What is CitySwitch?

What is CitySwitch?

Accelerating businesses to net zero

This decade is crucial to climate action and the program seeks to support an accelerated approach to business decarbonisation.

The program, which is free to join, is helping businesses around Australia to:

  • Simplify and structure the journey to net zero
  • Encourage and engage their teams and executives
  • Understand best practice and provide an opportunity to build collective knowledge
  • Connect with other businesses of varying sizes, sectors and capabilities
  • Be accountable and track their progress

When you join CitySwitch, you gain access to a local program manager and a wide network of other companies also taking steps to improve their sustainability.

Typically 80% of a city’s emissions come from its buildings. Half are generated by the use of base building services, the other half by tenant activity.

Esther Bailey, CitySwitch National Coordinator

The good news is that so many businesses are seeking the challenge and opportunity to become front runners in the shift to a low carbon economy.

Ross Gittins AM, SMH Economics Editor

Improving building energy efficiency by committing to targets and networking with other CitySwitch tenants and peers is the most effective and immediate way to achieve meaningful progress.

Norton Rose Australia, CitySwitch Signatory of the Year (NSW) 2011

The connections that we have made through our involvement in CitySwitch and the resources we have been able to utilise have made it possible to achieve what we have in sustainability.

Laim Henderson, Baptcare - CitySwitch Award winner in Victoria 2013

It has been an interesting, educational and commercial experience to be part of CitySwitch and we thank them for their dedication and constant support.

Baenziger Coles, CitySwitch Signatory, Victoria

CitySwitch Green Office is a tremendous sustainable energy initiative.

Peter Wyton, Managing Director AECOM NSW + ACT

Having a central contact point helps me keep up-to-date with the various local initiatives taking place around the country, so that I can follow up with our local people or attend events.

Dale O'Toole , National Sustainability Manager, Savills Australia

We are now building business opportunities using CitySwitch as a catalyst.

Amanda Steele, National Sustainability Manager CBRE

With the tools given to us by CitySwitch we were able to calculate the cost saving to our company by powering down and utilised this in our messages.

Priya Pathmanathan, Manager, Environmental, Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd

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Australian
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Leaders

Currently 869 tenancies covering over 
3,844,258 sqm
have committed to CitySwitch

CitySwitch Signatory of the Year and New Signatory Awards - category judging criteria

  • Delivering outcomes as demonstrated by an improved or maintained current NABERS Energy rating and achieved energy savings* (up to 28 points)
  • Implementing one or more energy saving initiatives (up to 10 points)
  • Demonstrating leadership by undertaking innovative, creative or progressive office energy efficiency activities (up to 10 points)
  • Engagement of staff/ customers/suppliers and/or stakeholders to educate and create market transformation (up to 10 points)
  • Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points).
Note, new Signatories submitting for New Signatory of the Year Award need only complete an indicative rating – all other submissions must be accredited.

CitySwitch Partnership of the Year Award - category judging criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Submitted projects should:

  • Involve more than one registered company 
  • Demonstrate that they are  innovative and over and above “business as usual”
  • Demonstrate that they catalyse “market transformation” and or “address a market barrier”
  • Deliver a reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions within the built environment 

Judging Criteria

  • Delivering outcomes as demonstrated by an improved or maintained current NABERS Energy rating and achieved energy savings* (up to 14 points)
  • Implementing one or more energy saving initiatives (up to 10 points)
  • Demonstrating leadership by undertaking innovative, creative or progressive office energy efficiency activities (up to 17 points)
  • Engagement of staff/ customers/suppliers and/or stakeholders to educate and create market transformation (up to 17 points)
  • Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points)
  • The submitting entity MUST be a CitySwitch Signatory
Note, Signatories submitting for the Partnership of the Year Award may submit an accredited NABERS tenancy, whole building or base building rating.

It’s easy and free to join the program. Your good-will commitment to the program is an acknowledgement of the business sector’s role in
contributing to environmental sustainability and your intention to reduce your own energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.

As part of this, Signatories to the program commit to achieve an accredited NABERS Energy tenancy rating (between 4 and 6 stars) and
work with CitySwitch to improve their tenancy’s environmental performance.

Find out more about how obtaining a NABERS Energy rating ensures you can benchmark your performance, better manage your progress
over time and promote your star rating achievement.