Skip navigation

 
 

Symmetry Sustainable Business

A Good Building is Smart Business*

By Bill Parker, Symmetry Business Mentor

We are by now all aware of the benefits of improving our sustainable practice and operations. Despite talk of increased regulation, sustainability in Australia has so far been mainly driven by corporate policy and the practice of individual smaller business operators. Many businesses have sought savings through energy and water efficiency and managing waste. This year marks an important shift to new sustainability measures resulting from laws designed to make buildings more efficient. On January 22nd 2010, the Federal Government announced that new provisions for greenhouse pollution reduction would be included in the national Building Code of Australia (BCA) for 2010. These new provisions have been developed at the request of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). An important impact on business will be associated legislation impacting on the sale or leasing of property. 

Mandatory disclosure of energy efficiency for commercial buildings will commence in 2010 and for residential buildings by 2011. The legislation will eventually require that all buildings disclose an appropriate energy efficiency rating and certificate when they are sold, leased or subleased. The scheme kicks off in July 2010 for commercial office buildings with a net lettable area (NLA) of 2000m2. Other commercial space and buildings such as hotels, shops, schools and hospitals will be included in Phase 2 of the scheme during 2010. It is expected that residential property will be covered by the Act by as early as May 2011.

The scheme will require the energy efficiency of buildings to be disclosed at the point of sale or lease, so that potential buyers and tenants can compare the energy efficiency of buildings on a 'like for like' basis.

The scheme will require that vendors or landlord’s disclose:

  • a NABERS Energy base building star rating in any advertisement about the sale or lease;
  • a valid Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) to prospective purchasers or tenants; and
  • a valid BEEC to a central registry within 30 days after a proposed sale or lease is initially advertised.

Although this scheme will involve increased administration and certification costs, it also presents opportunities and benefits to business. The national mandatory disclosure scheme will increase the demand for energy efficient commercial buildings, creating new green enterprise and employment opportunities and the adoption of the scheme should bring energy savings to many businesses.

*Views expressed here may not necessarily be shared by MACROC.

 

 

This project is proudly supported by AusIndustry, an Austrlian Government Initiative

Symmetry Sustainable Business Partners