After more than two years of industry engagement, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has launched a rating tool, aimed at improving the efficiency and environmental sustainability of Australia’s existing buildings.
The Green Star – Performance rating tool is the result of the collaborative efforts of Australia’s property and facility management industries, which have worked together to create a consistent, holistic method of measuring existing buildings.
Green Star – Performance will enable building owners and managers to identify pathways to improve the environmental and financial sustainability of their assets over time.
The launch of the rating tool was held at the Sydney Opera House, itself 40 years old this month, which is aiming to achieve one of Australia’s first Green Star – Performance ratings.
According to the GBCA’s Chief Executive, Romilly Madew, Green Star – Performance will be a ‘game changer’ for the industry.
“We have spent more than a decade focused on the design and construction of new and retrofitted buildings and their interiors – and now have more than 620 Green Star-rated projects around Australia, with a further 480 registered to achieve certification,” she said.
“While we are very proud of each and every one of these buildings, Green Star – Performance will help us tackle the far greater challenge of improving the efficiency of our existing building stock.”
“Green Star – Performance will enable us to transform these ‘brown’ buildings into the green buildings we need, and reduce their operating costs,” said Ms Madew.
The GBCA’s development approach to Green Star – Performance has involved a significant amount of collaboration with industry.
Managing Director of Principal Sponsor, Australand, Bob Johnston believes the tool’s tracking of the operational performance of all building types including, for the first time, industrial facilities, is of particular importance.
“This is significant, given the growing importance of the asset class to institutional investors. It is also important that the tool has been designed to be applied across entire portfolios and that it recognises incremental improvement by allowing ratings from 1 to 6 Stars,” said Mr Johnston.
Green Star – Performance ratings are delivered in an online format.
“Whether the building is a school, shopping centre, hotel or hospital, Green Star – Performance will help owners and managers to identify and upgrade building performance in areas such as energy, water, waste reduction and indoor environment quality,” said the GBCA’s Chair, Daniel Grollo.
“From today, existing building owners can put themselves on an equal footing with the owners of new buildings by achieving a Green Star rating and the benefits that it brings, including faster attraction of tenants and buyers, increased employee productivity and engagement, and improved asset value,” he concluded.
