The CitySwitch Green Office energy efficiency program has expanded its support of commercial office tenants into suburban and regional Victoria.
CitySwitch in Victoria was first taken up by the cities of Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra, which have helped businesses reduce their energy use, save money on operating costs and reduce carbon emissions.
Along with the cities of Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra in Victoria, the program is run in partnership with the cities of Sydney, North Sydney, Parramatta, Willoughby, Ryde, Adelaide, Perth and the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage.
CitySwitch now includes 441 tenancies representing more than 1.8 million square metres of office space across our cities. In Victoria, the program has so far attracted 130 commercial offices across 300,000 square metres.
According to Jeff Elliott, new suburban and regional program manager for CitySwitch in Victoria, it has already received great interest in the CitySwitch program from suburban and regional areas.
“This expansion is perfect timing for commercial office-based businesses that want to reduce running costs and minimise the effects of rising electricity prices,” Elliott states.
Graham Dangerfield, acting CEO of Baptcare, CitySwitch’s newest suburban and regional signatory, comments: “As a not-for-profit organisation with a number of suburban and regional office tenancies, we are extremely pleased that we can now access the CitySwitch program and receive support and assistance to achieve our sustainability goals.” Baptcare has made a commitment with CitySwitch to achieve a five-star NABERS Energy rating at its head office.
In November 2012 the annual CitySwitch National Awards will showcase the work of leading signatories who have demonstrated outstanding environmental leadership.
