Green Star FAQs

Yes, projects may exclude emergency lighting from the following criteria where the emergency lighting is not the primary source of lighting in the room, and each regularly occupied area is supplied with a primary light source (e.g. downlights) that meets all criteria requirements: Rating tool Credit Criteria Green Star - Design & As Built,...

***** Updated 17/02/2026 ***** Updated on 17/02/2026 to reflect the process for upgrading to Green Star Buildings v1.1 and the cut off date for Green Star Buildings v1.   The Upgrade Process: 1) Reach out to the GBCA meteam@gbca.org.au and let us know that you are interested in upgrading to Green Star Buildings. The Market Engagement...

Yes, a pro-rata approach to calculating the number of showers required for the number of regular building occupants can be taken per the tables below:  Table 1 – Pro-rata approach for Green Star – Design & As Built and Green Star – Interiors projects  Occupants Showers 0 - 12 1 Unisex 13 - 49 2 50 - 99 3 100...

Yes. The GBCA requires evidence that the drawings supplied are as constructed, whether they have an ‘As Built’ stamp or not. 'For Construction' drawings are acceptable provided they are accompanied by formal confirmation from the head contractor or other relevant professional(s) that the For Construction drawings depict the site as-built...

No. Whilst the intention is to have plants evenly distributed throughout the floorplate of a building, it is not a requirement that there be 500cm2 of soil surface area in every 10m2 of nominated area.  Compliance can be demonstrated by showing that the total percentage of soil surface area within each...

No, all apartments are not required to be tested for air-tightness in Green Star. Project teams may test a minimum of 10 dwelling units or 10% of the total number of dwelling units, whichever is greater as sample units to satisfy the Testing Area Requirements. The sample units selected must include: A representative...

The GBCA has no specific requirement as to when registered projects should submit for a Designed Assessment. Below is some guidance to help establish the best timing for your project. This supplements information provided in the rating tool Submission Guidelines.  Purpose A Designed Assessment (or Design Review under the Legacy rating tools)...

The GBCA recommends that, when a contractor, sub-contractor, consultant, or other party involved in a Green Star registered project is unable to complete project works or provide documentation for the Green Star submission due to insolvency or another unforeseen event, the project team should contact the GBCA as soon as...

Technical questions related to Innovation were previously marked as free of charge. However moving forward Innovation related technical questions will be charged the standard fees of $220 (excl. of GST) as per a technical question. The following is a list of all places in the rating tool where a technical...

Yes, in the Circular Economy Leadership Challenge, project teams may weight the chosen products against the total material cost associated with the project in lieu of the total project cost. This is on the basis that the Leadership Challenge focuses on the circularity of materials/products within a project therefore the alternate...

Fixed Benchmark Pathway (22A) Projects teams delivering a Green Star rated Interiors project within a Green Star Design & As Built rated base building may aggregate the base building and fitout construction and demolition waste to determine the maximum waste allowance based on the combined GFA and NLA. Up to one (1)...

Yes. Projects may target one (1) point through 30B Market Transformation under Green Star - Design & As Built by conducting additional leakage diagnostics to document leaks found during testing, rectifying and reporting at least one major defect identified during air permeability testing to all stakeholders, in addition to targeting and...

No. Project teams are not required to have been awarded the pre-approved credits from other rating tools listed under the Global Sustainability credits in Green Star - Design & As Built v1.2 when making claims under the Global Sustainability credit. These pre-approved credits may also be applied to other versions...

There are 2 pathways available for project teams to target the credit ‘Integrated Public Art’ credit from the DGNB CORE 2014 rating tool under 'Global Sustainability'.   Pathway 1: DGNB certification The project has achieved this credit in an associated DGNB certification. Documentation Requirements: A copy of this response. A copy of the results from DGNB showing...

Yes. Projects pursuing certification under Green Star - Design & As Built, and Green Star - Railway Stations may target the 'Designing for Robustness' credit from the 2015 'BREEAM In-Use International' Technical Manual. One (1) point is available where all compliance requirements for the credit has been addressed and evidenced as per...

Yes. Projects pursuing a certification under Green Star - Design & As Built, Green Star - Railway Stations and Green Star - Interiors may target credit 25.1 Site Maintenance Procedures from Green Star - Performance v1.2 under the Global Sustainability credit. One (1) point is available where all compliance requirements for credit...

We’ve developed a short guidance document for project teams on what level of documentation is acceptable for Design Review – Green Star Design & As Built and Green Star – Interiors. This Design Review Guidance provides answers to common questions asked by project teams. The Guidance - Submitting for Design Review document is...

Yes. The GBCA and International Well Building Institute (IWBI) have developed a crosswalk document to allow projects seeking WELL certification to claim points in the Green Star - Design & As Built and Green Star - Interiors rating tools. The intent of the crosswalk is to minimise the workload for project teams seeking...

Yes. Projects pursuing a certification under Green Star - Design & As Built, Green Star - Railway Stations and Green Star - Interiors may target credit 6.1 Green Cleaning Policy from Green Star - Performance v1.2 under the Global Sustainability credit. One (1) point is available where all compliance requirements for credit...

Before achieving certification you can promote your Green Star registered project in writing, but cannot use the Green Star logo or Green Star certification trade mark. The Green Star certification trade mark can only be used once the project is certified. The Marketing and Style Guide explains how Green Star certified projects can...