Reduce Your Energy Usage

If your business is an office-based professional service, you may find your office energy usage is the main source of your emissions. From a global standpoint, the International Energy Agency has identified a need for buildings to improve energy intensity by 30 to 50% per square metre to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. By reducing your energy usage, you will also save your business money on your energy bills and minimise exposure to fluctuating prices.

Energy efficiency measures include:

  •          no-cost staff behaviour changes actions like turning off equipment
  •          finding improvements in the operation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting, appliances and equipment
  •          digitization and AI are also increasingly a solution to identify opportunities for efficiency in building management.
  • NABERS energy for office tenants is a valuable way to understand how your office energy use compares to others and what you can do about it.

Key resources

Beginner's Guide to Energy Efficient Lighting

Beginner's Guide to Energy Efficient Lighting

Lighting upgrades can be relatively straightforward and offer rapid returns on investment, ongoing operational savings, and reduced maintenance.

Beginner's Guide to Energy Efficient Office Equipment

Beginner's Guide to Energy Efficient Office Equipment

Computers and office equipment such as printers and photocopiers can contribute between 30 and 55 per cent of office energy use. 

Beginner's Guide to Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Beginner's Guide to Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

For tenants to improve Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

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.

Overview energy efficient lighting

Lighting upgrades are amongst the easiest projects to undertake and can offer very rapid returns on investment. In many instances, immediate savings can be gained by making minor adjustments - you may see even greater returns by engaging a lighting professional.

Energy efficient equipment overview

Equipment efficiency can be improved by upgrading to new models, automation and behaviour change.

Related resources

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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.