Energy Assessors in Melbourne: 7-Star NatHERS Explained
Every new Victorian home must meet a 7-star NatHERS rating plus a Whole of Home energy budget. Here is what an accredited energy assessor delivers, when to engage them, and how to make the star rating work for you, not just pass.
Minimum rating
7 stars
NatHERS building shell
Plus
Whole of Home
annual energy budget
Mandatory since
1 May 2024
NCC 2022 in Victoria
Scale
0 to 10
10 = net-zero energy
What the 7-star rule actually requires
Since 1 May 2024, every new home in Victoria must meet the National Construction Code 2022 energy provisions: a minimum 7-star NatHERS rating for the building shell (insulation, glazing, orientation, sealing) plus a Whole of Home annual energy budget covering fixed appliances, heating and cooling, hot water, lighting and any pool or spa pump.
The two work together. You can meet the Whole of Home budget through a mix of appliance efficiency, better-than-7-star thermal performance, and on-site solar. Building permits issued before 1 May 2024 were not required to meet the new standard, but any new build now is.
When to engage an accredited assessor
Only an accredited NatHERS assessor can issue the certificate your Relevant Building Surveyor needs for the building permit. Engage them when the working drawings are substantially complete but before permit, so changes do not force a reassessment, and ideally earlier for a design-stage check.
The assessor needs your plans, a window schedule with sizes and orientations, wall and roof construction detail, insulation specifications and the site plan showing orientation. Missing information is the usual cause of delay.
Make the rating count, not just pass
Seven stars is the floor, not the ceiling. A design-stage assessment can show cheap wins, better orientation, the right glazing, improved shading, that lift comfort and cut running costs for little or no extra cost. Targeting 8 stars or more is where real comfort gains live in the Melbourne climate.
The certificate is only valid if the home is built to the assessed specification, so any change to glazing, insulation or construction needs reassessment. BuildPilot does not employ assessors; we help you engage an accredited one at the right stage and use the rating well.
Official Victorian sources referenced
Getting your budget right is the first real step in the building journey - but most people don’t know where to start. In this episode, we break down the full process of setting your game plan, from confirming your finance capacity to comparing quotes, and share a free Google Sheets budgeting template to help you stay on track from day one.
Watch full episodeFrequently asked
Is 7 stars really mandatory for a new home in Victoria?+
Yes. Since 1 May 2024, under the National Construction Code 2022, every new Victorian home must achieve a minimum 7-star NatHERS rating for the building shell plus meet a Whole of Home annual energy budget. Permits issued before that date were assessed under the older standard.
What is the Whole of Home requirement?+
On top of the 7-star shell rating, the home's fixed appliances (heating and cooling, hot water, lighting, pool or spa pumps) must fit within an annual energy budget. You can meet it through efficient appliances, thermal performance above 7 stars, and on-site solar in combination.
When should I get the energy assessment done?+
When working drawings are substantially complete but before the building permit, so the assessed specification matches what is built. A quick design-stage assessment even earlier can identify cheap ways to lift the rating before the design locks in.
What happens if my design does not reach 7 stars?+
The assessor works through options: adjust orientation or glazing, add insulation or shading, improve appliance efficiency under Whole of Home, or add solar. The design is revised until it complies, which is why engaging early avoids costly late changes.
Who can issue a NatHERS certificate?+
Only an accredited NatHERS assessor (accredited through a recognised assessor accreditation organisation). Your Relevant Building Surveyor needs that certificate for the building permit, so use an accredited assessor, not an informal estimate.
Your next steps
What to do next
Note: the stories below are Adelaide-based clients - the underlying builder-matching process is identical for Melbourne buyers.
How a design-stage energy check lifted comfort for free, real client stories
Federuzzi Development
Two double-garage homes squeezed onto an odd-shaped subdivision block in Ingle Farm, with the equity earmarked to fund the next development.
Read the case studySterai Residence
A practical, well-planned knockdown rebuild on a tricky triangular block in Ingle Farm.
Read the case studyBuilding in Adelaide instead?
See our Adelaide energy assessors guide