Better Buildings Partnership halfway to emissions reduction target

Members of the City of Sydney’s Better Buildings Partnership (BBP), which includes landlords and property managers representing more than half of Sydney CBD’s commercial floor space, have reduced their emissions by 35% since 2006. The figures have been released in the partnership’s 2013-14 annual report.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore noted that over half the city’s greenhouse gas emissions come from commercial buildings, “so it’s important that governments and businesses work together to reduce their environmental impact”. The report finds that BBP members have slashed their electricity bills by $30 million a year since the launch of the partnership in June 2011, placing them halfway to their 70% emissions reduction target by 2030.

Additionally, members have avoided over 113,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and achieved a 33% reduction on total potable water use. Moore said, “This year’s results exceeded the BBP’s emissions reduction target again and sets a terrific example to others on just how much can be achieved when we all work together.”

Kylie Rampa is the managing director - investment management for Lend Lease, one of the founding members of the partnership. She said the BBP provides the perfect opportunity for Lend Lease to collaborate with its peers, service providers and other stakeholders to resolve challenges that no single organisation can solve.

Darren Steinberg, the CEO of fellow founding member DEXUS Property Group, added that the BBP is an ideal platform to share and test innovative approaches to better environmental outcomes. He referred to the company’s refurbishment at 44 Market Street, Sydney, where the company has achieved a 68% reduction in emissions and improved the building’s NABERS energy rating from one star to five.

The City has worked closely with the BBP on the development of its new draft energy efficiency master plan - a blueprint to keep Sydney internationally competitive by increasing energy productivity in homes and offices across the city area. Moore said the BBP has “been able to share vital information about their energy-saving successes to inform this important plan” and encourages all businesses and residents to follow in the partnership’s footsteps.

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