Matthew Clark, Manager, Built Environment, NSW Department of Environment & Climate Change
In the current economic climate, new buildings are scarce, so
innovators in the property industry are pushing the boundaries of
sustainability in existing buildings to maintain asset value and
income and keep costs down. As the old adage goes, "You can't
manage what you can't measure", and accurate performance measures
are the key to innovation in existing buildings.
The NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System)
energy rating is proving to be a valuable tool in meeting this
challenge. Obtaining and improving a building's NABERS rating
increases its competitiveness and market appeal to tenants, reduces
operating costs and reduces its environmental impact. Innovators in
the sector recognise the shared responsibility between the owner,
occupants and managers and are forging new relationship models that
improve collaboration to reduce environmental impact.
A recent study by Sydney University's Warren Centre showed a
direct relationship between a reduction in operating expenditure in
high rise buildings and a NABERS rating. They found that simply
disclosing ratings to tenants has a significant impact by
highlighting low cost improvements and enhancements to maintenance
regimes and control systems, and enabling dialogue between parties.
In short, human attitudes and practices can greatly influence a
building's energy use, and innovative strategies to address these
can have a significant impact without the costly burden.
Most buildings have the capacity to easily make energy savings
equivalent to half a star - about a 10 per cent reduction. The
study highlighted that innovative strategies were already in
practice to extract capital from maintenance or operating expenses,
rather than from capital expenses, to show a return on investment
within twelve months.
In a market where capital is scarce it is important to reinforce
that improving a building's environmental rating does not require a
major capital outlay. In fact, combining the use of NABERS with an
innovative approach to property management can provide short term
relief to the bottom line, and ensure the long term viability of an
asset.
