A federal scheme that requires commercial buildings to disclose their energy efficiency may be extended to more properties after proving its worth.  A review of the Commercial Building Disclosure program, which began in 2010, found the scheme generated benefits of $44 million more than costs.  The mandatory disclosure system encouraged behaviour change by owners, operators and tenants.

“This was particularly evident in buildings with relatively low initial levels of energy performance,” an ACIL Allen report found.

The report estimated large amounts of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced as a result.  The scheme covers about 5,000 buildings with 26 million square metres of space.  It applies to office floor spaces of 2,000 square metres or more at the time of sale, lease or sublease. Continue reading →