Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) is a national program designed to improve the energy efficiency of Australia’s large office buildings that is being managed by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.

The Australian, state and territory governments developed the CBD program as part of the National Strategy on Energy Efficiency. As part of the Strategy, governments will consider expanding the program to cover other building types (such as hotels, shopping centres and hospitals) from 2012.

Under the CBD program, most sellers or lessors of office space of 2,000 square metres or more are required to disclose an up-to-date Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) if they wish to sell, lease or sublease that office space.

From 1 November 2011 a full Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) will need to be disclosed. BEECs are valid for up to 12 months, must be publicly accessible on the online Building Energy Efficiency Register, and include:

• a NABERS Energy star rating for the building

• an assessment of tenancy lighting in the area of the building that is being sold or leased and

• general energy efficiency guidance.

The NABERS Energy star rating must also be included in any advertisement for the sale, lease or sublease of the office space.