The Victorian Government has committed $3.59 million to improve the energy efficiency of Victoria’s commercial office buildings.

The ‘Smarter Resources Smarter Business – Energy Efficient Office Buildings’ program will provide matched grant funding between $20,000 to $150,000 to owners of mid-tier commercial office buildings that invest in energy efficiency upgrades.

Expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 140,000 tonnes over 10 years, the funding will help building owners undertake simple steps to improve building efficiency, such as fine tuning existing heating and cooling systems to run at optimal levels and monitoring energy use.

It is estimated that the program will save businesses around $9 million, while creating jobs and encouraging market transformation.

“For more than a decade, we have argued that improving the performance of our built environment requires a range of complementary measures, including both financial and non-financial incentives, and both public and private sector leadership,” says the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) Chief Operating Officer, Robin Mellon.

“We have been calling for visionary government leadership, and this program does just that.”

This commitment by the Victorian Government to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings sits alongside the Tasmanian Government’s plan to achieve Green Star ratings for all new buildings, as well as the NSW Government’s aim of upgrading its portfolio of buildings.

For the GBCA, however, the question of when a similar commitment will be made by the Federal Government remains.  

This ties in with its three-point plan for better buildings and communities, which outlines three key priorities for the government, community, building developers and owners, and industry associations – visionary government leadership, retrofitting existing buildings, and moving beyond buildings to communities.

The GBCA urges all political parties to commit to these priorities in the lead-up to the Federal Election, believing that such a commitment will place Australia on a clear and long-term pathway to a healthier, more productive and more sustainable built environment.

To access the GBCA’s three-point plan for better buildings and communities, please visit www.gbca.org.au/advocacy/.