As part of the growing demand for NABERS UK rating in office buildings, whether they are new builds or retrofits the demand for Design for Performance (DfP) and Energy for Offices (EfO) is growing, Founding Director Matthew Edis from Sustainable Construction Services (SCS) shares his achievement of the NABERS UK 4-star rating assessment on 22 Kings Park House.
Can you tell me about your background and how you became a NABERS UK assessor?
SCS are always looking for new ways to achieve clients' goals and support their focus on energy efficiency in their buildings. Matthew has been a chartered building services engineer for over 20 years and an EPC assessor since 2008. Matthew’s advice to clients has always been focused on making buildings low energy and has produced operational energy models to achieve this long-term goal.
NABERS UK became the next logical step in achieving energy efficient buildings. Matthew expressed the value of supporting the design of a new building through the Design for Performance Certification and through actual energy usage, through the Energy for Offices Certification.
Can you walk me through the process of conducting a NABERS UK assessment?
For a NABERS UK Energy for Offices – Energy in Use assessment, the process begins by engaging with the client to identify key contacts who understand how energy is used in the building. These may include the landlord, facilities management, business owners, or even front-of-house staff.
Next, you gather as much relevant data as possible prior to the site visit, this includes metering details and information on major energy-using systems. The site visit involves inspecting the building, speaking with occupants, and collecting any outstanding data.
After the visit, we resolve any open queries, complete the necessary documentation, and review all details with the client before submitting the assessment for audit. Once audited, we communicate the final rating and support the client in planning improvements for future performance.
For Design for Performance assessments, the role is more advisory and focused on the design stage. It involves dynamic modelling of predicted energy use, providing guidance on improvements, and collaborating with the commissioning and controls teams to optimise building performance. A third-party Independent Design Reviewer is also involved to verify that the modelling is robust and that the predicted rating aligns with expected real-world outcomes.
Can you tell me about a recent NABERS UK Energy for Offices lodgment. What type of building was it, and how did you get involved?
One of my first NABERS UK Energy for Offices lodgement was for a fully occupied office building in Southampton. We were introduced to the client through a mutual contact and initially explored a range of certification options for their building. After discussing the benefits and suitability of each, the client decided to proceed with NABERS UK as it best aligned with their goals for performance-based energy benchmarking.
Kings Park House achieves NABERS UK 4-star rating, a Base Build Certificate. This ranks Kings Park House among the top buildings in the country for certified energy in use performance, with only three other buildings to achieve this rating, and two to achieve higher.
Kings Park House is a 15,061 sq.ft office building that underwent substantial refurbishment in 2017 at a cost of approximately £2 million. It boasts strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) credentials, featuring an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of B.
What were the main challenges you encountered during that initial assessment, and how did you overcome them?
One of the main challenges was obtaining accurate and complete metering data. Partway through the process, the building switched electricity suppliers, which disrupted data continuity and made it a challenge to track energy use consistently across the assessment period.
Initially, progress was slow because some stakeholders were unfamiliar with NABERS UK requirements, and the level of detail needed. However, once we were able to engage directly with the facilities manager who had a strong understanding of the building’s energy systems and metering setup, things moved forward quickly and efficiently.
We also had to arrange a physical survey of the meters to verify their accuracy and ensure they met NABERS UK standards. This step was essential to ensure the credibility of the data and, ultimately, the assessment itself.
How did you find working with the NABERS UK rules and technical guidance the first time around?
When I first began working with the NABERS UK rules and technical guidance, I naturally had a few questions, as is the case when working with any new framework. However, I found the training course to be fantastic. In was detailed, easy to follow and well-structured. It provided me with a strong foundational understanding of the rules and methodologies, which gave me the confidence to apply them effectively in practice.
What stood out most was how clearly the guidance helped me identify relevant issues within the building I was assessing. It not only clarified the technical aspects but also sharpened my ability to know exactly what to look for during an assessment. Overall, the experience was both educational and practical, and it gave me a solid platform to build on as I continued applying NABERS UK principles in real-world scenarios.
What have you learned about building performance through conducting these assessments?
Although I've worked in the field for many years, conducting NABERS UK assessments has reinforced the idea that there is always more to learn when it comes to building performance. One key insight has been the impact of hybrid working patterns on energy use and servicing strategies. The assessments have made me think more critically about how buildings are operated, particularly in relation to fluctuating occupancy levels.
What advice would you give to building owners or property managers looking to achieve a NABERS UK rating?
I would absolutely encourage them to pursue it. NABERS UK is a fantastic initiative and represents the gold standard in operational energy performance certification. It’s a powerful way to demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability and to differentiate your building in a competitive market.
That said, I would also remind them that Rome was not built in a day. Operational energy performance is a continuous improvement process. Regardless of the outcome of your first rating, you will always be able to get a better result in the future as you learn to better control your energy use. Success lies in the willingness to learn, adapt, and make incremental progress.
As a NABERS Assessor, Matthew Edis delivered one of the early certifications under the scheme. His first Energy for Offices assessment of the King Park House demonstrates how expert guidance, and a robust framework can help organisations take meaningful steps toward reducing operational energy use.
Ready to take the next step in improving your building’s performance? Learn more about the NABERS Energy for Offices scheme today.