Industry Association: Green Building Council of Australia
Profile
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is Australia’s leading authority on green building. The GBCA was established in 2002 to develop a sustainable property industry in Australia and drive the adoption of green building practices. The GBCA has more than 900 member companies who support the Council and its activities.
Our membership base is drawn from a diverse cross-section of developers, local, state and federal governments, owners, professional services firms, investors, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, facility and asset managers, universities, professional societies, utilities and contractors.
The GBCA promotes green building programs, technologies, design practices and processes, and operates Australia’s only national voluntary comprehensive environmental rating system for buildings – Green Star.
Our Focus
Buildings have a great influence over the quality of our daily lives. From home to work, and from learning to leisure, buildings are fundamental to our way of living. Buildings also have a significant impact on our environment. Residential and commercial buildings are responsible for 23 per cent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions. That’s equivalent to 130 megatonnes of greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere each year.
As the largest single contributor to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, buildings:
• Use 32 per cent of the world’s resources in construction
• Use 40 per cent of global energy (including embodied energy)
• Consume 12 per cent of water
• Make up 40 per cent of waste to landfill
The good news is that a number of international reports state that buildings represent the single largest opportunity for greenhouse gas abatement, outstripping the energy, transport and industry sectors combined.
Australia’s property industry has recognised the need for urgent action and leadership, and through the GBCA is now at the forefront of finding sustainable solutions to our global climate change challenges.
Green Star
The GBCA launched the Green Star environmental rating system for buildings in 2003, which has resulted in more than 360 projects around Australia receiving certification for their green attributes. A further 550-plus projects are registered for certification.
Green Star evaluates the green attributes of building projects based on nine categories, including energy and water efficiency, indoor environment quality and resource conservation.
Green Star rating tools are currently available or in development for a variety of sectors, including commercial offices (design, construction and interior fit-outs), retail centres, schools and universities, multi-unit residential dwellings, industrial facilities and public buildings, as well as to assess communities and the operational performance of buildings.
Green Star environmental rating tools support the property and construction industry to reduce the environmental impact of buildings, improve occupant health and productivity and achieve real cost savings, while showcasing innovation in sustainable building practices.
Further Contact & Information:
Green Building Council of Australia
Ph: 02 8239 6200
Email: info@gbca.org.au
Website: www.gbca.org.au
