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Energy Efficient Buildings

Rebecca Rutland

14 November 2018

The Commercial Building Disclosure Program

The Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Program requires that the energy efficiency information of certain commercial office spaces be provided to prospective tenants or buyers prior to the relevant building being sold, leased or subleased.

A building’s energy efficiency information allows prospective tenants/buyers to conduct a credible comparison of the energy efficiency and greenhouse emissions of commercial properties, creating a more informed market and encouraging more energy efficient buildings and reduced emissions overall.

Owners & Lessors

If you are an owner or lessor of a commercial office space with a minimum net lettable area of 1000 square meters, you must obtain a Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) prior to the building being placed on the market for sale, lease or sublease.

The BEEC sets out the building’s energy efficiency rating, and consists of:-

  1. a National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) Energy for Offices star rating, which provides information on the building’s energy efficiency; and
  2. a CBD Tenancy Lighting Assessment (TLA), which is an assessment of the installed general lighting system.  A BEEC can only be obtained through a CBD accredited assessor.

Some buildings are exempt from the disclosure obligations and/or information gathering provisions of the relevant legislation. Accordingly, if you are an owner or lessor about to sell or lease/sublease your building, please contact our Commercial & Property team to discuss your obligations.

Prospective Buyers & Tenants

If you are a prospective buyer or tenant of commercial property, you have the right to request that the owner or lessor provide a current, valid BEEC as soon as possible in the process of the transaction. This information must be provided free of charge.

Some of the benefits of working in a more energy efficient building include improved productivity and reduced operational costs. It is therefore in buyers’ and tenants’ best interests to request a BEEC in order to determine the energy efficiency of a building they are considering purchasing or leasing.

If you have any queries regarding the BEEC, or any other aspect of a building which you are considering purchasing or leasing, please contact our Commercial & Property team on 07 4963 2000 or via our online contact form to discuss your options.