A Sustainability Victoria report reveals that the mid-tier office building sector can achieve up to 29 per cent energy savings by adopting various efficiency measures. The mid-tier sector accounts for 80 per cent of Victoria’s office buildings.
According to the Energy Efficient Office Buildings research report, there is significant potential to deliver positive environmental and economic outcomes in the sector. For instance, improving the energy efficiency of Victoria’s older commercial buildings could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 540,000 tonnes a year, the equivalent of taking 135,000 cars off the road.
The report reveals that driving energy efficiency changes in the sector could result in 12,000 new jobs for carrying out upgrade work to buildings. Building owners investing in energy efficiency measures are assured of ROI in just three years while benefitting from reduced ongoing maintenance costs.
The Energy Efficient Office Buildings research program was carried out over a three-year period with 20 buildings of various sizes in Melbourne’s CBD, suburbs, and regional Victoria and built between 1960 and 2000 taking part in the exercise. The research program is part of the government’s plan to reach its 2050 greenhouse gas reduction target of zero net greenhouse gas emissions.
These buildings are now in a 12-month monitoring phase with building owners providing feedback on the implemented energy efficiency initiatives during this period.
The Sustainability Victoria report was released to mark the World Green Building Week.
It can be downloaded here
