The BESS assessment was created to assist builders and developers demonstrate they meet sustainability requirements as part of town planning permit applications. Victorian Councils are increasingly making BESS assessments a requirement for new building developments or alterations.

The BESS tool assesses if your home or alteration’s design demonstrates a satisfactory score for your planners, and your commitment to implement sustainable measures within the BESS requirements.

BESS replaced both STEPS and Sustainable Design Scorecard (SDS) that previously supported the Sustainable Design Assessment.

The management and strategic direction of the tool is overseen by a Governance Board that is a sub-committee of the CASBE (Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment Steering Committee).

BESS demonstrates best practise in environmentally sustainable design and uses benchmarks to measure the increased sustainability of a development compared to traditional design methods. Its interactive platform allows users to change design elements to see how these affect the sustainability result.

While anyone can use the BESS tool for simple permit applications for homes or renovations, for best outcomes and more complicated applications it is recommended to employ an ESD professional. A professional will deliver the best advice for a sustainable design that will deliver long-term savings, comfort and also look after the environment.