The Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Scheme requires owners and managers of large commercial buildings to obtain a Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) when selling or leasing space. A BEEC includes a NABERS energy rating and tenant lighting assessment. Preparing a BEEC can take 8-12 weeks, so planning ahead of lease expiries or sales is important. Owners should keep good records like energy bills, surveys and lighting layouts to facilitate BEEC preparation. CBD accredited assessors can help owners and managers comply with BEEC requirements.

1. Commercial Building
Disclosure (CBD)
Scheme

2. Introduction
• What is the CBD Scheme, and when does it apply?
• What do you need to do to comply?
• About NABERS & Tenancy Lighting Assessments?
• What are the issues facing facilities and property managers?
• Questions?

3. What is the CBD?
• National program to encourage building energy efficiency.
The program is managed by the Commercial Building
Disclosure Team
• Why ?
 Address the split incentives (owner vs tenant)
 Provide consistent and credible information about
building energy efficiency.
 Commercial buildings account for 10% of Australia’s
greenhouse gas emissions, and it is one of the
quickest and cheapest ways to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.

4. When does CBD Apply?
• Compulsory Building Disclosure (CBD) Scheme requires a
Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) to be prepared
for the following situations:
 The sale of commercial (more than 75% of NLA is
class 5) buildings over 2000 m2.
 The lease of office (class 5) space over 2000 m2 for
more than 12 months.
• Must advertise NABERS rating in any advertisement of lease
or sale of property
• The full scheme commences November 1, 2011.

5. • A BEEC consists of:
 NABERS Energy Rating
 Assessment of tenancy lighting
efficiency.
 Generic energy efficiency
guidance.

6. CBD - Exemptions?
• Exemptions include:
 New buildings - less than 2 years old.
 Major refurbishment.
 Extension of an existing lease or option to renew leases.
 Strata titled, Class 5 Buildings.
 Special exemptions: Police or security operations.
Unoccupied for >1-2 years.
Un-rateable.
• An owner can apply for exemptions from disclosure
requirements with the assistance of a CBD assessor.

7. Who can prepare a BEEC?
• From November 1, 2011 only CBD Accredited Assessors can
prepare BEECs.
• CBD Assessors are required to retain all data and records
relating to BEEC for seven years.

8. What do you need to do to comply?
• Before selling a commercial building :
 Obtain NABERS Office Energy Rating (this must be on all
advertising).
 Obtain tenant lighting assessment for the whole building.
• Before leasing out a space of more than 2 000 m2 for more
than 12 months:
 Obtain NABERS Office Energy Rating.
 Obtain tenant lighting only in the areas to be leased.

9. About the NABERS Assessment
• The BEEC requires a:
• NABERS Base Building Office Energy Rating or if this is not
possible;
• A NABERS Whole Building Office Energy Rating

10. NABERS Success
V.I.P

11. NABERS Success (Continued)
• Operation & Management
The Warren Centre LEHR Project identified that:
• Insourced or partially insourced management can
contribute 1.3 NABERS stars
• Buildings with efficiency training perform approx.
0.5 NABERS stars better.
• Buildings with managers with a high level of
experience and competence perform
approximately 1.3 stars better.

12. NABERS Success (Continued)
• Maintenance
The Warren Centre LEHR Project identified that:
• Buildings where incremental investments are made
on energy efficiency perform on average, 0.5
NABERS stars better than the average building.

13. About the Tenancy Lighting
Assessment
• Is a survey of the general lighting system installed in a tenant
office space of a building.
• The survey only assesses the lighting energy use, not the
light output or suitability or adequacy.
• The CBD Tenancy Lighting Assessment assesses two
aspects of a lighting system:
– Nominal light power density and;
– Level and standard of control

14. About the Tenancy Lighting
Assessment (Cont.)
• NLPD ratings:
• Note: Methods include: Grid Method / Representative Area
Method / or Proposed.

15. About the Tenancy Lighting
Assessment (Cont.)
• Lighting Control Ratings:

16. About the Tenancy Lighting
Assessment (Cont.)
• There can be some difficulties in certain situations:
 Opaque diffusers covering lamps.
 T5 adaptors installed in T8 fittings.
 Sealed luminaires.
It really helps if you understand, and have an excellent record of, the
lighting system in your building………..

17. Issues for Facilities/Property Managers
 Plan ahead – Creation of a BEEC can take at least 8-12
weeks.
NABERS
BEEC
Current?
CBD Lighting Current?
Assessment
Current?

18. Issues for Facilities/Property Managers
(cont.)
 Keep good records of:
 Energy bills
 Current Surveys
 Current Lease agreements
 Base building /fit out lighting layout – ‘as built’ drawings
 Up to date single line diagrams and switchboard
layouts.
 Luminaire data sheets

19. Issues for Facilities/Property Managers
(cont.)
 Inform tenants of the information gathering powers under
the BEED Act.
 Tenancy guides. Specify minimum lighting performance
requirements.
 Make good clauses.

20. Summary
Takes 8-12 weeks to prepare a BEEC. We suggest:
Review Lease expiry dates, and plan BEEC
requirements well in advance.
Decide on best approach – keep NABERS rating
current, and carry out TLAs and BEECS as required?
Carry out TLAs across the board to make sure there
are no problems on your sites.
Keep all records up to date, and well organised.

21. Further Information
Contact:
Sean Rapley
NABERS & CBD Assessor
Northrop Consulting Engineers
Pty Ltd
Level 1, 60 Hickson Road
Sydney NSW 2000
www.northrop.com.au
T 02 9241 4188
F 02 9241 4324
E sean@northrop.com.au