The NSW government has launched a new campaign to lift the energy efficiency of average-performing commercial office buildings across the state.
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 the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and NABERS.
OEH metropolitan branch director, Tom Grosskopf, said the plan is to significantly lift the energy performance of the state's commercial office building stock by 2019.
“Of 486 NABERS-certified buildings in NSW today, only 102 have a NABERS energy rating of three stars (average) or less,” he said.
“That’s nearly a 40 per cent drop in the number of buildings rated three stars or less than in the 2012/13 financial year.”
Grosskopf said higher NABERS energy-rated buildings receive higher rent, and 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," he said.
The support package offered to owners and managers of buildings rated three star or less includes:
50 percent 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
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," he said.
“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.
If you own or know of an average building and would like to know more, visit http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/business/energy-saver.htm or email energy.saver@environment.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 361 967 (ask for the Energy Efficient Business team).
Similar initiatives are also being promoted in other states, particularly Victoria and South Australia.
Sustainability Victoria (SV) provides resource assessment grants to encourage businesses to review their activities and to identify and implement energy and materials efficiency improvements.
SV is currently offering grants to eligible business to cover 50 per cent of the cost to engage a consultant to conduct a resource assessment of their operations.
Grants are capped at $5,000 for an energy assessment and $10,000 for a materials or combined materials and energy assessment.
A $3000 implementation support bonus is available for businesses that can show evidence of implementing one or more recommendations from their assessment.
Businesses now have until Thursday, March 31 to submit applications for an energy assessment grant up to $5,000.