The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has reinforced its commitment to building environmentally responsible, resilient and sustainable buildings via the release of the Sustainable Building Pathway.
The Sustainable Building Pathway is a ten-year program set to function as a guide for the ACT to ensure the built environment is following premium global practices. The pathway seeks to facilitate intersectoral collaboration by outlining achievable climate-responsive objectives for the government, the building and construction industry and the community to undertake together.
Capitalising on opportunities for environmentally mindful design
Green Building Council of Australia CEO Davina Rooney praised the ACT for taking proactive steps towards future-proofing buildings. She also expressed confidence in the adaptability of the pathway document, noting it allows for amendments and adjustments as sustainable building benchmarks deepen in sophistication and scope over time.
“We’re excited to work with the ACT Government and industry to seize opportunities to make the ACT’s homes and buildings more sustainable,” she said.
Rooney is encouraged by the increasing volume of sustainable and climate-ready homes in Australia and the ACT specifically, however, she emphasised the need for greater involvement and willingness from a diverse range of industries.
“We must move faster and on a greater scale,” she said.
“The Sustainable Buildings Pathway sets a clear direction for how industry, government and the community can achieve a vision of sustainable and climate-ready buildings for Canberrans now and in the future.”
Pathway grounded in focus areas
The Pathway’s focus areas reference key industry documents such as the ACT Climate Change Strategy 2022 to 2025 and the Integrated Energy Plan. The first two focus areas detail goals and objectives pertaining to the function and features of a building and the third focus area suggests collaboration opportunities between government and industry.
Focus area one unpacks the fundamentals of future-proof design and circular economy principles, alongside ways buildings can maintain indoor environment quality and protect biodiversity. The second focus area outlines methods for builds to decrease embodied carbon, improve energy performance, and slash fossil fuel gas use and refrigerant gases emissions.
Lastly, the third focus area is concerned with workforce development – brainstorming how to accelerate sustainable practices and innovation into action, respond to market failures and grow supply chain resilience.
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