by Brianna Crandall — December 21, 2015—The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) recently announced a 40 percent increase in Green Star certifications since last year, confirming that sustainability is in Australia to stay. The group certified 218 Green Star projects in 2015, compared with 156 in 2014. In addition, 184 projects registered to achieve Green Star ratings over the course of the year, up 52 percent on the 121 registrations in 2014. GBCA also named several companies and organizations who are leading the way in sustainability.
GBCA Chief Executive Officer Romilly Madew pointed out:
We have surpassed the magic 1,000 milestone, and now have 1,020 Green Star certified projects rated. More than 530,000 Australians now work in Green Star-rated offices – that’s 4.5 percent of our total workforce. A further 4,400 people now live in Green Star-rated apartments and more than 16,800 students learn in Green Star-certified schools. The Green Star – Communities projects certified this year will one day be home to 80,000 people.
We applaud the efforts of every person, every organization and every stakeholder – from our government members to our industry partners — that have demonstrated steadfast commitment to sustainability this year.
GBCA acknowledged the leadership of a select group of companies and organizations, naming leaders in particular areas:
Development leadership
Frasers Property Australia climbed to the top of the league table in 2015 for the second year in a row, with 62 Green Star projects registered and 58 projects certified over the course of the year. This year, Frasers Property certified 983,985 sq m of floorspace under the Green Star – Performance rating tool alone, and certified 1.03 million sq m in total. It was also the first company to make a commitment to achieve 5 Star Green Star ratings for all new developments.
Lendlease certified the largest area of Green Star space in 2015 — a “whopping” 1.39 million sq m of Green Star space. In total, Lendlease has 2.24 million sq m of certified space – almost double its nearest rival.
Consultancy leadership
Arup Australasia has been the Green Star Accredited Professional on more projects than any other consultant, with a total of 11 Green Star-certified projects for the year. The company boasts a total of 65 Green Star projects, consisting of offices, schools and university buildings, apartments and shopping centers around the country, including One Central Park, voted the world’s best tall building, and Commonwealth Bank Place, which is arguably Australia’s greenest office.
Special mention goes to dsquared as the ESD consultant on the first Green Star – Design & As Built office, Palumbo’s 185 Pirie Street in Adelaide, notes GBCA.
Government leadership
The South Australian Government is the clear leader in 2015, with three Green Star ratings, including a massive 292,000 sq m of Green Star space at the New Royal Adelaide Hospital, the largest Green Star project certified in 2015. The Government has committed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, has achieved a Green Star – Communities rating for the Tonsley urban renewal project in Adelaide, and the 5 Star mandate at Bowden is beginning to bear fruit, according to Madew.
Other notable government achievements include:
- Defence Housing Australia achieved the first 6 Star Green Star rating for a residential building for the Prince’s Australian Terraces in Adelaide;
- Wollongong City Council scored the first 5 Star Green Star – Performance rating for its Council Administration Building; and
- Sydney Opera House bagged a 4 Star Green Star – Performance rating.
Communities leadership
Lendlease was the only organization to certify two Green Star – Communities projects in 2015: Alkimos Beach in Perth, which achieved the first 6 Star Green Star rating for a community, and Aurora in Victoria.
Stockland takes the crown for the largest certified Green Star – Community. Aura, on the Sunshine Coast, is the nation’s largest master planned community under single ownership, with 20,000 new homes on the horizon.
State leadership
State-by-state analysis reveals that New South Wales certified the most projects — 70 in total. In comparison, Victoria certified 62 and Queensland 46. Victoria still has more Green Star projects than any other state, with 292 in total.
