Green Star FAQs

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...

For the Light Pollution to Night Sky - Control of Direct Illuminance criteria, projects shall demonstrate that direct illuminance from external luminaires on the project produces a maximum initial point illuminance value no greater than: 0.5 lux at the highest point of the building into the night sky (1st horizontal calculation...

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...

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...

For industrial warehouse projects located within an industrial estate, where the site boundary is shared with an industrial or commercial development, compliance with the Light Pollution to Neighbouring Bodies may be demonstrated by meeting the standard AS/NZS 4282:2019 Control of the obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting. In this circumstance, the...

Yes.  Projects may use UWLR (Upward Waste Light Ratio) instead of (ULOR) Upward Light Output Ratio when targeting Light Pollution. An external luminaire with a UWLR not exceeding 5% may be used to demonstrate evidence as required by the requirements in Light Pollution - Light Pollution to Night Sky.

To demonstrate compliance with the credit criteria for the Light Pollution to Neighbouring Bodies and/or Light Pollution to Night Sky, projects using a time clock methodology must ensure that all the relevant building lights are commissioned to ensure that the lights are operating as designed. Evidence of commissioning must be...

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...

For the purposes of the Light Pollution credit in Green Star, the exclusions listed below (as per the submission guidelines) apply for the entirety of the credit,i.e.  Credit Criteria - Light Pollution to Neighbouring Bodies Credit Criteria - Light Pollution to Night Sky Signage related to emergency exits and external emergency lighting that...

In the Light Pollution to Neighbouring Bodies criterion, Table 2.1 of AS 4282:1997 (Recommended maximum values of light technical parameters for the control of obtrusive light) the GBCA clarifies the following: 1) There is no Column 3C, 5A and 5B; 2) For Class 2 buildings (residential), the compliance is for columns 4...

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...

No. All supported documentation listed for each credit in the Submission Guidelines are suggestions only, unless specified otherwise. Alternate documentation to those listed can be used by project teams to demonstrate credit compliance if it adequately supports the claims made within the Submission Templates.

Documents can be referenced, rather than duplicated in credits, as long as the Submission Templates include both: hyperlinks to the relevant document(s); and references to specific page numbers within the document(s) which demonstrate compliance with the specific credit. Page numbers are likely to change for each credit submission, as appropriate to the credit compliance being demonstrated. Please note...

No, skylights are not considered external for the Light Pollution credit. Where luminaires are mounted within an atrium or skylight, these must be included as an external light source. 

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) does not normally certify Green Star projects outside of Australia. If you believe your project should be considered as an exception circumstance, please complete an Eligibility query and provide details of your project and why this should be considered for Green Star certification. Alternatively, we...

No. Older versions of Green Star Design & As Built and Interiors rating tools allowed for one (1) innovation point to be awarded for microbial control in 'Hot' Water Systems. This has been amended in more recent iterations of the rating tools to only apply to 'Warm' Water Systems.  As per...