Partnership of the Year Award - category judging criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Submitted projects should:

  • Involve more than one registered company 
  • Demonstrate that they are  innovative and over and above “business as usual”
  • Demonstrate that they catalyse “market transformation” and or “address a market barrier”
  • Deliver a reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions within the built environment 

Judging Criteria

  • Delivering outcomes as demonstrated by an improved or maintained current NABERS Energy rating and achieved energy savings* (up to 14 points)
  • Implementing one or more energy saving initiatives (up to 10 points)
  • Demonstrating leadership by undertaking innovative, creative or progressive office energy efficiency activities (up to 17 points)
  • Engagement of staff/ customers/suppliers and/or stakeholders to educate and create market transformation (up to 17 points)
  • Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points)
  • The submitting entity MUST be a CitySwitch Signatory
Note, Signatories submitting for the Partnership of the Year Award may submit an accredited NABERS tenancy, whole building or base building rating.

It’s easy and free to join the program. Your good-will commitment to the program is an acknowledgement of the business sector’s role in
contributing to environmental sustainability and your intention to reduce your own energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.

As part of this, Signatories to the program commit to achieve an accredited NABERS Energy tenancy rating (between 4 and 6 stars) and
work with CitySwitch to improve their tenancy’s environmental performance.

Find out more about how obtaining a NABERS Energy rating ensures you can benchmark your performance, better manage your progress
over time and promote your star rating achievement.