The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) highlights the benefits of green buildings as it gears up for the fourth annual World Green Building Week.

This week, Green Building Councils (GBCs) in 98 countries representing more than 25,000 organisations will host events, run campaigns and emphasise the theme: ‘Greener Buildings, Better Places, Healthier People’.

The message from the GBCA is that green buildings are creating more prosperous, productive and healthy communities.

“In Australia, Green Star-rated buildings produce 62 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, use 66 per cent less electricity and consume 51 per cent less potable water than average Australian buildings. They also send a fraction of the waste to landfill,” GBCA chief executive Romilly Madew says.

“But green buildings are not just good for the planet – they are good for people too. Sustainable buildings are boosting student test scores, accelerating patient recovery rates, improving worker productivity and slashing energy bills,” Madew explained.

From conferences and site tours, to award ceremonies and twitter chats, GBCs will be taking part in hundreds of World Green Building Week activities around the world.

Following last year’s walking tour of Sydney, the GBCA has created self-guided tours of Green Star-rated buildings in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

On Tuesday 17 September, the GBCA will launch a new report, The future of Australian Education: Sustainable Places for Learning, and will host a panel discussion on how students and teachers can reap the benefits of happier and healthier education facilities.

Romilly Madew will join the World Green Building Council’s CEO Jane Henley and Green Building Council of South Africa CEO Brian Wilkinson in a live Twitter chat on Wednesday 18 September from 3.30pm AEST, and is encouraging people to join the discussion using the hashtag #WGBW2013chat.

GBCA member companies are also supporting World Green Building Week by hosting workshops, site tours, debates and art competitions.

“World Green Building Week showcases how green buildings are reducing the global carbon footprint, saving money and improving productivity, creating jobs and improving the lives of millions of people,” Henley says.

“The WorldGBC network has expanded from eight GBCs in 2002 to 98 today. This explosive growth underscores the value of our industry, as we work together to create a world of greener, better, healthier buildings,” she concluded.