Sydney CBD A Grade commercial office tower

Project scope

ISPT is one of Australia’s largest unlisted property funds with over $7 billion of funds under management. ISPT is committed to owning an environmentally sustainable portfolio and operating the portfolio in a way which minimises resource use and mitigates the potential effects of climate change.

Sustainability initiatives implemented across the commercial property portfolio since 2006 have resulted in $10.5million savings to ISPT Core Fund investors through electricity, gas and water savings. The average weighted NABERS rating for the portfolios base building is over 4 stars, with a target average rating increase to 4.5 stars by June 2012.

477 Pitt St is a 34 story A-grade commercial office tower opposite Central Railway Station with an adjacent 10 storey wing above two levels of retail including post office, food court, medical centre and newsagency.

Upgrade of lighting systems in properties has been amongst ISPT’s sustainability policies. In response to this policy, at 477 Pitt St, property managers Knight Frank worked closely with enLighten Australia to scope the LED lighting upgrade for the fire stairs in both the commercial office tower and wing and 300 space underground 2 level car park.

The existing lighting in these areas was twin T8 36W fluorescent fixtures operating 24 hours per day.

Products used

8 and 10 chip Chamaeleon emergency lights were installed in fire stairs and car park egress paths and standard Chamaeleon lights were installed in the car park bays.

Electricity savings results

Figure1: M30 Tower Stair lighting meter M30 report, Jan 2012

The retrofit resulted in 401 Chamaeleon lights replacing 802 T8 tubes, producing the same light output levels.

Fire stair meter data supplied by Knight Frank indicated an average 85% reduction in lighting electricity usage. Monthly electricity usage across the two tower fire stairs dropped from a pre installation average of over 8,400 kwH to a post installation average of 1,250kwH.

Indicative car park meter data provided by the metering system also revealed a significant reduction in energy usage.

Project ROI

Calculation of the LED retrofit project ROI of 1.5 years is inclusive of electricity, maintenance savings and Energy Savings Certificates.

The property owners applied for Energy Savings Certificates (ESCs) generated from the commercial lighting upgrade project under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme. The project’s Accredited Certificate Provider has indicated that 1430 certificates will be generated from the project.

Below is a video of ISPT General Manager Commercial Services, Peter James discussing the building's achievement of NABERS rating improvement from 3 stars to 5.5 stars: