Page 16 - Climate Control News Magazine Feb 2020

In Focus
New Green Star standards proposed for 2020
NEW STANDARDS TO DRIVE THE NEXT WAVE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN UNVEILED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION AS PART OF AN EVOLUTION OF THE WORLD-LEADING GREEN STAR RATING SYSTEM.
THE GREEN BUILDING Council of Australia (GBCA) has released draft credits against its latest rating tool, Green Star for New Buildings, establishing detailed requirements to redefine sustainability for new buildings and major re- furbishments.
GBCA head of market transformation, Jorge Chapa, said the changes to the rating tools rep- resented a step-change.
“We’ve strengthened existing certification requirements, established new benchmarks for carbon emissions, and created a broader, more ambitious and holistic approach to sustainabil- ity in buildings," Chapa said.
“The product of an exhaustive consultation process, the proposed credits reflect industry de- mand for Green Star to continue to drive innova- tion and leadership across the supply chain while also responding to the increasing momentum created by global and market drivers for change."
Feedback is invited until the end of this month.
From climate change resilience, to health and well-being, from diversity and inclusion to nature and biodiversity, Green Star for New Buildings builds on nearly two decades of world leadership across Australia to reset sustainabil- ity for buildings in the 21st century.
Observing the critical role of Green Star in helping to deliver a low emissions future, Chapa said the proposed approach translated GBCA's long-term commitment to net zero buildings into action.
With the application of Green Star for New Buildings, any building awarded a 6 Star Green Star rating will have zero operational carbon emissions. 5 Star Green Star buildings will be net zero ready, and 4 Star Green Star buildings will provide a new entry point for sustainable buildings, demanding 10 per cent less upfront and operational emissions than current Na- tional Construction Code 2019 requirements.
“The ambition of these draft credits is a re- flection of the ambition sought by all our mem- bers across industry and government,
and throughout the broader supply
chain from finance through to product manufacturers and professional ser- vices,” he said.
“Today we are introducing eight cat- egories to more accessibly define a build- ing’s sustainability.
“These categories will deliver healthy, resilient and positive places for people and nature, built re- sponsibly by leaders. This vision in fact defines our categories. This is what we have heard we all want from all our buildings – whether through the use of materials, or in construction and operation.”
Within these categories there are a number of draft credits that all buildings seeking a Green Star rating are expected to comply with: these are proposed as new minimum expecta- tions for every Green Star-rated building.
Chapa said with this announcement, the GBCA was establishing clearer minimum ex- pectations for what should constitute a sus- tainable building for the next generation.
“We are also making it easier to deliver a Green Star building through simpler documen- tation, certification and increasing digitalisa- tion,” Chapa said.
“The GBCA thanks our members, across in- dustry and government, for their incredible sup- port in the delivery of this next iteration of Green Star. With over a year of consultation, more than 100 written submissions, and countless work-
shops and reviews, we are thrilled with the collaboration that continues to drive sustainability through Green Star.”
Feedback is invited until the end of February 2020, visit www.gbca.org.au
GBCA head of market transformation, Jorge Chapa.
16 CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU