THE City of Perth has launched a new program to encourage businesses in the city to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their offices. Called CitySwitch Green Office, the program will require businesses to sign up for an energy assessment under the National Australian Built Environment Rating System and adopt an action plan to meet a four-star level of compliance. In order to achieve this rating level, signatories will be encouraged to update office lighting using motion sensors, switch to flat-screen monitors and install blinds or shading on windows. Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the program would significantly reduce energy consumption in the city’s buildings. “We are going to work with office tenants to show them how to reduce their energy use in their everyday work activities. Tenants can influence up to 50 per cent of a building’s electrical bill,” Ms Scaffidi said. “Office energy use is also the largest and fastest growing sector in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.” Woodside Energy and property agency Colliers International have signed up to the program, which has been endorsed by the Property Council of WA. Meanwhile, the Green Building Council of Australia has appointed structural engineer Nadja Kampfhenkel as the group’s WA state manager. Ms Kampfhenkel has experience as a design engineer and project manager.