Every building counts

The Property Council of Australia and Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) have launched a policy toolkit called Every Building Counts: A practical plan for emissions reduction.

The plan sets out practical pathways for transforming Australian homes, workplaces and buildings into low carbon, high-performance structures while reducing emissions.

It also includes 75 recommendations to federal, state and territory and local governments, designed to transform Australia’s built environment and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Property Council chief executive Ken Morrison says buildings currently account for a quarter of our emissions and consume over half of our electricity.

Buildings currently account for a quarter of our emissions and consume over half of our electricity

“Our government has committed Australia to the Paris Agreement and set us on a pathway towards a net zero economy by mid-century,” Morrison says.

“We need a plan to guide this transition for all of the built environment.”

The recommendations cover existing and new residential, commercial and public buildings, and include proposals to:

• Introduce a single national rating for the energy performance of homes
• Leverage the Climate Solutions Fund and other government policies like City Deals to drive emissions abatement
• Incentivise high performance with cut-through tax incentives
• Expand the mandate of the Energy Security Board to balance demand and supply side policy, driving energy productivity.

Executive director at the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), Suzanne Toumbourou, says if we are serious about reducing emissions, saving money, meeting our emissions targets and increasing productivity, we need to set off on a pathway to stronger energy performance.

“We already have the technology to create zero carbon buildings,” she says.

We already have the technology to create zero carbon buildings

“Market-leading Australian companies have topped international green building benchmarks over the last nine years.

“Every Building Counts provides a clear set of steps to realise these possibilities across our building stock.”

More information is available at the Every Building Counts website.