NatHERS Energy Rating Software Compared: AccuRate, FirstRate5, BERS Pro and HERO

If you have looked into a NatHERS rating, you have probably come across names like AccuRate, FirstRate5, BERS Pro and HERO. These are the four software tools accredited to produce a NatHERS star rating in Australia, and a common question follows: which one is best, and does the choice change your result? Here is an honest, plain-English comparison.

The one fact that changes everything

All four NatHERS-accredited tools run the same underlying calculation engine, called Chenath, developed by the CSIRO. NatHERS accreditation means each tool has been tested to produce consistent results from that shared engine. In practice this means something important: a home modelled correctly will achieve the same star rating no matter which of the four tools is used.

The software is the interface. Chenath does the physics. That single fact reframes the entire comparison – the tools do not really compete on the accuracy of the rating, they compete on how quickly, comfortably and reliably an accredited assessor can build the model.

What “NatHERS accredited software” actually means

NatHERS, the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, accredits second-generation software tools that use the Chenath engine to simulate a full year of local weather against a thermal model of a home. Accreditation exists precisely to ensure consistency between tools, so that a star rating means the same thing regardless of which accredited program produced it.

The four currently accredited tools are AccuRate Sustainability, FirstRate5, BERS Pro and HERO. Each takes the same core inputs – your climate zone, the building fabric, glazing, shading, zoning and orientation – and returns a star rating out of 10, plus the predicted heating and cooling loads behind it.

The four tools, side by side

AccuRate Sustainability

Developed by the CSIRO, AccuRate is widely regarded as the reference implementation of the Chenath engine – the benchmark the other tools are measured against. Its workflow leans towards structured data entry rather than tracing over plans, which some experienced assessors prefer for control and repeatability.

FirstRate5

Developed by Sustainability Victoria, FirstRate5 is known for a graphical workflow where the assessor traces over imported architectural plans to build the thermal model. That visual, plan-driven approach is intuitive and has made it one of the most widely used tools in the country.

BERS Pro

Produced by Energy Inspection, BERS Pro is a long-established NatHERS tool with a solid track record. Like the others it runs Chenath under the hood, with its own interface and workflow that many assessors have used for years.

HERO

Developed by Sustainability House, HERO is a newer entrant with a modern, streamlined interface. It aims to make the modelling process efficient while delivering the same accredited Chenath result.

Does the software change my star rating?

No. Because all four share the Chenath engine, the same model produces the same rating. What moves a rating up or down is the design of the home and the accuracy of the modelling, not the brand of software. A careful model built in any accredited tool will outperform a rushed model built in a so-called better one.

This is the most common misconception we hear. There is no secret tool that quietly adds half a star. If a result looks too good or too poor, the answer lies in the inputs and the design, not the logo on the software.

What actually affects your result

If the software does not change the rating, what does? The same fundamentals every time:

• Orientation – which way the home and its windows face.
• Glazing – the size, type and placement of windows.
• Insulation – levels in the roof, walls and floor, installed without gaps.
• Shading – eaves, awnings and external shading that block summer sun.
• Accurate plans and inputs – a complete, well-dimensioned plan set.
• The assessor – the skill and care taken to model the home correctly and find the cheapest path to compliance.

The biggest variable is not the software. It is the person using it.

Which software do we use at NathersPro?

Our HERA-registered assessors work primarily in FirstRate5 and HERO. We chose these for their efficient, reliable workflows, which let us model accurately and turn certificates around quickly – standard assessments in 3 to 4 business days, with 24-hour express available. Because the calculation engine is shared across all accredited tools, you receive the same trusted Chenath result, prepared by assessors who know their software inside out. If you would like to discuss your project, you can get a fast, fixed-fee quote any time.

For homeowners and builders: you do not choose the software

Here is the reassuring part. If you are building or renovating, you do not pick the software – your assessor does. What matters to you is simpler and more important:

• Engage an accredited assessor (look for NatHERS accreditation through a body such as HERA).
• Provide a complete, accurate plan set so the model reflects what will be built.
• Bring your assessor in early, so design tweaks can lift the rating before construction.

Get those three right and the choice between AccuRate, FirstRate5, BERS Pro and HERO makes no difference to your certificate.

For assessors: how to choose your tool

If you are an assessor or training to become one, the tools genuinely differ in feel, and the right choice comes down to fit rather than accuracy:

• Interface – graphical trace-over-plans versus structured data entry.
• Workflow speed – how quickly you can build and revise a model.
• Support and training – documentation, updates and help when you need it.
• Licensing and cost – the ongoing price of the tool.
• The rest of your toolkit – how it fits with the other software you use.

Many experienced assessors are comfortable in more than one tool, which is useful when a project or a client calls for it.

Frequently asked questions

Which NatHERS software is the most accurate? They are equally accurate for the star rating, because they all run the same CSIRO Chenath engine. Real-world accuracy comes from the assessor modelling the home correctly, not from the brand of tool.

Is FirstRate5 better than AccuRate or BERS Pro? Not for the result. They differ in interface and workflow, so one may suit a particular assessor better, but the rating they produce from the same model is the same.

Which tools does NathersPro use? Our assessors work in FirstRate5 and HERO. All four accredited tools produce the same accredited Chenath result, so you can be confident in the certificate either way.

Building or renovating in NSW? Get a fast, fixed-fee quote from our HERA-registered assessors.