Green funds for Perth CBD

THE owners of two Perth office buildings have been awarded grants under the federal government’s Green Building Fund for upgrades to make them more environmentally efficient.

The buildings are among 37 properties nationwide to be granted a total of $16.4 million in the third round of funding.

Signet House, an eight-storey office building at 600-608 Murray Street will receive the maximum $550,000 worth of funding, while 140 St Georges Terrace, formerly known as the AMP Building, has been granted $281,000.

Four Western Australian applicants have already been selected for the federal government funding in the previous two rounds, collectively receiving $1.9 million.

Of the four, 150 St Georges Terrace has been granted $550,000 and 190 St Georges Terrace has been granted nearly $430,000.

The building at 1 William St has been granted $506,000 while a 37-year-old building at 251 Adelaide Terrace received nearly $412,000.

Changes to the buildings will comprise retrofitting energy saving modifications aimed at providing more efficient management of heat, lighting and air-conditioning systems.

Under the plan, buildings will also be installed with solar equipment where possible and implemented with building management plans.

The Rudd government initiative will provide $90 million over the next five years to combat greenhouse emissions caused by existing commercial office buildings and for industry associations involved in operating commercial buildings.

The Green Building Fund is part of the $240 million Clean Business Australia initiative and is due to release two further rounds of funding.

Led by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, the Clean Business Australia initiative will also attempt to provide solutions to climate change from small- and medium-sized businesses.