Massive fit-out works both above and below ground will begin in the next six months as landowners move to upgrade their property portfolios.  This will add to the already burgeoning construction on at least five big sites in Sydney's central business district.

In a statement this week, the City of Sydney council said it would cut energy and water consumption in its buildings by at least 20 per cent during the next two years as part of its plan to reduce the council's carbon emissions by 70 per cent and water use by 25 per cent by 2030.

The council has called for expressions of interest for the refitting at least 44 of its buildings, including Town Hall House, the Cook and Phillip Aquatic Centre, Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Customs House and the Woolworths building in George Street, as well as depots, community centres, libraries and childcare centres.

The council said buildings accounted for half of the city's carbon emissions and water use at present.

The chief development officer for energy and climate change at the council, Allan Jones, said improving the efficiency of buildings would not only lower greenhouse gas emissions but also reduce the council's energy and water costs significantly.

''Early action is crucial if the city is to deliver on its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and set an example for other large commercial and residential building owners,'' Mr Jones said.

The City of Sydney, along with groups such as Leighton Contractors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Stockland, the Commonwealth Bank, Mirvac and Westpac, plans to improve energy efficiency in offices through its City Switch Green Office.  Other landlords are set to begin major works, with The Commonwealth Office Property Fund planning to spend about $330 million on its 120 Pitt Street site.

To service the new assets and work on the revamp of the city centre, EnergyAustralia would invest more than $1 billion in the inner-city electricity network to maintain a safe and reliable power supply.  Investa has rights to construct a tower above the EnergyAustralia substation at 33 Bligh Street. But it's early days and the scheme is not finalized.

smh.com.au