MELBOURNE’S FIRE STATIONS GO GREEN

MFB has worked closely with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) to develop the first custom-built Green Star rating tool for fire stations in Australia.

“The Metropolitan Fire Brigade is setting new benchmarks for sustainability in the emergency services sector, and we applaud its green leadership,” says GBCA Chief Executive, Romilly Madew.

The MFB’s Chief Executive Officer Nick Easy “is proud to have the first Green Star tool for fire stations in Australia”.

“This new tool goes to the heart of what we are seeking to achieve in our corporate policies, that is, to make our fire stations more productive, and more environmentally and financially sustainable in the long term. We look forward to sharing the benefits of the tool with our Victorian and Australian emergency services partner organisations,” Mr Easy says.

MFB’s Environmental Leadership Co-ordinator, Caroline van Oosterom, says “that the tool will not only green our new fire stations, it will identify standard ecological sustainable design (ESD) initiatives that can be embedded in our major renovations.”

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade now has exclusive use of its Green Star – Custom rating tool, and will be registering a new fire station project to achieve a Green Star rating.

MFB collaborated with architecture firm Spowers and engineering firm Murchie Consulting on the rating tool. Spowers’ Managing Director, Ros Magee, says: “Given the unique operational requirements of the MFB, the new customised rating tool needed to allow for evaluation of sustainability measures relevant to the MFB and its stakeholders. The new rating tool will support the MFB in its continuing leadership in environmentally sustainable development.”

The new Green Star – Custom rating tool will help the MFB to design and deliver fire stations that are energy and water efficient, minimise greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption, feature environmentally-sustainable materials and provide healthy and productive spaces with good indoor environment quality.

“Green Star continues to expand its influence to reach new building types. With almost 500 Green Star rated buildings around the country, our vision is for all Australians have the opportunity to live, work and play in Green Star-rated buildings. Our collaboration with the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board takes us one step further towards this vision,” Ms Madew concludes.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is Australia’s leading authority on green buildings and communities. 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 850 member companies who work together to support the Council and its activities. 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. See: www.gbca.org.au