New green star rating tools: E-Alert July 2009

As the push for greater emphasis on the environmental impact of buildings gathers further momentum, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has responded by expanding the scope of its suite of green building rating tools. The GBCA has recently released Green Star rating tools for multi unit residential facilities (Green Star –Multi Unit Residential v1) and healthcare facilities (Green Star –Healthcare v1). This follows a GBCA trial of the Multi Unit Residential PILOT and Healthcare PILOT rating tools earlier this year.

Although participation in the Green Star rating process is voluntary, obtaining Green Star ratings for new office developments has essentially become standard industry practice. With the introduction of the Green Star –Multi Unit Residential and Green Star –Healthcare rating tools, it is likely that obtaining Green Star ratings for multi unit residential and healthcare projects will similarly become standard industry practice. Those construction industry participants involved in multi unit residential projects or healthcare projects will therefore need to familiarise themselves with these new rating tools.

Green Star – Multi Unit Residential v1

This new tool in the Green Star suite of rating tools follows hot on the heels of the recent commitment by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to develop a national energy efficiency policy through amendments to the Building Code of Australia and the proposed introduction of a mandatory energy efficiency disclosure scheme for residential buildings (please click here for further information). The introduction of this new rating tool therefore represents yet another step in the measures available to measure, benchmark and improve environmental performance of residential buildings.

The Green Star - Multi Unit Residential rating tool assesses the environmental attributes of new residential facilities, and extensions or major refurbishments to existing residential facilities, which comprise two or more residential units and have over 80% floor area dedicated to residential use.

The tool has many credits in common with the Green Star - Office Design and Green Star –Office As-Built rating tools, but also introduces a number of credits with a specific residential focus.

Sector specific credits include:
 

• metering;
• private external space;
• natural ventilation;
• energy and water efficient appliances;
• communal outdoor facilities; and
• swimming pool and spa water efficiency.

A customised energy calculator has been developed for the Green Star –Multi Unit Residential rating tool. The NABERS Energy calculation method used for the Green Star –Office rating tools will therefore not be used.

Green Star – Healthcare v1

The Green Star - Healthcare rating tool similarly assesses the environmental attributes of new health care and aged care facilities, as well as major refurbishments of existing facilities. The tool has the capacity to rate a healthcare facility at the design stage as well as at the 'as-built' stage.

As with the Green Star –Multi Unit Residential rating tool, the Green Star –Healthcare rating tool incorporates the core credits consistent with other Green Star rating tools, as well as introducing sector specific credits that are unique to the evaluation and rating of healthcare facilities.

Sector specific credits include:
 

• indoor air quality plan;
• outdoor pollutant source control;
• place of respite;
• transport design and planning;
• potable water use for equipment;
• trade waste pollution; and
• air distribution system.

The Green Star –Healthcare rating tool also contains a customised greenhouse gas emissions calculator.

Download from GBCA Website

The Green Star –Multi Unit Residential v1 and Green Star –Healthcare v1 rating tools are available for download from the GBCA Website

For further information please click here to contact Andrew Chapman.