Sydney
Price: $195.00
Product Code: CIBSESYD
Product Status: available
Large Description
Dear Members The important role that buildings and their services have on energy efficiency and a nation's carbon emissions continues to gain recognition and importance. As far as Australia is concerned, NABERS and Green Star projects continue to grow in popularity and both existing and new tenants are taking an active interest in how well their building or prospective new building rates. The Building Code of Australia has significantly increased the standards required by Section J with regards to energy efficiency changing the basis for acceptable benefit to cost ration down from 5:1 to 2:1. Amongst other things, this has led to substantial incrases in stringency for insulation requirements, and maximum allowable fan and pump power limits. Measures are likely to continue to increase on perhaps a more regular basis, and items such as commissioning may form part of future codes. Deferred from June is the issue of Mandatory Disclosure Reporting for Commercial Office Buildings Energy Efficiency, which will again put the spotlight on buildings services and the reduction of greenhouse gases. It is intended that this will use the NABERS energy rating tool to form the basis for reporting energy efficiency to prospective buyers and lessees of areas greater than 2000m2. It will be interesting to see how this is received when, or if, it is implemented as it would appear that many owners are not yet fully prepared for it and a prudent measure might be to check there are enough assessors available and prepared to take on the required assessments. Whilst the pressure is on to ensure that new buildings are built to a high energy standard, it will surely follow that the more difficult proposition of improving the existing stock of buildings will need to be addressed, and soon, if there are to be meaningful reductions in energy use and corresponding emissions in the medium term.