HEER stands for Home Energy Efficiency Retrofits. It is a method developed for calculating energy savings from a range of household and small business energy efficiency upgrades in New South Wales. The method provides a standardized framework for assessing the performance and benefits of residential and small commercial energy improvement projects within the NSW regulatory context.
HEER stands for Home Energy Efficiency Retrofits. It is a method developed for calculating energy savings from a range of household and small business energy efficiency upgrades in New South Wales. The method provides a standardized framework for assessing the performance and benefits of residential and small commercial energy improvement projects within the NSW regulatory context.
No. HEER is a specific calculation method for assessing energy savings from household and small business retrofits. The NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) is the broader regulatory framework that creates Energy Savings Certificates from eligible energy-saving activities. HEER-assessed improvements may qualify for certificates under ESS if they meet the scheme's specific activity, equipment, timing and evidence requirements. Method eligibility and scheme eligibility are separate assessments.
HEER addresses household and small business energy efficiency improvements affecting electricity, gas, or both fuel types. Eligible retrofit activities may include heating and cooling system upgrades, insulation improvements, lighting changes, hot-water system replacements, and other equipment modifications. However, HEER method eligibility depends on the specific activity meeting the method's defined scope and requirements. Not every energy-saving retrofit automatically qualifies under HEER rules.
A HEER assessment requires at least one year of baseline energy consumption data establishing pre-retrofit patterns, clear equipment specifications for existing and proposed systems, documented implementation dates and commissioning records, and details of the household or small business operations and occupancy. Energy history must distinguish measured information from estimates. The NSW M&V guide and relevant HEER method documentation specify precise evidence requirements. Early data collection is critical because measurement gaps cannot be recovered after installation.
HEER calculates estimated energy savings based on the method's defined parameters and equipment specifications. Actual bill reductions depend on multiple factors including baseline consumption patterns, weather, occupancy changes, tariff structures and operating behaviour. A lower bill does not automatically confirm the projected HEER savings; verified measurement and verification establishes the actual performance. Keep the HEER estimate separate from measured outcomes until post-installation verification is complete.
We provide energy audits to identify retrofit opportunities, measurement and verification services to establish baseline conditions and track outcomes, guidance on NSW Energy Savings Scheme eligibility for HEER-assessed activities, and support navigating funding pathways and investment cases. We can scope audits proportionate to your decision, develop evidence strategies aligned with scheme requirements, and assess whether projects meet conditions for certificate creation. Service scope should be confirmed for your specific HEER project and current regulatory conditions.
Measurement planning should occur during project scoping, before equipment installation and before final investment decisions. Early planning identifies what baseline data must be captured, which operating variables need recording, what commissioning evidence is required, and who holds measurement responsibilities. The NSW M&V guide emphasises that meaningful baseline data can only be obtained while upgrades are being planned. Delaying measurement planning until after installation can make the intended analysis difficult or impossible.
Eligibility for ESS certificates requires meeting three separate tests: the activity must be defined as eligible under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme rules; the equipment and installation must meet prescribed specifications for that activity; and the project must satisfy evidence, timing and nomination requirements. A retrofit improving energy efficiency is not automatically eligible. The specific HEER method version, implementation date and scheme conditions at the time of assessment determine eligibility. Confirming pathway suitability early protects both project merit and funding options.
