Property Glossary
The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) rates a home's thermal performance from 0 to 10 stars. The higher the rating, the less energy is needed to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. Since May 2024, new Queensland homes must achieve a minimum 7 Star NatHERS rating.
NatHERS — the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme — is a government-run framework for assessing the energy efficiency of a home's thermal envelope: the combination of insulation, glazing, orientation, shading, ventilation and airtightness that determines how much energy the home requires to maintain comfortable temperatures year-round.
The rating is expressed as a star score from 0 to 10. A higher star rating means the building shell is more effective at maintaining comfort with less mechanical intervention — less air conditioning in summer, less heating in winter. The rating is calculated using accredited software (typically FirstRate5 or similar) based on the home's design, materials and orientation, assessed against the local climate zone.
Poor thermal performance. The building shell provides little resistance to heat or cold. High energy costs and significant discomfort without heavy air conditioning or heating reliance. Very common in older Queensland homes.
Acceptable but below current standards. Many homes built from the 2000s to early 2010s fall in this range. Moderate running costs. Often improvable with targeted upgrades to insulation and shading.
The current Queensland minimum for new builds. Good thermal performance. Comfortable with well-managed natural ventilation and moderate air conditioning use.
High performance. The building envelope significantly reduces mechanical heating and cooling need. Common in quality custom builds designed for the local climate. Near-Passivhaus outcomes achievable at the upper end.
It is important to understand that NatHERS measures only the thermal envelope — the shell of the building. It does not assess the energy efficiency of installed appliances, hot water systems, lighting or solar systems. Since 2024, the Whole of Home energy budget assessment has been added alongside NatHERS to address this gap for new builds.
For buyers, NatHERS is most directly relevant when assessing new builds, off-the-plan purchases and recently completed homes where a certificate should exist. It provides an objective, standardised basis for comparing the thermal performance of different homes — which is otherwise very difficult to assess from inspection alone.
The relationship between NatHERS rating and running costs is real but not direct — it depends on how the home is used and what appliances are installed. A well-designed 8-star home with solar and a heat pump hot water system can have dramatically lower energy bills than a 5-star home without these features. NatHERS provides the foundation — the thermal performance of the shell — on which efficient appliances and renewable generation can build.
In Noosa's subtropical climate, a higher NatHERS rating typically means the home is better shaded, better ventilated and better insulated against summer heat gain. The practical result is a home that stays cooler naturally, requires less air conditioning to maintain comfort and feels more liveable across the year. This is genuinely valuable in a climate where summer heat and humidity are the primary comfort challenge.
For new builds and recently completed homes, request the NatHERS energy assessment report and the star rating certificate as part of your due diligence. For new homes completed after May 2024, also request the Whole of Home energy budget documentation. Confirm that the as-built home matches the assessed design — changes made during construction that affect insulation, glazing or orientation can invalidate or reduce the rating.
A NatHERS rating is a design-stage assessment. The actual performance of the home depends on how it is used, what appliances are installed and how well the passive design features are maintained and utilised.
Noosa's property market spans a wide range of housing types and eras — from pre-1970s elevated timber Queenslanders through to 2020s architecturally designed new builds. This diversity means NatHERS ratings vary enormously across the market, and the absence of a formal rating is the norm rather than the exception for the majority of properties currently on the market.
Older Queenslanders and fibro homes from the 1960s to 1990s typically have no formal NatHERS rating and would rate poorly if assessed — often below 4 stars. However, a well-oriented elevated Queenslander with deep verandahs, louvred walls and high ceilings can perform surprisingly well passively, even without formal certification, because its design inherently suits the subtropical climate.
New builds in Noosa — particularly in Peregian Springs, Noosa Springs and new residential releases — are increasingly hitting 7 to 8-star outcomes as builders become more familiar with NCC 2022 requirements. Quality custom builds on larger lots in Noosa Heads and Sunshine Beach can reach 8 to 9 stars with proper design attention.
Buyer awareness of NatHERS is growing rapidly in the Noosa market, particularly among interstate buyers relocating from states where higher ratings are more common. This is beginning to be reflected in pricing for properties where sustainability credentials are clearly evidenced.
NatHERS ratings, passive design credentials and running cost estimates are increasingly important in the Noosa market. We help buyers assess what the numbers actually mean for a specific home in this climate.