Benefits of energy-efficient buildings
The energy-efficiency measures will result in commercial and public buildings that have greater levels of comfort and reduced reliance on artificial heating and cooling. Within the first year of operation, the anticipated environmental benefits of more energy-efficient buildings will include annual savings of around 300,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This is equivalent to removing around 70,000 cars from our roads or planting 450,000 trees every year.
Within 10 years, energy-efficient commercial and public buildings will save Australians over 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
There are also significant non-environmental benefits including financial savings associated with reduced energy use and the reduced size of the air conditioning plant required for more energy-efficient buildings. Under the new energy measures the average three-storey office building could save more than $7,300 in energy costs every year. (Figure based on $6.14 per m2 for a total floor space of 1200 m2 as quoted in ABCB Regulation Impact Statement).
