NSW joins SA in Mandating 5 Star NABERS Minimum Requirement
The NSW Government launched an updated version of its Government Resource Efficiency Policy (GREP) which mandates 5 Star NABERS Energy ratings for owned or leased office buildings occupied by NSW Government, raising the requirement from 4.5 Stars. It also mandates 4.5 Star ratings for Data Centres.
The policy has immediate effect with a target to achieve full compliance by June 2020.
The GREP targets broad range of areas to drive resource efficiency in NSW Government agencies in the four main areas of energy, water, waste and air emission including:
- Reporting resource consumption and waste
- Targeted energy savings
- Mandating minimum NABERS ratings for energy and water
- Minimum standards for electrical and water using appliances and equipment
- Minimum standards for new buildings and fitouts
- Solar targets
- Minimum fuel efficiency vehicle standards
- Purchase of GreenPower
- Emissions standards for fixed plant and equipment
- Low VOC materials Continue reading
Major change to the Commercial Building Disclosure Program is fast approaching on 1st July 2017
Following the announcement made by the Australian Government last year, the mandatory disclosure threshold on commercial office buildings will reduce from 2000 square metres to 1000 square metres starting the 1st July 2017.
From 1st July 2017, this expansion of the CBD program will require most sellers and lessors of office space of 1000 square metres or more to obtain a Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) before the building goes on the market for sale, lease or sublease.
BEECs include a Part 1 – the building’s National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) Energy for offices star rating which is valid for 1 year, and a Part 2 – Tenancy Lighting Assessment (TLA) of the relevant area of the building which is now valid for 5 years (since September 2016).
Continue reading
