CCN profiles organisations that have taken an innovative approach to heating and were early adopters when it came to achieving Green Star status.
1. City of Gosnells
The City of Gosnells has achieved a 5 Star Green Star – Office Design v2 rating for the retrofit of its Civic Centre. Paul McAllister, project manager for the City of Gosnells, said that initially municipal staff thought the age of the building would make a sustainable retrofit unviable.
“However for an additional cost of three per cent, a sustainable makeover was the only responsible option,” he said.
“The council expects a five year payback period on the extra outlay of $750,000 demonstrating that building green is a smart financial decision.” In addition to its thermal energy storage tank for cooling, the civic centre uses solar energy
to heat water for domestic use within the building, a measure which has reduced gas usage by 55 per cent alone.
2. Toyota's WA headquarters
First WA 5 Star Green Star - Office v3 building outside Perth's CBD. The on-site generation of renewable energy through 90 solar panels (both on the roof and ground) is complemented with three 1kW wind turbines.
This has reduced annual electrical consumption by approximately 45 per cent. Energy savings have also been achieved through good architectural design of the building form, orientation and shading.
3. Griffith University
The Sir Samuel Griffith Centre is a $40 million world class building and Australia’s first off-grid, self-powered teaching and research facility.
Awarded a 6 Star Green Star – Education Design v1 rating, the building is a model for smart energy buildings, incorporating photovoltaics and hydrogen technology that is reliable and produces zero carbon emissions.
The Sir Samuel Griffith Centre is designed to operate independently of the electricity grid. The building is fitted with over 1,000 solar photovoltaic panels, covering the roof and window shades.
On sunny days this generates more than enough electricity to power the whole building.
4. Wollongong City Council
Wollongong City Council’s Administration Building is positive proof that older buildings can be green buildings. First occupied in 1987, the building is the first in Australia to achieve a 5 Star Green Star – Performance rating.
Over the past decade, building manager David Peterson has implemented a range of energy and water upgrades, including the installation of custom-made rainwater harvesting tanks with a capacity of 70 kilolitres, sensor-controlled dual flush toilets, low water consumption urinals and low flow taps for office amenities.
Sensor taps have been installed in public areas, fire test water capture and reuse has been implemented, along with extensive sub-metering and power factor correction.
The team has also integrated a heat pump hot water system, a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, heat reflective blinds and lighting upgrades.
5. dsquared Consulting
dsquared Consulting’s new office fitout achieved the second Green Star – Interiors rating in the country. The naturally daylit office and low-energy appliances have kept energy use minimal from the start, and the dsquared team has challenged itself reduce the use of heating and cooling.
The compact fluorescent lighting is rarely needed during the day, and the landlord has installed motion and daylight sensors as part of the lease agreement.
Airconditioning is also unnecessary, with the balcony doors providing natural air flow through the space. During the coldest months of the year, manually controlled energy-efficient radiant panel heaters do the job.
6. 180 Brisbane
Located in Brisbane's CBD, 180 Brisbane is a shining example of practical sustainable design, innovative thinking and was Queensland's first 6 Star Green Star - Office Design v3 building.
180 Brisbane was designed to achieve significant reductions in mains electricity consumption and peak demand, compared to a typical contemporary commercial building.
Energy-saving features incorporated into the design included a 100kW roof-mounted photovoltaic array for zero carbon electricity, and a 1MW tri-generation system, which provides excellent peak demand reduction.