New guide to NABERS Energy encourages other nations to build on Australian commercial property’s sustainability success
NABERS today launches a comprehensive guide to NABERS Energy, created to introduce the suite of ratings to policymakers and sustainability professionals overseas. The aim is to share key lessons from the last 24 years so others can learn about the Australian sector’s success and consider the implications for their own region or country.
The guide is launched today at the Energy Efficiency Council’s annual conference by NABERS Head of Operations and Standards, Monique Alfris, with EEC CEO, Luke Menzel. The resource has been supported by the Australian Government and forms part of the Australia-Germany Energy Working Group’s collaboration initiatives. German MP Carsten Müller, who is Chair of the German Industry Initiative for Energy Efficiency (DENEFF) will also participate in today’s launch.
Over the last 14 years, Australian offices rated using NABERS Energy have benefitted from average energy savings of 42% and have reduced greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 53%. This could be the fastest widescale building transformation recorded anywhere in the world.
As NABERS approaches its 25th birthday next year, the guide outlines how and why the range of NABERS Energy rating tools drive change. It identifies industry collaboration as a key factor in Australian commercial property’s energy efficiency gains.
We’ve developed a sophisticated ecosystem of energy efficiency products and services in Australia because NABERS makes the value of energy efficiency tangible. NABERS is world leading; we have the opportunity to share this incredible platform overseas and help the international effort to drive down emissions.
Luke Menzel, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council
The guide describes the Australian commercial property sector to place NABERS Energy in context for readers in other regions. A timeline and history section describes its evolution since 1998.
We are excited to share the story of the unprecedented sustainability achievements of the Australian commercial building sector over the past two decades. We are proud of the facilitating role NABERS has played in this story, enabling passionate champions in the building sector to drive a revolution in sustainable buildings across Australia.”
Climate change is a global issue, and all countries must learn from each other to tackle this greatest of challenges. With this guide, we seek to share some of the key ingredients that have helped Australia achieve its success in commercial building sustainability, so other countries can benefit.
Carlos Flores, Director, NABERS
Sustainability expert Bruce Precious is the guide’s lead author. As part of early drafting, Bruce consulted with sector representatives from Canada and Germany and revisited the early days of NABERS’ history with some of the scheme’s ‘founding fathers’ including Alan Pears and Paul Bannister. Industry voices appear throughout the guide and include Davina Rooney, CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia and Alicia Maynard, General Manager, Sustainability Services at ISPT.
A German translation of the report will be available soon and DENEFF will host a German launch event in Berlin next month which will be attended by Carlos Flores, Luke Menzel and Francesca Muskovic of the Property Council of Australia.
Download the summary or complete guide now.