Convesso 8 Waterside Place

The project at a glance:

Cost of the project

The 31-storey Convesso project at 8 Waterside Place is one of Australia’s first residential developments to be rated under the Green Star – Multi Unit Residential PILOT tool.

It boasts a range of sustainability initiatives that will benefit tenants through reduced utility costs, improved internal temperature control and reduced environmental impacts. Better yet, the additional cost of these features was only two per cent compared to a conventional, non-green building. Convesso’s development team, led by Lend Lease, has been able to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and increase buyer trust through a reliable, third party verification of its green features.

About the project

The project showcases environmental initiatives that are leading the way in intelligent and sustainable residential design. These include a high-performance façade that reduces the heating and cooling requirements of the building. Apartments are equipped with smart metering display panels which allow tenants to view live data on energy and water consumption, enabling tenants to make informed decisions about reducing demand. All apartments have also been outfitted with high-efficiency appliances, fittings and fixtures, which will help reduce water and electricity use within the building.

Lend Lease’s Head of Apartments, Hugh Martin, believes that the green features will “empower residents to create a community that strives to set a new benchmark in sustainable living. Convesso is designed to meet the functional and aesthetic expectations of residents and visitors while minimising its impact on the environment.”

Convesso also delivers dividends for the developer.  As Hugh Martin says: “It is clear that sustainable buildings like Convesso make business sense. They represent smart financial investments today and environmentally responsible investments in our future.”

What Convesso achieved:

Management
Convesso is one of the first developments in Australia to install in-home smart meter displays in every apartment. This visual display provides occupants with valuable live data on electricity and water usage with estimated costs, plus CO₂ emissions data generated through energy use. The real-time feedback makes occupants aware of usage levels and supports informed decision-making about reducing their usage or moving to off-peak periods to save money, water and energy.

Energy
Lend Lease says that Convesso’s high-performance façade glazing and insulation to all walls and ceilings will reduce each resident’s annual air conditioning costs by approximately $360.

A master electricity switch has also been installed in the entry of each apartment. This will provide a simple and convenient way to reduce the drain of standby power, which accounts for 10 per cent of all household electricity consumption in Australia. 

Indoor Environment Quality
All apartments within Convesso have operable windows to maximise cross-ventilation and natural light. Similarly, all kitchen rangehoods will mechanically exhaust to the outside of the building, ensuring residents are breathing the freshest possible air.

Air quality has been further improved by ensuring that all paints and sealants used within the development contain either no or low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), known to cause health issues within buildings.

Transport
Convesso is situated to provide easy access to multiple public transport options and is within walkable distance to most day-to-day conveniences such as supermarkets, shops, restaurants and cafes. This location will help residents reduce or even eliminate their need for a personal car, especially when coupled with the car share service located 50 metres from the building.

Water
Convesso is designed to ensure high levels of water efficiency and reuse throughout the building. The apartments feature water-efficient shower heads, washing machines and dishwashers all of which achieve a minimum 4 star WELS rating. Outside the apartments, a tank captures rainwater for landscape irrigation, keeping Convesso’s gardens green while reducing potable water use. These features, and more, will reduce potable water consumption by 25 per cent, saving residents money and preserving Melbourne’s scarce water resources.