February 27, 2012—The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) recently certified its 400th Green Star project. Responding to industry demands, the GBCA launched the Green Star environmental rating system for buildings in 2003 to support the Australian property and construction industry in reducing the environmental impact of buildings, driving innovation in sustainable building practices, improving occupant health and productivity and achieving cost savings.
“Green Star has transformed Australia’s property and construction industry—and our 400th certification is evidence of this fact,” says Chief Executive of the GBCA, Romilly Madew. “We certified our first project in 2004, and since then Green Star has achieved exponential growth. Today, more than 18 percent of Australia’s CBD [central business district] office space is Green Star-certified, and a wide range of building types from schools and hospitals to industrial facilities and shopping centres have achieved Green Star ratings.”
The 400th project to be certified is GippsTAFE (Training and Further Education) Chadstone Campus Development in Victoria. Three buildings on the site, including an administration building and two electrical/telecommunications training buildings, have achieved a 5 Star Green Star—Education Design v1 rating, signifying ‘Australian Excellence.’ The vocational training provider says the achievement highlights its overall commitment to sustainability in all of its capital projects.
“We’ve moved beyond office buildings, and have moved beyond certifying single buildings. As we roll out the Green Star—Communities rating tool later this year, and continue to develop the Green Star—Performance rating tool for existing buildings, we’re confident that Green Star’s ascendance will continue,” adds Madew.
