Concrete Credit Review

Background

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is committed to the continuous improvement of all Green Star credits. The Mat-5 'Concrete' credit is one of four core Green Star Materials category credits that are currently under review. The GBCA has been carrying out analysis of stakeholder feedback and ongoing engagement with Cement and Concrete Industry stakeholders. The stakeholder feedback has highlighted aspects of the credit's current compliance requirements which may not be optimising the environmental merits intended by the aim of the credit. The GBCA is seeking to develop a revised 'Concrete' credit that will address the feedback through a transparent and collaborative stakeholder engagement process.

The proposal

The GBCA will engage experts from the concrete industry and the GBCA membership in a process that will deliver revisions to the compliance requirements of the current Mat-5 'Concrete' credit. Any alterations to the credit requirements will reflect a more holistic approach to the opportunities for reducing the use of Portland cement while encouraging the reasonable use of cement replacement technologies and other possible environmental efficiencies relating to all stages of concrete production, use and disposal.

The process

The process of this revision will follow the established Green Star Stakeholder Engagement Process. Please see the 'Process updates' and 'Latest update' sections below for a historical record and an up to date account of the progress status of the project.

View the Green Star Stakeholder Engagement Process

Process updates

In this section you can find Mat-5 Concrete' credit revision materials as they become available:

Proposed Project Timeline - Mat-5 Credit Revision

GBCA Concrete Expert Reference Panel - Expressions of Interest Request

Current Mat-5 'Concrete' credit aim and credit criteria for Green Star - Office Design and Office As Built v3 rating tools

Latest update

3rd November 2008 - Nomination period for the Concrete Expert Reference Panel ends; GBCA collates and assesses nominations.

13th October 2008 - Concrete Expert Reference Panel (ERP) nominations period begins; Expression of interest requested from subject matter experts that meet the ERP selection criteria.

4th September 2008 - Meeting with representatives from cement and slag industries; Discussion on issues of concern pertaining to supply of slag and demand for recycled concrete aggregate versus slag aggregate; Input sought by GBCA on specific areas of subject matter expertise for Concrete ERP selection criteria.

25th August 2008 - Meeting about current technical barriers to practical implementation of Green Star credit criteria percentage replacement benchmarks for Supplementary Cementicious Material (SCM) with concrete industry representatives from Cemex and Green Star project representatives from Buildcorp.

June - August 2008 - GBCA undertakes research of international best practice of Portland cement reduction initiatives; Revision of nomination and selection processes for ERP Participants undertaken by GBCA to ensure that all ERP's are representative of the GBCA's membership and of each part of the green building supply chain without reinforcing any single stakeholder's interests.

18th May 2008 - Post TAC follow-up meeting with CCAA; Suggestions for alternative credit criteria presented by CCAA; GBCA requests evidence of industry concerns to support CCAA claims that the Green Star cement replacement benchmarks are unachievable; Credit revision process discussed; Emphasis placed on the necessity to establish a Concrete Expert Reference Panel (ERP); CCAA requested to be involved with identifying the areas of subject matter expertise required to achieve a balanced knowledgebase for the Concrete ERP.

17th April 2008 - Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) participate in GBCA Technical Assurance Committee (TAC); CCAA present concerns over increased cement replacement benchmarks in the Green Star - Office Design and Office As Built v3 Mat - 5 'Concrete' credit; TAC recommends a follow-up meeting between GBCA and CCAA to further explore potential alternative criteria for a revised credit.