If your home is already built, a Home Energy Rating gives you a clear picture of how it performs now. An assessor visits the property, records the home and its major equipment, then provides two ratings, estimated energy use and practical upgrade guidance. Australian Energy Assessments completes most on-site visits in New South Wales and Victoria, with other locations checked when you enquire.
Official guidance reviewed 1 September 2026Home Energy Rating launched nationally on 1 July 2026. Older articles and search results may still use Residential Efficiency Scorecard or apply new-home NatHERS terms to existing homes.
On-site availability by locationExisting-home assessments require a property visit. Current field delivery is primarily in New South Wales and Victoria; availability, travel and timing for other Australian locations are confirmed before booking.
What you receive
A visit, two clear ratings and practical next steps
On-site assessment
Record the home as it is now
The assessor visits the completed home and records the walls, roof, floors, layout, orientation, windows, shading, heating, cooling, hot water and other major equipment used by the official method.
Existing condition matters
The assessment describes the home and installed systems at the time of the visit. Unknown or inaccessible details need to be handled under the current method rather than guessed as verified facts.
Useful preparation
Safe access to the relevant rooms and areas
Known renovation history
Information about major fixed appliances
The comfort or upgrade decision to be supported
Assessment context
Official guidance says an assessment typically takes about two to three hours, depending on the home and the evidence that can be recorded safely.
The existing-home certificate presents a Home Energy Rating from 0 to 100+ for overall energy performance and a Star Rating from 0 to 10 for the building's thermal performance.
Use the current names
This is the Home Energy Rating pathway for completed homes. It is not called a Whole of Home rating, even though one of the rating scales also runs from 0 to 100+.
Results to read together
Home Energy Rating from 0 to 100+
Star Rating from 0 to 10
Model assumptions and recorded home features
The certificate date and assessed condition
Assessment result
The two ratings help separate the overall energy picture from the thermal performance of the building fabric.
The result includes estimated annual energy use and guidance on improvements that may lift performance, comfort or resilience for the assessed home.
Modelled guidance, not a quote
The estimate is not a guaranteed bill, saving, payback period or construction quote. Household behaviour, tariffs, weather, products and workmanship can change real outcomes.
Use the guidance to ask
Which constraint matters first
Which measures work together
What needs site-specific design or a licensed trade
What evidence should be checked before spending
Practical use
A prioritised starting point for discussing upgrades, comparing scopes and tracking how the home's assessed performance changes over time.
Identify whether the rating will support comfort, upgrades, a renovation decision, sale, rental or a clearer understanding of current performance.
02
Prepare access
Make the relevant parts of the home safely accessible and share known renovation or equipment information without opening unsafe areas.
03
Assess the home
The assessor records the existing building and fixed systems using the current Home Energy Rating method.
04
Use the results
Read both rating scales, estimated annual energy use, assumptions and upgrade guidance before requesting site-specific quotes or approvals.
Official source
How to get an existing-home assessment
Home Energy Rating explains the on-site process, typical duration and the rating, annual energy estimate and upgrade information provided after assessment.
Is an existing-home assessment still called NatHERS?
The official consumer service is Home Energy Rating. People still search for a NatHERS existing home assessment or NatHERS rating for an existing home, but the result for a completed home should use the current Home Energy Rating and Star Rating names.
Question
What happened to the Residential Efficiency Scorecard?
Residential Efficiency Scorecard is a legacy search term for the former service. Home Energy Rating launched nationally on 1 July 2026 and is the current official consumer pathway for rating an existing home.
Question
What results does the existing-home certificate provide?
It provides a Home Energy Rating from 0 to 100+, a Star Rating from 0 to 10, estimated annual energy use and upgrade guidance for the assessed home.
Question
How long does a Home Energy Rating assessment take?
Official guidance says an existing-home visit usually takes about two to three hours. A larger or more complex home can take longer, and safe access to the relevant areas matters.
Question
How much does a Home Energy Rating cost?
The price depends on the home, location, travel, access and the agreed scope. Australian Energy Assessments confirms the service and quote before paid work starts. Some households may qualify for a current funded program, but eligibility must be checked with that program.
Question
Is a Home Energy Rating worth getting?
It can be useful when you want an independent picture of how the home performs and a sensible order for upgrades. It is not a promise of lower bills, a building approval or a construction quote.
Question
Can this rating demonstrate NCC compliance for a major renovation?
No. An existing-home rating cannot demonstrate National Construction Code compliance. If a major renovation must demonstrate compliance, official guidance says it needs the relevant new-home certificate pathway. The approval authority determines the evidence required for the project.
Thinking about an assessment?
Tell us about the home and what you want to improve
Start with the suburb, why you want the rating and any known renovations or access limits. We will confirm whether Home Energy Rating is the right service.
