News

Solar loan program shapes a better world

Solar loan program shapes a better world

Arup’s interest-only solar loans encourage employees to join the 100% renewable revolution and shape a better world, says the firm’s Regional Corporate Communications Manager, Lisa Gardner.

How to up the ante on energy efficiency through NABERS Co-Assess

How to up the ante on energy efficiency through NABERS Co-Assess

The Better Buildings Cup has helped the tenant community at 100 St Georges Terrace in Perth to up the ante on energy efficiency and achieve one of the first NABERS Co-Assess ratings.

CitySwitch awards celebrate sustainability superstars

CitySwitch awards celebrate sustainability superstars

Just one year ago, no one at comparison site Finder was responsible for driving the company’s sustainability agenda. A year later, Finder is the CitySwitch National New Signatory of the Year.

Collaboration drives collective impact

Collaboration drives collective impact

The change we need will to tackle our trickiest problems will be led and delivered by people.

War on Waste team seeking cast for new doco

War on Waste team seeking cast for new doco

The team behind the War on Waste is working on a new ABC documentary that will focus on Australia's role in climate change.

New PPA resources live on the BRC-A Resource Library

New PPA resources live on the BRC-A Resource Library

Announcing the release of two new PPA resources live on the BRC-A Resource Library

Grants now available for NABERS co-assess and waste

Grants now available for NABERS co-assess and waste

We're excited to announce that City of Sydney and City of Adelaide have a number of grants available for signatories in these LGA's.

CitySwitch Green Office program hits four million sqm

CitySwitch Green Office program hits four million sqm

The CitySwitch Green Office program has surpassed four million square metres of office space, as ANZ signs on 833 Collins Street in Melbourne.

Let’s get healthy, happy and sustainable together

Let’s get healthy, happy and sustainable together

From blend-your-own smoothie bikes to calorie-free cupcakes, the Museum of Futures to a mind-mapping session, the Better Buildings Cup launched with a flurry of activity recently.

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Industry News

Investa achieves first Science Based Target approval in Australia

Investa achieves first Science Based Target approval in Australia

Investa today announced it has achieved Australia’s first approved real estate Science Based Target, verifying Investa’s ambitious, net zero carbon emissions by 2040 target and re-enforcing Investa’s leadership in committing to the rigour and quality of this globally recognised framework.  

 

Fujitsu's ICT enablement survey

Take part in Fujitsu's research on the enablement potential of ICT

Fujitsu's NABERS rating of its data centre portfolio

Fujitsu Australia has become what is believed to be the first Australian company to have its entire data centre portfolio rated by NABERS.

Psaros wins two prestigious sustainability awards

Source: Infolink

Leading Western Australian property developer Psaros was the recipient of two prestigious awards for sustainable development, cementing the company’s position as the leader in environmental design and sustainable practices in Perth.

In a first for a WA developer, Psaros won the National Banksia Sustainability Award for Sustainability Leadership as well as the CitySwitch State Award for New Signatory of the Year.

Geelong, CBRE and Echo big winners at national CitySwitch awards

Source: The Fifth Estate A project that slashed carbon emissions by 43 per cent has seen Future Proofing Geelong and Ryrie Centre Property take home the National Partnership of the Year Award at the national CitySwitch awards for commercial office energy efficiency.

CBRE took home the National Signatory of the Year award following their NSW win, while another NSW winner, Echo Entertainment Group, took home the National New Signatory of the Year award

Smart, green finance delivering efficient buildings in Sydney

Source: Retrofit AustraliaIn June, the City of Sydney signed an Environmental Upgrade Agreement (EUA) to fund energy efficient lighting, air conditioning and building management system (BMS) upgrades to James’ Hall  in Sydney. Under these agreements tenants provide contributions equal to or less than the savings they make in their utility bills as a result of the upgrade works. These contributions can then be used by the building owner to service the loan repayments and greatly improve the return on investment.  In addition, once the EUA is paid off, the tenants and building owner continue to benefit from reduced utility bills.

The Tenants and Landlords Guide to Happiness (chapter 8)

Source: The Fifth Estate

Despite the best intentions, most building owners and tenants struggle to keep up regular communication that could enhance their efficient use of the building, improve wellbeing of employees and substantially cut their business costs.

Find out more about the CitySwitch Vertical Communities initiative, the benefits of collaboration from industry and successful tenant and landlord staff engagement  programs in this latest chapter.

How the Renewable Energy Target affects your business

Source: The Fifth Estate

Changes to the RET could have significant implications for businesses wanting to take steps to reduce carbon footprints. Darren Willman from Climate Friendly a CitySwitch signator, discusses the impact of changes to the RET and why businesses should want to defend it in this article for The Fifth Estate.

CitySwitch partners with RMIT students to deliver resource assessments

Source: The Fifth EstateCommercial office tenant energy efficiency program CitySwitch has partnered with graduating environment students from RMIT to deliver resource assessments for participating signatories in Melbourne. There is only availability for 10-12 businesses this year, with only current CitySwitch signatories eligible.

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Events

CitySwitch awards

CitySwitch awards

Save the date for the CitySwitch NSW and National award to be held on 20 November.



View event

Latest case study

Webinar: Environmental Upgrade Finance

Monday 10 November, 2-3pm
Wednesday 12 November, 10-11am

Register for one of these free webinars designed with tenants in mind to find out more about the innovative Environmental Upgrade Finance mechanism including case studies and example business cases and the opportunity for questions.

Upgrades to commercial office spaces can improve comfort levels for building occupants especially in the depths of winter or the peak of summer, increase natural airflow and lighting and improve productivity, reduce energy bills and dramatically reduce environmental impacts.

But how can a tenant convince their landlord to spend money on efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, glazing, insulation or other building upgrades when most of the benefit will go straight to the tenant? And how can these upgrades be justified when they might come with a rental increase?

Likewise for landlords, how can they commit to a potentially capital-intensive upgrade when most of the benefits in the form of reduced energy bills and an improved workplace environment go to their tenants.

Environmental Upgrade Finance (EUF) or Environmental Upgrade Agreement (EUA) finance is an increasingly popular form of finance provided by major financiers in Australia. This innovative finance mechanism is specifically designed for upgrading commercial buildings, reducing operating costs and improving energy, waste, water or energy efficiency or increasing renewable energy. Not only does EUF provide better finance terms for building owners, it provides a secure and transparent mechanism for co-operation between landlords and tenants to share the costs of an upgrade and achieve a win-win outcome.

EUF is currently available in the City of Melbourne, City of Sydney, Parramatta, North Sydney, 
Lake Macquarie and Newcastle, and is soon expected to become available across Victoria and South Australia. The City of Perth and Brisbane have active working groups.

Register now

To find out more, register for this free webinar which will provide more information, walk through the case studies and example business cases and answer questions. The webinars are free but places are limited and registration is required. Register now

For further information, please contact Eli Court by phone 03 9903 8032 or email   eli.court@climateworksaustralia.org.

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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.