Mark Vender
Sustainability Victoria is offering funding of up to $30,000 to boost the performance of commercial buildings and realise the huge savings in energy and greenhouse gas emissions it has identified in a new report.
The report, Next Wave Refresh 2018, analyses Victorian commercial building stock, including retail, healthcare and accommodation in Melbourne metro and regional areas. And according to the analysis, upgrades to offices over 2,000m2 in the City of Melbourne represent a massive opportunity for savings – the amount of emissions that could potentially be saved is equivalent to taking 103,947 cars off the road, or not driving 1.3billion kilometres.
Upgrades to offices under 2,000m2 in Melbourne could also potentially save emitting 270,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum – the same as taking 71,053 cars off the road.
Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan said that a large number of Melbourne’s office buildings were constructed between the years 1980-1989.
“These buildings have an enormous opportunity to both save money and cut CO2 emissions by simply upgrading their centralised heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems,” said Krpan.
“If these upgrades result in a 1 star increase in NABERS rating, an emissions saving of 128,000 tonnes CO2 a year is possible. This is equivalent to planting almost 200,000 trees.”
To stimulate the work, Sustainability Victoria is offering funding to upgrade commercial buildings.
“We are calling for applications from commercial building owners, agents, tenants and facility managers in Victoria, keen to identify and implement energy efficiency upgrades that lead to an improvement in building performance,” Krpan said.
“Commercial buildings can include offices, hotels, retail and data centres, and some mixed-use buildings.”
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