29 November 2011
The Honourable Mark Dreyfus QC, Cabinet Secretary and Parliamentary Secretary
for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
Significant energy savings have been achieved by the CitySwitch Green Office signatories of the year who were announced this morning at an official awards ceremony. The Public Transport Ombudsman was named the small signatory of the year, while Ernst & Young was named the large signatory of the year and also the national new signatory of the year.
The CitySwitch program is a partnership between the cities of Melbourne, Port Phillip, Yarra and Sustainability Victoria. The partners work with commercial office tenants to reduce energy use, save money on energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One hundred program signatories are involved in CitySwitch in Victoria and represent over 295,000 square metres of office space.
The Honourable Mark Dreyfus QC, Cabinet Secretary and Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency attended the awards to announce the national new signatory of the year award, and was impressed by the level of program commitment. “Using energy more efficiently can lower carbon pollution as well as save money for business. All it takes is small changes and being smarter about energy use – the winners of the CitySwitch awards have proven that a commitment to energy efficiency delivers real benefits,” Mr Dreyfus said.
City of Melbourne Eco City Councillor Cathy Oke said the partnership between the three councils and the State Government allowed the CitySwitch program to have a greater reach and impact on the environment. “The combined work of the cities of Port Phillip, Yarra and Melbourne and Sustainability Victoria to educate and assist office tenants to be smarter about their energy use is producing some fantastic results,” Cr Oke said.
National New Signatory of the Year and Victorian Signatory of the Year (over 2000m²) winner, Ernst & Young, upgraded its office down lights to energy efficient globes and have an energy saving lighting control system installed. Its energy efficient office fit out has seen it achieve a 4.5 star NABERS energy tenancy rating. The national judging committee that included representatives from the Green Building Council of Australia and Property Council of Australia praised the commitments of Ernst & Young in Victoria following the national awards judging session.
“As a new signatory in Victoria, Ernst and Young has hit the ground running, demonstrating strong commitment to change with a system for tracking their performance and an ongoing program of activities. With lighting upgrades complete, we look forward to seeing its energy action plan formalising next year’s efforts.” As part of the program, the Public Transport Ombudsman Victoria installed a sensor lighting control system, LED down lights and upgraded to LED computer monitors. It achieved a 5.5 star NABERS energy tenancy rating as a result of its efficient pratices.
Frank Gurrieri, from Ernst & Young left, receiving the "National New Signatory
of the Year 2011" award from The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP on the right.
Left to right, front, The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP, Janine Young and Megan Cooper of
Public Transport Ombudsman and the Victorian CitySwitch team
Frank Gurrieri of Ernst & Young centre with the Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP left and Victorian CitySwitch team.
Photos by Andrew Bott.
Philip Hopkins
The Age
AUSTRALIA'S valuers have confirmed the hype - going ''green'' definitely increases the value of an office building.
The buildings worth the most are those that have the best energy rating, the Australian Property Institute found in a report it said was the first rigorous assessment of green office buildings in the nation. Buildings with low energy ratings lost value.
The study said office buildings with a five-star NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating Scheme) energy rating created a premium of 9 per cent, while three to 4½ stars delivered a 2 to 3 per cent premium in value. The Green Star rating showed a premium of 12 per cent. Read more here.
22 November 2011
The Australian Institute of Refridgeration Air Condfitioning and Heating (AIRAH) is conducting an independent technical review and report of the NABERS rating tools on behalf of the NABERS stakeholder's advisory committee.
An online survey is open to gather industry issues. The link to the survey is here . This is an opportunity to share any issues you have had with the NABERS system.
Comments are due by close of business on Wednesday 14th December. If you have any questions contact Phil Wilkinson CEO, AIRAH phil@airah.org.au
7 DECEMBER 2010
Energetics and EPA Victoria have been named recipients of the inaugural Victorian CitySwitch Awards for their achievements in reducing office energy use. The winners were announced this morning at the CitySwitch Green Office Awards breakfast at the Mercure in Melbourne.
“Today’s Awards recognise the great work being done by commercial office tenants to reduce energy use, save money on energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Sustainability Victoria CEO Anita Roper said.
“The CitySwitch Green Office program works with the leaders in commercial office tenancy who know that sustainability makes good business sense. These organisations are taking smart steps to minimise their energy use by improving or upgrading equipment and fostering a culture of behaviour change in the workplace,” Mrs Roper said.
CitySwitch Signatory of the Year (under 2000m²) winner, Energetics, made a number of changes to their office including installing motion-sensor lighting and computer energy monitoring. The company also purchased 100 per cent GreenPower and hold a 5 Star NABERS rating.
Signatory of the Year (over 2000m²) winner, EPA Victoria, recently moved their head office to one of Melbourne’s most sustainable commercial buildings at 200 Victoria Street, Carlton. The building, a former CUB laboratory, is one of the first commercial retrofit buildings in Australia to have achieved a 6 Star Green Star Rating in office design. Features include the use of energy efficient appliances, timers on hot water units and motion-sensor lighting.
“If every Australian office tenant adopted similar changes to those of the EPA and Energetics there is the potential to save around 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gas per annum – the equivalent of taking 200,000 cars off the road,” Mrs Roper said.
“It is great to have the partnership with the cities of Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra on the CitySwitch program. CitySwitch is a great example of local and state government, and the community, working closely together to improve environmental outcomes.”
Ten leadings Signatories were nominated for the Awards and in addition to the winners, included:
* Cbus
* Craft Victoria * GHD * Public Records Office Victoria * Synergetics * The Property Council of Australia * The Public Transport Ombudsman * WSP Lincoln Scott
Signatories that achieved a NABERS rating of 4 stars and above in 2010 were also congratulated at the awards. These included:
* Actual Size * Diadem * Energetics * Flexicar * The Property Council of Australia * Sustainability Victoria and * WSP Lincoln Scott
CitySwitch Signatories in Victoria now represent over 194,000 square metres of office space across 76 tenancies – the equivalent of 743 tennis courts. Read more about this year's program achievements by downloading the 2010 CitySwitch Progress Report Snapshot Victoria (4MB) >
Cr Geoff Barbour Acting Mayor of
Yarra City Council with Emma Faure
of Energetics - CitySwitch Signatory
of the Year winner in the under 2000 sqm
category.
12 FEBRUARY 2010
A sustainable office toolkit is now available for CitySwitch Signatories in Melbourne. The toolkit includes a Power-Mate, a lux meter and water flow meter. These hands-on resources can assist CitySwitch Signatories in measuring and monitoring office energy output, lighting levels and water flow efficiency. Your Victorian Program Managers can provide guidance on how to best utilise the devices.
A limited number of toolkits are available for Melbourne-based Signatories to borrow. Please contact Brett Munckton, Victorian CitySwitch Program Manager for more information at brett.munckton@melbourne.vic.gov.au or call (03) 9658 8557.
1 JUNE 2009
Representatives from over eighty leading green cities from around the world have come together at the C40 Climate Change Summit in Seoul. Held in May this year, the leadership summit focused on climate change, under the theme of 'Cities Achievements and Challenges in the Fight against Climate Change'.
The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore MP, a representative of the Lord Mayor of Melbourne and senior executives from both councils represented Australia’s two C40 member cities, Sydney and Melbourne. CitySwitch was presented as a demonstration of local government leadership to combat carbon pollution. The City of Sydney and City of Melbourne on behalf of the CitySwitch partnering councils outlined how the actions of the growing CitySwitch network of tenant organisations are reducing Australia’s climate change impact.
CitySwitch was profiled as a leading project for collaboratively reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with the achievements of the program’s Signatories providing a leading example of best practice for achieving energy efficiency.
For more information visit the C40 Climate Change Summit website >
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Activate ‘sleep’ mode on office equipment that isn’t in constant use.
The next CitySwitch event in Melbourne will be announced soon. Read more >
The Public Transport Ombudsman and Ernst & Young take out the Victorian and National awards . Read more >
CitySwitch Program Overivew [PDF | 140KB] >
Template Commitment Letter - Melbourne >
Template Commitment Letter - Port Phillip >
2010 Victoria CitySwitch Progress Report >
NABERS Accredited Assessors list >
More CitySwitch resources >