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A.G Coombs and the Carbon Roadmap for existing Buildings

By Facility Perspectives Max Winter

2nd Nov 2007

Leading building services provider the A.G Coombs Group held an exemplary event at the Arts Centre ANZ Pavilion in Melbourne recently when they presented The Carbon Roadmap for Existing Buildings Conference.

Presented by some of the best speakers in the country including Club of Rome member Dr Keith Suter, PCA CEO Peter Verwer and MC'ed by Tracey Curro, the packed invitation-only event amply delivered an engaging and provocative foray into the need to reduce greenhouse emissions for the property industry.

Commenting on the outstanding success of the event, Managing Director of Conference host A. G. Coombs , Russell Telford said that the commercial and environmental realities of today’s property industry have ensured the Carbon Roadmap Conference had attracted a significant number of Australia’s senior property figures. “There will be a continued and growing focus on the need to reduce greenhouse emissions for the property industry as we move further into a carbon constrained world,” Mr Telford said. “Buildings are contributors to emissions and energy efficiency for existing buildings provides a tangible, realistic and effective way to reduce net carbon emissions for Victoria and Australia,” he said. “It is possible to achieve both emission reductions and an economically beneficial ‘green dividend’ through a targeted carbon reduction roadmap, which was the main theme of this Conference,” he said. Property owners, portfolio and asset managers, major tenants and major stakeholders in the building improvement process attended the Conference to understand how they can address the critical issue of reducing carbon emissions and improve building performance from existing building stock. 

Ably introduced by Master of Ceremonies, journalist and Sustainability Victoria Communications Manager Tracey Curro, A.G. Coombs Managing Director Russell Telford warmly welcomed the invited guests and introduced a stellar line-up of speakers that included member of the Club of Rome, social commentator, strategic planner, writer and broadcaster Dr Keith Suter; Property Council of Australia CEO Peter Verwer; Exergy Australia Managing Director Dr Paul Bannister; Head of Corporate Responsibility, GPT Group, Dr Caroline Noller; Investa Environment Manager, Shaun Condon; and, A.G Coombs Director , Bryon Price.

This was followed by an insightful panel session moderated by the extremely sharp, perceptive and at times, controversial Peter Verwer, who kept the audiences’ thinking processes finely honed to the issues at hand, and to the stakeholders agendas involved. Lunch followed and was succeeded by an optional back of house tour of Melbourne City Council’s CH2 building; itself a bold example of cutting edge technology combined with the appropriate corporate culture to achieve Green Building Council six star certification sustainable outcomes. Key to the practical initiatives provided to the property industry leaders present however, was the A.G Coombs guide to the process required to transform existing buildings for improved energy efficiency and the ongoing achievement of Star ratings. From involvement in the design and construction of a range of green buildings, numerous roles as Green Star Independent Commissioning Agent, and the successful operational tuning and maintenance of buildings to reduce energy consumption A.G.Coombs has developed leading expertise in the area of energy efficiency in buildings. With this experience A.G.Coombs have formulated a Carbon RoadmapTM process that provides a clear and warranted ‘end to end’ pathway for reducing energy consumption, and delivering ongoing Star ratings.  In closing Russell Telford said, “The Carbon Roadmap Conference is an example of industry taking the lead on this crucial issue. However, government at all levels has a major role to play in setting standards through appropriate regulation, providing leadership through its market power as a major tenant and through its policy and financial levers”. “The industry stands ready to work with government and the private sector to develop  and implement best practice methods and standards in the building improvement space because we cannot afford to wait” Mr Telford said. “The time to act is now – the Conference is a call to action for the property industry and government to take up this critical issue and embark on an upgrade path for the economic and environmental benefit of the whole community,” he said. We hope to publish some of the adaptations of the presentations given at the event.For more information call the A. G. Coombs Group Pty Ltd, Ph: (03) 9248-2700www.agcoombs.com.au

Source: FACILITY PERSPECTIVES MAGAZINE, Official publication of the Facility Managment Association of Australia, November 2007