Recognising office energy reduction efforts

23 NOVEMBER 2010

Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Simon Corbell has today announced a new Government rebate to encourage more office spaces in the ACT to join up to the CitySwitch Green Office program.

Mr Corbell made the announcement of a 50 per cent rebate for NABERS Energy rating assessments while commending the leadership and achievements of offices in the Territory that have already committed to reducing their energy use through CitySwitch. CitySwitch is a program that encourages businesses to use less energy in their offices and is free to join but the program requires signatories to obtain a NABERS Energy rating.

“The Government has introduced another incentive for organisations to join CitySwitch and help the environment with a 50 per cent rebate for NABERS assessments for CitySwitch Signatories,” Mr Corbell said.

The assessment must be conducted between 1 July 2010 and 31 May 2011, and are up to a maximum amount of $1,000.

“Offices are responsible for a significant proportion of the ACT’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions and reducing this will go a long way to achieving the Government’s emissions reductions targets of 40 per cent by 2020 and zero net emissions by 2060,” Mr Corbell said.

At a ceremony today, certificates were presented to ten ACT CitySwitch Signatories at the inaugural ACT CitySwitch Awards – AECOM; Bradley Allen; Energetics; Exergy; Isis; Jones, Lang, LaSalle; Knight Frank; Norman Disney and Young; the Department of Land and Property Services; and the Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water. Exergy was named the ACT CitySwitch Signatory of the Year.

“The benefits of signing up to CitySwitch are very significant for businesses as well as the local environment,” he said.

“For one Signatory, Exergy, modifications to the lighting system, encouraging the use of natural light and making the ICT system more energy efficient saw them reduce carbon emissions by six tonnes a year.

“I congratulate all those businesses who have already signed on to the program and are making a difference, and would encourage all other businesses in the ACT to sign up to CitySwitch.”
 

Canberra tenancies making the switch

14 DECEMBER 2009

In the ACT stationary buildings (including office buildings) account for over 70 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, compared to around 50 percent nationally.

Together with CitySwitch, there is enormous potential for the ACT's commercial office tenants to reduce their energy use and contribute to a carbon neutral Canberra.

Leading the way in making a difference to Canberra’s ambitious targets are CitySwitch Signatories Energetics, Knight Frank and ISIS. These organisations have expanded their national CitySwitch commitment to include their Canberra operations, whilst energy efficiency specialists, Exergy, has also since come on board as a new participant to the program.

Having recently profiled CitySwitch at the Business Sustainability Showcase held at Manuka Oval, Simon Corbell MLA, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water and Minister for Energy, encourages local organisations to join the program and build on the ACT's commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2060.

If you have a tenancy in Canberra and would like to extend your CitySwitch commitment to the ACT, contact Debra Grogan on 02-6207 5669 or at debra.grogan@act.gov.au.