Why commercial property is a sleeping giant in climate action
Commercial buildings are often overlooked in climate debates — but their energy use, emissions and financial potential make them key to a greener future.
It's easy to overlook commercial buildings in national debates about climate. They're part of the built environment we take for granted. Always there, often unnoticed.
But beneath the surface, this sector is quietly becoming central to the challenges shaping Australia's environmental and economic future — and the numbers tell a compelling story.
Buildings implementing energy efficiency measures have driven down greenhouse gas emissions by more than seven million tonnes since 1998. That's equivalent to taking 1.6 million petrol-powered cars off the road or 245 commercial planes.
This is because buildings consume vast amounts of energy and are, as a result, responsible for enormous carbon emissions. In Australia, commercial buildings comprise around 25% of the nation's overall electricity use and account for 10% of total carbon emissions. Globally, buildings are responsible for a staggering 40% of emissions.
