'No More Average Buildings' campaign in NSW

A new campaign aims to lift the energy efficiency of average-performing commercial office buildings in New South Wales.

The ‘No More Average Buildings’ campaign will see a financial support package for energy efficiency offered to owners and managers of office buildings with a National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) energy assessment of three stars or less.

The campaign, a partnership between NABERS and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), is a further push in a sustained effort to lift the energy performance of the state’s commercial office building stock.

“Of 486 NABERS-certified buildings in NSW today, only 102 have a NABERS energy rating of three stars (average) or less,” said Tom Grosskopf, OEH Metropolitan Branch Director. “That’s nearly a 40% drop in the number of buildings rated three stars or less than in the 2012/13 financial year.

“Higher NABERS energy-rated buildings have been shown to receive higher rent, as well as enjoy lower vacancy rates and longer leases.

“Our aim is to have NSW be the first state to have no more average energy-performing buildings by the end of the 2018/19 financial year.”

The support package offered to owners and managers of buildings rated three star or less includes:

• 50% off the cost of an energy audit to identify the big energy-saving opportunities in their building;
• up to $10,000 for technical expertise to support implementation of identified energy-saving opportunities;
• funding assistance of up to $15,000 for measurement and verification services to ensure that the upgrades are delivering the expected savings;
• help to access available public and private finance options for projects; and
• subsidised energy-efficiency training in key technologies such as lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as assistance to develop compelling business cases for energy upgrade projects.

Grosskopf said greater energy efficiency makes a lot of sense to building owners and managers.

“It’s a great opportunity for building owners and managers to save on their energy costs and increase the value of their assets — while also doing something good for the environment.

“Tenants benefit too, with lower energy bills and improved comfort levels, as energy-efficient spaces typically have better climate control.”

Support packages for other NABERS rateable buildings including shopping centres, hotels and data centres will also be made available.

For further information, visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/business/energy-saver.htm, email energy.saver@environment.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 361 967 (ask for the Energy Efficient Business team).