The Australian Government Department of Industry has appointed ACIL Allen Consulting to undertake an independent review of the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Program.

The purpose of the review is to assess the CBD Program’s objectives, the effectiveness of the program in promoting energy efficiency and its interaction with the Emissions Reduction Fund. The review will provide recommendations on the merits for continuing the program and any options for its future funding, including cost recovery if appropriate. ACIL Allen will take into consideration a range of existing reports and sources as well as analysing program datasets and consulting with a number of key stakeholders.

An Evaluation Reference Group has been established with membership drawn from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of the Environment, as well as the New South Wales NABERS National Administrator and the Energy Efficiency Council.

Preliminary findings are expected to be delivered in November 2014. The final report and recommendations will be conveyed to the Minister for Industry by March 2015.

Previously, a review of the operational efficiency of the CBD program was undertaken in 2013. The final report of the review was published in June and is available.

Terms of Reference – Commercial Building Disclosure Program Review

The Commonwealth of Australia, represented by the Department of Industry, will undertake a review of the Commercial Building Disclosure Program and its enabling legislation – the Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Act 2010.

The Review will assess:

the objectives of the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) program:

• whether the objectives are clear and remain relevant;
• whether the CBD program is the most effective/appropriate and least cost mechanism to achieve these objectives, including consideration of the benefits and costs imposed on industry;
• the effectiveness of the program in promoting energy efficiency, both in its own right and in the context of the current framework of energy efficiency initiatives, and
• the interaction of the program with the Emissions Reduction Fund.

The Review will provide recommendations on:

• the merits of continuing the program or not, both in terms of the public interest as well as the private interest of property owners and tenants;
• the lessons for assessing possible extension of mandatory disclosure to other building types;
• options for its funding, including cost recovery, if appropriate;
• the most appropriate governance framework, and
• the potential for improvements to the operation of the program.

The Department hass contracted an Independent Reviewer to undertake the Review – ACIL Allen Consulting. The Reviewer will deliver key findings by November, a draft report by December and a final report by March 2015.