89 countries, one cause: Industry unites for World Green Building Week

The property and construction industries from 89 nations representing more than 30,000 organisations will unite this week for World Green Building Week.

World Green Building Week aims to highlight the important role that buildings play in decreasing the global carbon footprint and saving money, while also creating jobs, reducing poverty and improving lives.

According to the Chairman of the GBCA and World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), Tony Arnel, the case for green building has never been stronger.

"As the world's nations transition from 'business as usual' to new 'green' economies, low carbon, sustainable buildings and communities can save money, support job growth and improve the health, wellbeing and general living conditions of millions of people," Mr Arnel says.

The GBCA will be hosting a number of events, including a 'green leaders' reception at the 6 Star Green Star-rated Darling Quarter in Sydney. GBCA members will be hosting site tours of their Green Star-rated buildings, running workshops and launching sustainability reports.

Chief Executive of the GBCA, Romilly Madew, says: "Australia can be very proud of its achievements in sustainable building. We have more than 4.2 million square metres of Green Star-certified space around Australia, our GBC is the second largest out of 89 around the world and we've trained 21,000 people in the industry on sustainable building practices. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index is overrun with Australian companies, with 7 out of 21 being Australian.

"As Australia moves towards a price on pollution, we can expect green buildings to assume a central role in our new green economy, and in doing so deliver on the triple bottom line of people, profit, planet," Ms Madew adds.

Buildings consume a third of the world's resources during the construction process, generate around 40 per cent of global energy use and up to 30 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Buildings also represent the single largest opportunity to mitigate climate change. The United Nations Development Program has stated that "no other sector has such a high potential for drastic emission reductions", and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said that buildings offer some of the most cost-effective and expedient ways to reduce greenhouse emissions.

"Until now we have failed to unlock this potential of our sector - the low hanging fruit is just out of reach," says Chief Executive of the WorldGBC, Jane Henley.

"Governments are beginning to see that their national energy security, urban development and job creation priorities can all be achieved through green building. As governments face economic challenges and shrinking budgets, green building offers a way both to save money through efficiencies and to create jobs," Ms Henley concludes.

Events and activities being held around Australia include:

• Australand: 'Turn waste into art' competition
• Australian Sychroton: Green building forum
• BlueScope Steel: Presentations and panel discussion
• City of Gosnells: Tours of Civic Centre Redevelopment Project, Perth
• City of Vincent: Green roofs workshop and public lecture
• Colliers International: Site tours, workshops and an online quiz
• Good Environment Choice Australia: Open day at Sydney offices to showcase green fitout equipment
• GPT Group: Site tour of MLC Centre, 19 Martin Place, Sydney
• Green Building Council of Australia: Green Leaders in the New Green Economy cocktail party, Sydney
• Green Building Council of Australia: Site tour and member evening at 100 Hutt St, Adelaide
• Green Building Council of Australia: Site tour of Holmesglen TAFE Building 12, Melbourne
• Green Building Council of Australia: Site tour of the Energex Building, Brisbane
• Hansen Yuncken: Site tour of Metcash Industrial Distribution Centre, Sydney
• NAWIC WA Branch: Presentation on 'green is the new black'
• Stockland: Sustainability Report Launch
• Yarra City and Moreland City Councils: Free green building advice to residents.

Find out more.

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