Best and brightest offices make sustainable switch

Frasers Property Australia have won the National Signatory of the Year category at the CitySwitch Green Office awards for renovations to their St Kilda office to promote staff health and wellbeing.

Frasers Property Australia upped their NABERS rating from four to five stars. HESTA was awarded a highly commended.

The National New Signatory of the Year went to KPMG with a 72 percent waste recovery rate  and reducing paper by more than 8 million sheets.

NSW winners included the State Library of NSW (Signatory of the Year over 2000 square metres), Architectus (Signatory of the Year under 2000 square metres), Norman Disney & Young and Westpac (Partnership of the Year) and Marlin Communications (NSW Signatory of the Year).

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said CitySwitch has come a long way from the small program offered by three Sydney councils in 2005.

"It has spread across the country and is now receiving global recognition for the way it has engaged businesses of all sizes to make a difference on carbon emissions,” she said.

“It’s a heartening sign that Australian business is serious about its environmental impacts, and also that it has been quick to grasp the business benefits of a green economy. Since 2011, CitySwitch members across Australia have slashed emissions while saving a combined $34 million in electricity bills.

“CitySwitch National Signatory of the Year, Frasers, achieved a 4.5 star NABERS Indoor Environment Quality rating with improvements to lighting, air quality, natural ventilation and maximising use of natural light.

“The fact that CitySwitch is in line to receive a major international accolade is a credit to the businesses that have enthusiastically jumped on board this great initiative.

“I congratulate all finalists and winners and thank them for being a part of the CitySwitch Green Office program.”