Fitout Calculators

Green Star Revolution is a blueprint to make Green Star simpler, faster, more consistent and more cost-effective. One of our transformational projects is the development of three new Green Star credits - 'Furniture', 'Assemblies' and 'Flooring' which are now in the Green Star 'Materials' category.

As part of these new credits, the GBCA has created a new set of easy-to-use, streamlined and rigorous 'Fitout Calculators'. The Fitout Calculators were first released, for public comment, in October 2010 as the 'Draft Material Calculators 2.0'.

Documentation

Implementation of the Fitout Calculators

It was the GBCA's initial intention to incorporate the new credits into existing tools. However, the changes made between the 'Draft Material Calculators 2.0' and the final 'Fitout Calculators' are so significant that the Green Building Council of Australia's Technical Steering Committee has determined that the new Fitout Calculators are only integrated new Green Star rating tools. This will include new versions of:

• Green Star - Office Interiors
• Green Star - Multi Unit Residential
• Green Star - Education
• Green Star - Healthcare
• Green Star - Public Building.

The first tool to incorporate the new credits and calculators will be the new version of Green Star - Office Interiors, which we expect to release in 2012. Green Star projects will not be able to use the new Fitout Calculators in their current submissions.

Why have we developed three new credits?

The Green Star 'Materials' category aims to address and reduce the environmental impacts arising from the use of fitout products through rewarding use of environmentally-preferable products.

Following consultation with GBCA members, industry stakeholders, manufacturers and suppliers, the GBCA has streamlined the credits for fitout materials, consolidating some credits to simplify Green Star certification, and updating others so that they continue to drive demand for environmentally-preferable fitout products.

What do the new credits and Material Fitout Calculators address?

Furniture, flooring and assemblies experience the fastest churn rates in a building and therefore represent one of the shortest in-use materials phases of a building's lifecycle. The new credits, and the accompanying Fitout Calculators, aim to reduce this churn by stimulating demand for environmentally-preferable fitout products in Australia.

The new credits address furniture, flooring and assemblies; other fitout items are not assessed in the Material category in Green Star.

What do the new calculators mean to you?

The Fitout Calculators will deliver on the 'Green Star Revolution' promise of more robust, clearer processes.

- Easy-to-use: a detailed guide explains the steps you need to take to claim points in Green Star for Materials credits, including how to use the calculators, what documents you must complete and how the points are determined.

- Cost-effective: clearer guidelines, more relevant criteria and streamlined documentation requirements will reduce the time it takes you to complete your Green Star submission and save on costs.

- Transparent: a wider range product certification standards are recognised under the GBCA's stringent Assessment Framework for Product Certification Schemes.

- Rigorous: five clear assessment criteria will lead to better environmental outcomes. Our five updated criteria are:
o Re-use of items
o Use of items certified by relevant product certification standards
o Use of items with product stewardship contracts
o Use of items with re-used, recycled or certified content
o Implementation of an ISO 14001 certified environmental management systems.

How has the scoring system changed?

Stakeholder feedback during the public comment period supported a change to the scoring system. These changes are explained in detail in the Stakeholder Feedback Report and in the Fitout Calculators Guide . The two main changes are:

1. Only re-used products or products certified to a certification standard recognised under levels A or B can achieve a score of 100%. Non-certified new products, and products certified to a certification standard recognised under level C can no longer achieve a 100% product score. This change corresponds with the increased number of certification standards recognised by the GBCA and reflects the importance of third party certification of fitout items as the best way to establish environmental performance.

2. Green Star points are now calculated as a percentage of the points available. For example: 2.4 points will be awarded if 3 points are available in a credit and an overall score of 80% is achieved. The draft version of the calculator only awarded whole points when certain overall score levels were met. This change provides a more accurate correlation between improved environmental performance in selection of fitout items and the points generated towards a Green Star rating. The Guide outlines in detail how the scoring system works.

What do you do next?

- Product manufacturers - review the new Green Star Fitout Calculators documentation found above and make the necessary preparations to ensure your products are able to comply with the criteria as each new rating tool is rolled out.

- Product Certification Schemes - start considering how the new credits and calculators will affect the marketing of the various levels of certification you offer.

- Green Star users - these changes will not affect any projects already registered for Green Star. However, future versions of some Green Star tools will include these calculators. Registered projects can choose to upgrade to the new version of any Green Star tool, with the new credits and calculators, when it is released.