What is a Green Building?
Green Buildings are those that have been awarded a high sustainability rating by the Green Building Council of Australia. Their rating system is called Green Star. It is Australia’s voluntary rating system for buildings and communities to demonstrate the sustainability of the building. Currently, buildings and communities are the world’s single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the built environment consumes around a third of our water and generates 40 percent of our waste. Green Star ratings are transforming the way our built environment is designed, constructed, and operated. It has improved environmental efficiencies in buildings, boosted productive jobs, and improved the health and well-being of our communities.
How does a building get a Green Star rating?
The Green Building Council of Australia assesses the sustainable design, construction, and operation of buildings, fit-outs and communities. There is an application process assessing four areas to award buildings Green Star ratings;
- Green Star Communities – Precinct planning, and development
- Green Star Design & As-Built – Building design, and construction
- Green Star Interiors – Fitout, design, and construction
- Green Star Performance – Building operations, and maintenance
Why build a Green Star rated building?
While some would see Green Star Rating as a marketing tool, if applied correctly it should reduce the consumption of resources and therefore costs to both build and operate a new facility. Also, it creates a healthier place for people to live and work.
OmTrak Top 5 Green Buildings Projects
OmTrak was used to project manage the construction and building information on these Green Buildings.
Green Star Rating 7
Collins Arch is a 47-level mixed-use project on Melbourne’s Collins Street. Designed by Woods Bagot and SHoP Architects, the building features two towers linked by a sky bridge.
The development has a 5.5-star NABERS Energy rating for the commercial office space; 4.5-star NABERS Energy rating for the W Hotel and a 7-star average NABERS rating across the residential apartments.
Green Star Rating 6
Lend Lease was engaged by iNSW to complete the construction of Darling Harbour Live and ICC Sydney – Australia’s first fully-integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct.
The $3.4 billion transformations of Darling Harbour included five-star convention and exhibition centres, 3,000 square metres of green space, a stunning new amphitheatre and a new city neighbourhood.
Green Star Rating 5
Laing O’Rourke, as part of the Juris Partnership, delivered the justice precinct for the Australian Capital Territory. The law courts were designed with a focus on achieving a 5 Star Green Star rating.
Some of the environmental features in the design include the installation of a 110KW capacity solar photovoltaic array, solar water heating, rainwater harvesting, and end of journey facilities for cyclists. A new integrated heating and cooling plant arrangement and improved lighting systems also contribute to the energy efficiency of the precinct.
Green Star Rating 5
John Holland is working on the construction of this next generation of boutique Grade A workplaces. Future occupants will benefit from highly efficient, column-free floor plates and enjoy a prominent corner location on Sydney’s revitalised George Street.
The office and retail space features, 7,200 sqm NLA across 15 levels. Abundant natural light across 3 sides of the building, full-height vision glass; the lower levels providing sweeping views of the revitalised George Street and the upper levels viewing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Green Star Rating 5
DORIC Group is engaged to complete the construction of a three-level basement, six-storey A-grade office building (5 Star Greenstar and NABERS energy rated), 10-storey four-star hotel, five cinemas, a number of retail tenancies and restaurants. External landscaping and artworks will complete the development.
How can OmTrak assist in the Green Star process?
One of the key requirements to obtain a ‘Green Star’ rating is the provision of information for both accreditation and ongoing operation.
The Green Star Accreditation for ‘Design Review’ and the ‘As Built’ rating requires supporting information to justify claims and must be referenced in the various submission templates. For example, there are 9 primary criteria such as Management, Energy, Water, Materials, Innovation, and 30 sub-criteria. Eg under Management there an 8 sub-criteria like Green Star Accredited Professional, Commissioning and Tuning, Building Information, etc.
All these would need supporting documents from a multiple of design and build consultants covering plans, reports, data modeling, test results, etc
Using OmTrak Manuals will simplify the accreditation process in two ways.
The first is using OmTrak to create a ‘Green Star’ accreditation manual allowing each design and build contributor to create their own supporting Green Star Manual. The fully integrated electronic PDF document would include all the supporting documents in an easily referenced format. This not only supports the initial Green Star accreditation, it also provides a lasting document of ongoing ownership.
The second is to use OmTrak Manuals and Siteworks App to deliver the Green Star Management – Building Information requirement. Under these criteria, a comprehensive Operations and Maintenance Manual and a Building Log Book are required. Using OmTrak Manuals, designers and contractors can create a fully electronic Manual covering all the relevant building systems. This ensures users are fully aware of the proper operation and maintenance of their new ‘Green Star’ facility
OmTrak SiteWorks App is fully integrated with the Manuals allowing contractors to record their warranty services in accord with the O&M Manuals and the Green Star Building Log Book criteria. Also, facility managers and users can record defects and needed repairs.
Green Star accreditation can be a complex process. Using OmTrak Manuals can streamline and simplify this process with long term benefits.
Asset Lifecycle Planning – including asset conditions assessments.
Even if a Green Buildings asset is maintained on schedule, it still has a life span. The individual assets have their own life span and need replacing or major maintenance at different times. If the owner did not plan for this, the cost to replace or maintain the asset will not be in the budget. Mplan, is a tool used to forecast the budget required to undertake the replacement or maintenance of the assets when it’s needed. This means the building will have the budget to manage its assets and smoothly operate at the Green Star standard for its life span.
Find out more about OmTrak Green Buildings. Download the OmTrak projects here;