The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) continues to call on all political parties to outline their costed policies and incentives for Australia’s buildings, communities and cities.
“During this election campaign, we have provided all political parties with our three-point plan,” says GBCA’s chief operating officer, Robin Mellon.
“This plan details how visionary government leadership, retrofitting and improving existing buildings and upscaling solutions from building to communities can secure a more productive, resilient and sustainable Australia.”
Having outlined how improving the performance of Australia’s buildings can deliver economic, social and environmental benefits, the GBCA revealed that a 10 per cent improvement in the energy efficiency of federal government buildings – far below the 66 per cent average improvement recorded by Green Star-rated buildings around Australia – could save $35 million a year in electricity costs alone.
“We demonstrated how improving the performance of the federal government’s building stock has the potential to boost public sector productivity by almost $2 billion a year, based on productivity gains achieved in Green Star-rated buildings around the country,” adds Mellon.
“We outlined the policy solutions and leadership required to ensure our cities and communities are more liveable, productive, sustainable and resilient places in the Asian Century.
“We called on all political parties to share the commitments and policies that will support our buildings, communities and cities. We’ve waited patiently for costed policies – and we are still waiting.”
In a statement released by the GBCA, it points out that the last few years have seen the Green Building Fund wind up, and the Tax Breaks for Green Buildings program axed before it began.
At the same time, the promised Clean Energy Finance Corporation funding for green building projects never materialised.
“Neither the Government nor the Opposition has announced any new initiatives that will lead to more efficient, healthy or productive buildings, nor has either party made a commitment to lead by example and improve the performance of the Australian Government’s own buildings,” says Mellon.
“Improving the performance of our buildings is not simply a matter of doling out cash. We need a range of financial and non-financial incentives that can activate the market for more efficient, productive, healthy buildings. The private sector has shown great leadership and commitment to better buildings. We need our political leaders to show that same commitment.
“How long must we wait?”
