Our Achievements

Below is a snapshot of just some of our activities and achievements in the last year:

Green Star environmental rating tools

The GBCA has a suite of Green Star environmental rating tools for commercial office design and construction, which has been complemented by tools for healthcare, industrial facilities, schools and universities, retail centres and multi-unit residential dwellings. Green Star tools are downloaded more than 3,000 times each month, and you can also download your copies.

In 2009 the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) consulted with its members and other industry and government stakeholders to identify opportunities for supporting a tool for urban communities and to also lead the development of a rating tool for sustainable communities. Find out more about Green Star Communities.

We have an unrivalled reputation as the Australian leader in the green building industry. With strong market support for Green Star, we now have more than 240 certified Green Star projects with more than 320 currently registered to receive certification over the coming months.

Green Star education

Over the course of the year, the GBCA has hosted more than 90 Green Star courses across Australia. As of 1 July 2010, our flagship course Green Star Accredited Professional will be re-named the Green Star Foundation Course and as before it will provide participants with the skills to apply Green Star environmental rating tools to their projects, a broader understanding of green building practices and an opportunity to connect with other sustainability-focused professionals in the property industry. Also on the 1 July 2010, the GBCA will launch its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program.

Green Star Masterclass

The Green Star Masterclasses are designed to educate on specific Green Star Rating tools. Both introduction and advanced courses are available and are run over half a day. For more information please email the Education Team.

Publications

The GBCA is a powerful and active voice in the sustainability debate. Our most groundbreaking publication, The Dollars & Sense of Green Buildings: Building the Business Case for Green Buildings in Australia, was revised and reissued in September 2008. The Green Building Evolution, which was launched at Green Cities '10 examines trends and technologies in sustainable building, profiles case studies and provides a solid business case for green building. Green Building Evolution is free to download.

We also released a landmark report, Valuing Green, in 2008, which examines how green buildings can affect property values and what valuers need to know. We also worked in partnership with BCI Australia to produce the Green Building Market Report 2008. These reports are available for purchase online.

Green Cities

Green Cities is now the No. 1 Green Building Conference and Expo in Australia. Each year the Green Building Council of Australia and the Property Council of Australia bring together renowned global green building experts to explore new ideas in sustainable building. Green Cities '11 will run from 22 February 2010 - 2nd March 2011.

Networking events

Our Meet the Stars forums attract as many as 300 people to each event, and are seen by our members as an outstanding opportunity to make new contacts, gain market intelligence and hear about practical case studies of green building excellence. We also host other events, such as boardroom lunch and dinners, Leading Green Thinker forums and Greens on the Green, our annual networking event held in conjunction with our AGM.

Market intelligence

Our e-newsletter, Green Building Voice, is distributed to more than 20,000 readers each month, and provides updates on our events and activities, our members' environmental achievements and national and international green building news.

Our website is the 'go to' point for all green building knowledge in Australia. We attract 27,000 unique visitors each month who want to access the latest green building news and research, download exclusive member-only reports and listen to podcasts.

Future Green Leaders

Future Green Leaders of Australia is a GBCA initiative that aims to educate the next generation of property professionals in Green Star and sustainable design, and shape the green building leaders of tomorrow.