The Commercial Building Disclosure Program

Alison Fenton

July 23, 2026

The Commercial Building Disclosure Program

Photo by Daniel Kuberek on Unsplash

The Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) Program is an Australian Government initiative that improves transparency around the energy performance of large office buildings. By requiring owners to disclose verified energy performance when selling or leasing office space, the program encourages investment in more efficient buildings, reduces operating costs, and supports Australia's transition to a lower-emissions built environment.

Key points of the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD)Program

Applies to large office buildings: The CBD Program generally applies when office buildings or office tenancies with a Net Lettable Area (NLA) of 1,000 m² or more are offered for sale, lease or sublease. It primarily applies where office space represents at least 75% of the building's floor area, subject to eligibility requirements and exemptions.
Mandatory energy disclosure: Before advertising or marketing a disclosure-affected office building, owners must hold a current Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC) and display the building's NABERS Energy for Offices rating in all advertising.
BEEC requirements: A BEEC combines:
- a current NABERS Energy for Offices rating (valid for up to 12 months); and
- a Tenancy Lighting Assessment (TLA) (valid for five years).
Supports informed decision-making: The program gives prospective buyers and tenants consistent, independently verified information about a building's operational energy performance, enabling more informed property decisions.
Improves asset value and marketability: Higher-performing buildings often benefit from reduced operating costs, improved tenant comfort, stronger leasing outcomes and increased market appeal, creating an incentive for continual performance improvement.
Encourages emissions reduction: Commercial buildings contribute significantly to Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. By driving ongoing operational performance improvements, the CBD Program supports national energy efficiency and net zero objectives.
Program expansion is planned: The Australian Government has released a roadmap outlining a staged expansion of the CBD Program to include additional commercial building types over time, although no immediate changes have been implemented.

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How SUHO's NABERS services support the CBD Program

SUHO assists building owners, asset managers and property professionals in understanding and improving the operational performance of their office buildings through NABERS Energy and NABERS Water assessments.

NABERS Energy for Office Buildings

Our NABERS Energy service helps clients:

Prepare for compliance with the Commercial Building Disclosure Program.
Obtain or renew the NABERS Energy rating required as part of a Building Energy Efficiency Certificate (BEEC).
Benchmark building performance against comparable office buildings.
Identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption, operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Improve building performance over time, helping owners achieve stronger NABERS ratings that enhance marketability and tenant confidence.

NABERS Water for Office Buildings

While NABERS Water is not a mandatory requirement under the CBD Program, it provides valuable operational insight by:

Benchmarking water efficiency across office buildings.
Identifying opportunities to reduce potable water consumption and operating costs.
Supporting broader ESG, sustainability and corporate reporting objectives.
Demonstrating leadership beyond minimum compliance, particularly for owners pursuing Green Star, net zero or portfolio-wide sustainability strategies.

Why engage SUHO?

By combining NABERS Energy and NABERS Water expertise, SUHO helps office building owners move beyond compliance and unlock ongoing operational value. Whether your objective is to meet CBD Program requirements, improve asset performance, reduce operational costs or strengthen your sustainability credentials, our team provides practical, data-driven advice to help maximise the long-term value and performance of your commercial property.