Bring your best self

Working with your building owner to create better comfort conditions can boost office productivity, drive down emissions and save money.

Did you know that many commercial office buildings in Australia maintain a fixed temperature of 22°C each day of the year?

The office temperature may be fixed, but that doesn’t mean our comfort preferences are – which is why one colleague can work shirt-sleeves rolled up while the person at the next desk shivers.

It’s impossible to find a temperature that will satisfy everyone in the same space at the same time. But research suggests that providing a diversity of work environments and temperatures, and letting people choose the space for the task creates the best conditions for comfort.

And by expanding your office airconditioning deadband by just 1°C, you can reduce the amount of energy your airconditioning, heating and ventilation consumes by up to 10%.

We've developed several handy resources to help your people bring their best selves as you Expand the Band in your workplace:

  • A factsheet that outlines why Expand the Band matters
  • A factsheet to help building managers Expand the Band
  • A behaviour change campaign – Bring Your Best Self – to encourage your team to dress for the day and choose the best space for the task

Get in touch with your local CitySwitch program manager to get extra help running a Bring Your Best Self campaign in your workplace.

Key elements

Why Expand the Band - a factsheet for building owners

Why Expand the Band - a factsheet for building owners

Over heating or cooling your building?  This factsheet will show you how we can provide better occupant comfort, save money and reduce emissions by expanding the band.

Why Expand the Band - a factsheet for Tenants

Why Expand the Band - a factsheet for Tenants

Increase productivity, reduce emissions and save money.  This factsheet will explain how.

Bring your Best Self - Digital banners and social media

Bring your Best Self - Digital banners and social media

Want to improve occupant comfort?  Use these digital banner across your intranet and employee social media channels.

Bring your Best Self- Foyer Displays

Bring your Best Self- Foyer Displays

Need some fresh foyer displays?  Download these 'Bring Your Best Self' artwork for a number of pull up banner displays.

Bring your Best Self- Campaign Posters

Bring your Best Self- Campaign Posters

Download these fun 'Bring your Best Self' posters to use in your office. 

Related resources

The effects of higher temperature setpoints on office workers

The effects of higher temperature setpoints on office workers

Read the latest reserch into the effects of temperature set points on office workers.

The Fifth Estate ebook: healthy offices

In collaboration with CitySwitch, The Fifth Estate has released a free ebook about healthy offices.

Indoor comfort and temperature set-points

Indoor comfort and temperature set-points

Adjusting the temperature set-point of the building to better match the weather can make significant energy savings and keep people comfortable

Search resources

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.