Are you managing, selling, leasing or subleasing commercial office space?

If you said YES, then time is running out fast.

From 1 November 2011, the Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Act comes into full effect.



This means BEFORE the sale, lease or sublease of commercial office buildings with a net lettable area of 2000sqm or more, by law you must:

• disclose an up-to-date Building Energy Efficiency Certificate; and
• include the NABERS Energy star rating for the building in any advertisement for the sale, lease or sublease of the office space.

How do I get a Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC)?

• A BEEC can only be issued by a Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Accredited Assessor.
• Obtaining a BEEC from a CBD Accredited Assessor is not an overnight process.
• It can take months to officially attain a certified BEEC.
• BEECs are valid for only 12 months.
• BEECs must be publically accessible online at the Building Energy Efficiency Register maintained by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.

What does a Building Energy Efficiency Certificate contain?

• NABERS Energy star rating for the building.
• Commercial Building Disclosure Tenancy Lighting Assessment.
• General Energy Efficiency Guidance.

How do I get a NABERS Energy star rating?

• A NABERS Energy star rating can only be issued by a NABERS Accredited Assessor.
• Obtaining a NABERS Energy star rating is not an overnight process.
• Depending upon the availability of particular documentation, it can take months to officially attain a certified NABERS Energy star rating for a building.
• NABERS Energy star ratings are valid for only 12 months.

How do I get a Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Tenancy Lighting Assessment?

• A CBD Tenancy Lighting Assessment can only be issued by a CBD Accredited Assessor.
• Obtaining a CBD Tenancy Lighting Assessment is not an overnight process.
• It can take weeks to officially attain a certified CBD Tenancy Lighting Assessment.
• A CBD Tenancy Lighting Assessment measures the energy used by general lighting on an area basis, the size of lighting zones and the effectiveness of lighting control systems.

How do I get General Energy Efficiency Guidance?

• General Energy Efficiency Guidance is not specific to a building.
• All BEECs include the same general guidance on how the energy efficiency of a building might be improved.
• In practice, no action is required to obtain General Energy Efficiency Guidance.

AE Smith is expert in energy efficiency building technologies. AE Smith NABERS Accredited Assessors and AE Smith Commercial Building Disclosure Accredited Assessors are ready to help building owners comply with national legislation that starts on 1 November 2011.

“AE Smith is well placed to partner building owners that are serious about protecting their commercial property investment. By first attaining and then maintaining a superior NABERS Energy star ratings and resultant BEEC certification, astute building owners strategically position their commercial property investments to match their commercial objectives,” said David Odd, Sustainability Engineer and accredited Commercial Building Disclosure and NABERS assessor.

If you manage, sell, lease or sublease commercial office space – do not wait. Time is running out. The total number of Accredited Assessors ready to issue Building Energy Efficiency Certificates is limited – Avoid the rush. Be prepared. Start now by contacting AE Smith today. click to call

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Image source: Financial Review, 24 Aug 2011.