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The industry body has praised the government’s move to expand upon its energy efficiency program for office buildings.
The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the announcement made by the assistant minister for Climate Change and Energy, Jenny McAllister, that the government will consult on the expansion of the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Program.
The CBD program was described as supporting energy efficiency within office buildings in requiring owners to report their National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) energy performance ratings when selling or leasing office space over 1,000 square metres.
McAllister’s statement surrounding the expansion of the CBD program constitutes a step forward in realising the ambitions of the Property Council and Green Building Council of Australia’s joint policy platform Every Building Counts, which lobbies for a “regular review-and-ratchet expansion of NABERS and the CBD program alongside a suite of policies offering a roadmap towards zero-carbon ready buildings”.
Commenting on the announcement, Property Council chief executive Mike Zorbas stated that “reimagining the CBD program can help adapt it for the future during this critical decade of climate action”.
“Expanding the CBD Program to cover more commercial office spaces and types of commercial building is a no-brainer that will lead to savings in emissions and energy bills.”
“It is an opportunity to rethink the program’s role in encouraging electrification, the procurement of renewable electricity and a focus on embodied carbon of buildings,” said Zorbas.
While the CEO acknowledged that the CBD program places a “light-touch compliance burden on building owners”, he nonetheless stated that the initiative offers advantages such as increased value for higher rated buildings and higher tenant retention rates.
“Australia’s property industry is a world leader when it comes to energy-efficient offices and consultation with the sector will be key for the program’s long-term success,” he concluded.
This energy efficiency-related announcement occurs after the Real Estate Institute of Victoria announced they would participate in the consultation process surrounding proposed energy efficiency mandates for Victorian rentals.
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