3 April 2006 - Property owners
and tenants of commercial buildings will be able
to assess their energy and water consumption from
today and can make changes to improve their environmental
impact by using the new voluntary National Australian
Built Environment Rating System (NABERS).
The new voluntary commercial building environmental
rating system builds on the proven and respected
Australian Building Greenhouse Rating for energy
efficiency with the addition of the water efficiency
module.
Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, today welcomed news that
the water component of the system was now available
for the commercial building sector.
“The Australian Government made a significant
contribution to this system, providing funding
of $600,000 to the research and early development
of the NABERS tool for improving the environmental
performance of existing building stock,” Senator
Campbell said.
“Together with the NSW Government we contributed
to the final testing of the tool.
“NABERS uses a voluntary star rating system that
will provide information on an existing commercial
building or performance of a single dwelling home
and identify areas that may be modified to reduce
operational costs and create healthier environments.
It aims to complement existing expert design tools
and design-based ratings systems.
“Reducing energy consumption and water use are
very important considerations for business and
industry today. The more stars that buildings
can achieve the better, both for the environment
and the businesses bottom-line,” he said.
Developed by the Australian Government in collaboration
with the NSW Government, NABERS will be an important
resource to help property managers and tenants
make informed business decisions to minimise their
environmental impact and save money.
“Commercial buildings are significant energy and
water users. Savings in water consumption can
be dramatic. If every office building in Australia
improved their water rating by just one star,
the city’s overall annual water consumption would
be cut by over 5,800 megalitres of water. This
is enough to fill 2,300 Olympic swimming pools!
“The Australian Government is proud to have been
involved with this project and we look forward
to the expansion of the system to include waste,
indoor environmental quality and site impacts
in the near future,” Senator Campbell said.
