MEDIA RELEASE: New commercial buildings roadmap starts the journey but needs to pick up the pace 14 October 2025
Melbourne, AUSTRALIA - 14 October 2025 - The Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement today of a $10 million funding expansion for the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) program but urged the Government to accelerate inclusion of larger commercial energy users such as shopping centres and data centres.
The Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson announced the expansion which comes with a $10 million investment to expand the existing disclosure program and a further $10 million that will be used to increase the range of energy ratings tools and services for the world-leading National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS).
Luke Menzel, CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council said, “The Commercial Building Disclosure program has a simple premise – the energy performance of a building is provided at point of sale or lease. This allows buyers and tenants to compare and contrast, and gives building owners and managers the information they need to invest in the energy performance of their building.”
“The program has applied to large office buildings since 2010, and it has been a runaway success – lowering bills and emissions while raising asset values and tenant retention. It is so good the biggest question has been why it only applies to offices.”
He added, “This new roadmap goes some way towards fixing that. It sets out a timeline expanding the program to new commercial building types, with office tenancies and hotels the next cabs off the rank. This is a great first step, but the roadmap isn't proposing expansion to some big asset classes like shopping centres and data centres until the 2030s.”
“Hitting Australia’s new 2035 emissions reduction target will require us to accelerate effort across the whole of the economy. The CBD program is an obvious place for the government to lean in and get some of these extra asset classes included more quickly so we can bring down emissions while improving outcomes for business.”
The EEC had welcomed foundational new investments in energy efficiency and electrification from the Federal Government which includes funding for the CBD program announced alongside the new 62-70% 2035 emissions reduction target.
ENDS
Notes to Editor: Luke Menzel, CEO of Energy Efficiency Council is available for phone interviews on request.
For further information, please contact:
Coralie Redden / Gabriel Wong
Positive Good for Energy Efficiency Council
Mobile: 0413 163 099 / 0432 177 005
Email: coralie@positivegood.com.au / gabriel@positivegood.com.au
About Energy Efficiency Council
The EEC is a not-for-profit membership association for businesses, universities, governments and NGOs. The EEC works to build sophisticated markets for energy management products and services that deliver a prosperous, net zero Australia with:
- Affordable, reliable energy;
- Healthy, comfortable buildings; and
- Productive, competitive businesses.