CitySwitch is on a growth path. This free local government service has been designed to help office-based businesses reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, improve the bottom line and minimise waste.
It’s helped 66 per cent of members in Sydney switch to renewable energy and also supports office based businesses in Melbourne, Adelaide, North Sydney, Yarra City, Ballarat City and Waverley councils. Now it’s looking further afield to new local government areas.
So why now?
According to the program managers there couldn’t be a better time.
The inflationary environment is putting pressure on office managers to slash the costs of doing business. At the same time there’s huge and growing pressure for businesses from large to small to become more sustainable. Bigger corporates also need to prepare for new mandatory carbon disclosure of their carbon emissions, with the results potentially affecting their relationships with external stakeholders.
Internal stakeholders are also critical and when it comes to staff the stakes go up a notch.
The war on talent means talented Millennials and Gen Xers know they’ve got the upper hand and can wield pressure on their employers to lift their game. They want a great place to work; they want it to be sustainable and they want it to align with their values.
After 15 years since it kicked off, these drivers and ambitions are exactly where CitySwitch is confident it can help.
It’s built up a wealth of knowledge and practical guides to create easy to follow pathways to change. In addition, it’s got some of the best experts in the business on tap to help with the more unusual challenges, either through consultants or fellow members who can share their experiences with the group.
The major property owners in the major CBDs are also aware that their participation helps keep their tenants happy and engaged.
So how does it work?
Emily Keegan, Sustainability Engagement Coordinator for the program says there’s a wide set of guides and case studies for members to call on. In particular, members value the peer support they get from taking part in the campaigns that CitySwitch runs.
There’s a lot of practical help.
Keegan says GreenPower suppliers are sometimes unwilling to take on a client with only modest energy needs.
“One company had only a small office in Sydney’s Kent Street, which meant it didn’t have the big market clout of a big tenant and it didn’t have any of the ‘big four’ consultants to call on for advice,” Keegan says.
The company’s facility manager faced a volatile energy market, a plethora of suppliers to evaluate and the legal implications of switching out of an existing contract.
CitySwitch introduced the member to a step by step strategy to get started and then a broker who could bring their clout to the task and achieve the desired outcomes, Keegan says.
CitySwitch can also help guide its members when the deal gets more complicated.
A detailed case study on its website shows how well known legal firm Gilbert + Tobin faced the danger of being squeezed out of the clean energy market when its GreenPower supplier switched its business to focus on supplying only large volume customers.
An alternative supplier was finally sourced but at a higher cost. The dilemma was how to bring along the internal stakeholders to agree to pay more for going green.
In the end it was Gilbert + Tobin’s commitment to CitySwitch to increase its NABERS energy rating to 4 stars and then to 5 stars that got the deal across the line. They went even further – becoming 100 per cent renewable and transitioning to net zero.
Waste and recycling are still challenging
When it comes to waste and recycling the job can get tricky.
According to Keegan there’s usually a single individual who is passionate about the issue and determined to make a difference.
However, this means that it’s often just one person trying to bring their fellow office workers with them. And at least partly that involves behaviour change and trying to get other people to break old habits.
Again, CitySwitch has a suite of support tools to help.
There’s a series of online learning modules ranging from just five minutes to 25 minutes, produced by experts in the field, Edge Impact.
And there’s also links to some interesting organisations that can help with a range of solutions such as OzHarvest and Second Bite, which can take excess food and redirect it to people who need it.
There are depositories for spent batteries and fluoro lights (for those who still have them!) and safe places to leave old electronic equipment.
And there’s a case study of how SHAPE uses circular economy principles throughout their nine offices around Australia and business operations, Keegan says.
Wider stakeholder benefits
The biggest benefit of the program, however, is the sector wide impact to a much bigger range of stakeholders than just the CitySwitch members.
Katie Shammas, Sustainability Engagement Manager at City of Sydney which oversees the program, says that the whole building – and property portfolio – can benefit.
For instance if one office floor decides to implement an innovative recycling program other tenants may become engaged and eventually tip the whole building into better outcomes, which then sets a template to spread the learning to a property owner’s entire portfolio.
Shammas says some of Australia’s biggest landlords have worked with the team.
“We’ve worked with Charter Hall, Brookfield and Mirvac. It’s worth a lot to the property owner when they can show the tenant they care about their business and are keen to help them improve their sustainability profile and lower costs. It also benefits the management of their scope 3 emissions which is an increasing area of focus.”
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore says the program’s benefits extend ever more widely to the city and even the economy.
“The City of Sydney’s highest priority is mitigating climate change. As 75 per cent of emissions are generated by cities, our actions are critical.
“Proudly, through CitySwitch, 66 per cent of members in Sydney have made the change to renewable energy.
“We’re leading by example by successfully reducing emissions while improving the resilience of our economy.”
CitySwitch is a free program for office-based businesses. Now is a great time to join. Find out more by contacting Emily Keegan ekeegan@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
