Existing Office Buildings Project
Friday, 01 February 2008 10:00
Overview
The Existing Buildings Project, funded by a NSW Government Climate Action Grant, brings together 25 commercial property groups to explore how office buildings owners can achieve the cuts in greenhouse gas emissions that are needed to avoid dangerous climate change. The project aimed to get the property groups to commit to upgrading their entire office building stock to an improved energy rating of either 4.5 or 4.0 from the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS). Groups committed to the 4.5 rating were deemed first tier, 4.0, second tier and a third tier was established for property groups who did not commit but were willing to attend a series of workshops outlining the benefits and opportunities of upgrading their office stock portfolio. List of FAQ's [PDF 34.2Kb]
In an increasingly carbon conscious world, a lot of focus is often placed on the creation of new 'green buildings'. Yet current existing buildings, which were built without sustainability in mind, make up 98% of Australia's office floor space and account for over 3.5% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, updating existing building stock to become more energy efficient is the single most important step for the property sector in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more.....
Property Groups Involved
At the centre of the collaboration are the commitments made by 5 of Australia's property giants. GPT Group, Macquarie Office Trust, the Local Government and Superannuation Scheme (LGSS), Australian Prime Property Fund (APPF) and Brookfield Multiplex are leading their sector with commitments to upgrade their entire Australian office portfolios to an average NABERS Energy rating of 4.5 by 2012. Becton Property Group has committed to upgrade its office portfolio to a NABERS Energy Rating of 4.0.
Collectively, these commitments relate to over 10% of Australian investment grade floor space in CBD's throughout the country. If all office buildings were to achieve the energy rating of 4.5 it would be the emissions equivalent of removing all of Australia's heavy trucking fleet from the roads.
List of buildings involved [PDF 18.2Kb]
Reports
The Commercial Property and Climate Change Report [PDF 449Kb] September 2008
Workshop Series
Over the first half of 2008, 20 commercial property groups came together to explore how they were exposed to climate change and how they could reduce their emissions from their office buildings. The presentations made at each of the workshops are available below.
Workshop 1: Commercial Property Exposures to Climate Change
The emissions profile of commercial property
- Matthew Clark, Manager, Built Environment, NSW Department of Climate Change
Physical exposures to climate change
- Dr. Karl Mallon, Director, Science & Systems, Climate Risk
What emission trading & complementary measures mean for commercial property.
- Lily Mitchell, Senior Associate, Baker & McKenzie
Operating cost structure implications of climate change
- Drew Fryer, Senior Analyst, Innovest Group
Workshop 2: Emissions abatement options in commercial property, subsidies,
and alternative finance mechanisms.
Energy efficiency options in office buildings
- Stephen Hennessy, Director, Steensen Varming
Green Power
- Peter Leihn, Principal Policy Officer, NSW Department of Water and Energy
Subsidies available for the upgrading of existing buildings
- Jeff Bye, Managing Director, Demand Manager
Workshop 3: Rating tools and the broader sustainability aspects of
commercial property.
Broader sustainability aspects of commercial property - Case Study: 40 Albert Rd.
- Jessa Boanas-Dewes, Szencorp
Greenroofs: costs and benefits
- Jim Osbourne, NSW Representative, Green Roofs Australia
An introduction to Australian sustainability rating tools
- Andrew Ostoja, Managing Director, Resource Management Solutions
Workshop 4: Building Tours
The fourth workshop consisted of tours of existing buildings that had been upgraded to achieve substantial gains in environmental performance. These building tours were held in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Sydney: Stockhome, 133 Castlereagh St. (Stockland)
- Davina Rooney, Sustainability Manager, Office & Industrial, Stockland
Melbourne: 500 Collins St. (Kador Group)
- Mark Ross, Manager, Investment Projects, Kador Group
Workshop 5: Going International
The state of climate policy in key international markets
- Andrew Beatty & Pete Richardson, Baker & McKenzie
The future of electricity prices in key international markets
- Nicholas Morris, Managing Director, IPA Economics Australia
International sustainability rating tools
- Chris Bloomfield, Senior Energy Consultant, Exergy
Media Releases
Australian Property Giants Continue Agressive Emissions Cuts Ahead of 2020 Target Announcement 01/12/08
Total Environment Centre has welcomed today’s announcement that Brookfield Multiplex will join industry leaders in upgrading its existing office buildings to achieve significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
Commercial Property on Collision Course with Climate Change 23/09/08
The commercial property sector is on a collision course with climate change, according to a new report from the Total Environment Centre.
Property Groups Unite to Tackle Climate Change 03/04/08
Three days after Australia's CBDs were plunged into darkness for Earth Hour, the country’s property industry are gathering to explore how it can make a more permanent contribution to the fight against climate change.
Office Towers Go Green 13/12/07
With the world’s nations in Bali to discuss the shape of a post 2012 response to climate change, 68 office buildings across Australia have been signed up to major energy efficiency programs, under a scheme developed with the Total Environment Centre.
Contact details:
Cameron Eren, Industry Partnerships Program
+61 2 9261 3437
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