A new version of Green Star Performance is set to be released mid-2023 and its aim is to guide continual improvements to the performance, efficiency, environmental and social outcomes of all types of buildings.
Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star Performance v2 is designed to align with Green Star Buildings to electrify buildings and eliminate natural gas.
To achieve a 5 Star rating, buildings will need to use 100 per cent renewable energy, while a 6 Star rating will require the building to be carbon neutral.
The GBCA said the new guidelines will streamline the process of transitioning buildings away from fossil fuels, allowing building owners, operators, and occupants to work together to measure and improve operational impacts.
The new guidelines will be supported by an online platform which will streamline reporting requirements, support those taking the portfolio approach and will help participants to communicate their ESG approach.
The tool’s alignment with It is designed to align with Green Star Buildings to electrify buildings and eliminate natural gas but it will . To achieve a 5 Star rating, buildings will need to use 100 per cent renewable energy, while a 6 Star rating will require the building to be carbon neutral.
Aligning with Green Star Buildings, the performance tool will ensure will ensure that buildings are prepared for changes in climate and focused on the health of people.
Properties must be climate resilient and pandemic-preventative.
The tool also encourages more circular outcomes by promoting a reduction in fit-out waste during construction and end of life, and also encourages the use of low embodied carbon products.
The tool will drive a crackdown on carbon and improvement in resilience, health and wellbeing, social impact, nature and circular economy outcomes.
We give you a framework to track and progressively improve your building’s operational performance towards net zero.
GBCA senior manager of market engagement Jamie Wallis said the new version will improve the health, productivity and decarbonisation of buildings, and can be used on individual buildings or entire portfolios.
“Green Star Performance drives environmental improvements for over 1200 buildings every year. This next version builds on this to also cover social sustainability issues, including an increased focus on health and wellbeing – an area of significant interest to tenants and investors.
“We’ve designed the rating tool to help even the most unique buildings boost efficiency and meet best practice sustainability standards, and importantly set all existing buildings on the pathway to net zero by 2040.”
The standard was developed through close consultation with industry, and designed for all types of buildings.
It involved more than 200 professionals and the work included testing with a diverse range of buildings and portfolios.
Mr Wallis said this would underpin the likely success of the tool to deliver better operational performance for all building types.
The Overview
The new guidelines aim to:
- provide an updated definition of sustainable buildings in operation
- respond to developments in climate science
- apply to all sectors and building types
- drive progression over time
- communicate clearly to industry
How it will work
Certification with Green Star Performance v2 will be an annual cycle, following a framework to provide guidance on where to focus efforts on improving performance each year.
A new online platform for reporting will be available in 2023.
Existing projects have until 2025 to transition to the new rating tool, with support provided by GBCA.
Mr Wallis said: “Your first certification is a benchmark. We give you a framework to track and progressively improve your building’s operational performance towards net zero.”