The Green Building Council Australia’s (GBCA) Year in Focus report outlines record levels of certifications, applications, policy advancements, and ingenious and sophisticated approaches to decarbonising the built environment.
The Australian building sector is toasting the end of the year with the news that more than 1000 buildings, fitouts and precincts have been awarded Green Star certification for sustainability credentials.
GBCA chief impact officer Jorge Chapa says such an uptake in certifications reflects the reality that incorporating sustainable construction practices into builds is no longer viewed as an ‘if’, but a ‘when’.
“Developers, designers, owners and investors are embracing sustainability not as an obligation but an opportunity to deliver better outcomes for people and the planet,” Chapa says.
Submission volumes have doubled from last year with 120 project submissions and more than 150 queries received in a mere three-month period. Chapa is encouraged by the industry’s realisation in the power of sustainable practices to achieve energy efficiency, emissions reduction and enhance liveability outcomes.
The report delivers inspiring figures of sustainability’s profound and far-reaching effect – not only is 64 million square-metres of building space across Australia Green Star certified, but 3.4 million people frequent a Green Star rated shopping centre every day and more than 930,000 people visit and heal in Green Star certified hospitals every year. Additionally, more than 94,000 people will eventually reside in Green Star rated apartment buildings and student residences.
Policy change incites a ripple effect
Chapa says the Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy galvanised the wider built world pursuit towards nabbing a Green Star rating. Green Star standards became mandatory across Australian Government-owned buildings and subsequently generated a ‘ripple effect’ into other sectors.
“Policies set high expectations for public developments, raise the bar for private sector projects and foster innovation and accelerate our transition to net-zero buildings,” Chapa says.
Intersectoral collaboration essential to meet targets
The value of multidisciplinary collaboration in safeguarding a healthy future was revealed through GBCA forging a partnership with the United States Green Building Council, the United Kingdom Building Research Establishment, Singapore Green Building Council, the Climate Bonds Initiative, the Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor and the Alliance HQE-GBC located in France.
Chapa emphasises the importance of intersectoral collaboration and the ever-evolving sustainable finance revolution.
“Global collaboration is critical if we are going to see sustainability in the built environment at scale,” he says.
Chapa says the built world is poised to lead the charge and ascertain a climate-positive future. However he warns against prematurely celebrating the proliferation of Green Star buildings.
“There’s more work to be done,” he says. “By aligning our efforts, we can ensure every building, precinct and fitout contributes to a resilient, climate-positive future.”
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