400 Green Star certified projects - and counting!

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has certified its 400th Green Star project.

Responding to industry demands, the GBCA launched the Green Star environmental rating system for buildings in 2003 to support the property and construction industry in reducing the environmental impact of buildings, driving innovation in sustainable building practices, improving occupant health and productivity and achieving cost savings.

“Green Star has transformed Australia’s property and construction industry – and our 400th certification is evidence of this fact,” says Chief Executive of the GBCA, Romilly Madew.

“We certified our first project in 2004, and since then Green Star has achieved exponential growth.  Today, more than 18 per cent of Australia’s CBD office space is Green Star-certified, and a wide range of building types from schools and hospitals to industrial facilities and shopping centres have achieved Green Star ratings,” Ms Madew says.

The 400th project to be certified is GippsTAFE Chadstone Campus Development in Victoria.  Three buildings on the site, including an administration building and two electrical / telecommunications training buildings, have achieved a 5 Star Green Star – Education Design v1 rating, signifying ‘Australian Excellence’.  

“Achieving a 5 Star Green Star rating at Chadstone is an important milestone for GippsTAFE,” says Dr Peter Whitley, Chief Executive Officer of GippsTAFE. 

“As a leading education provider for the energy and telecommunications industries, the Green Star rating demonstrates GippsTAFE’s position in driving best practice in those sectors. It also highlights GippsTAFE’s overall commitment to sustainability in all of our capital projects.” 

Cundall’s Senior ESD Consultant, and Green Star Accredited Professional on the project, Kate Ramchurn, says that “the Green Star process helped the project team prioritise the environmental initiatives that would deliver the best outcomes for the TAFE.”

“GippsTAFE’s Chadstone Campus is an appropriate symbol of Green Star’s achievements,” adds Romilly Madew. 

“We’ve moved beyond office buildings, and have moved beyond certifying single buildings.  As we roll out the Green Star – Communities rating tool later this year, and continue to develop the Green Star – Performance rating tool for existing buildings, we’re confident that Green Star’s ascendance will continue.”

Contact:
Karen Jamal
Communications Manager
Green Building Council of Australia
Phone: 0412 179 135
Email: karen.jamal@gbca.org.au