TASMANIA GETS ITS FIRST GREEN SCHOOL

The University of Tasmania’s new Medical Science 2 (MS2) building is the first educational building in Tasmania to achieve a Green Star rating. The project has been awarded a 5 Star Green Star - Education Design v1 rating by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

MS2 is also only the fifth building in Tasmania to achieve a Green Star rating. Jacinta Young, Executive Director of the University of Tasmania’s Commercial Services and Development, said the rating was a demonstration of the University’s commitment to more sustainable, productive and healthy education facilities.

“MS2 will have teaching facilities for more than 1,000 undergraduate students and office and laboratory facilities for 450 staff and postgraduate students. It is important that while the building provides excellent, cutting-edge facilities for students and staff, its environmental impacts are minimised and the building’s features are sustainably designed and constructed,” Ms Young says.

Some of the building’s environmentally-sustainable attributes include an 80,000 litre rainwater-harvesting tank, energy-efficient lighting units, 200 secure bike parking spaces with showers and storage for staff and students, and priority parking for small cars.

Chief Executive of the GBCA, Romilly Madew says: “We are delighted to certify Tasmania’s first green education facility, and applaud the University of Tasmania’s commitment to Green Star certification, which will see a number of other projects achieve Green Star ratings in the future.”

Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Christine Milne, says: “This is great news for students, great news for the University of Tasmania, and great news for the climate. A 5 Star Green Star building on campus will save energy, save money, cut pollution and be more pleasant for students to learn in and I congratulate the University for taking this step and playing a leadership role for green buildings and the environment.”

“A range of studies has confirmed that green education facilities can improve the health and learning of students, reduce teacher sick days and turnover, and offer interactive learning about sustainability and the environment. We congratulate the University for demonstrating that sustainability in the built environment can be affordable and achievable,” Ms Madew concludes.

The GBCA’s Green Schools report, which outlines the benefits of green schools, and shares the practical experience of ministers, education departments, principals and teachers in embracing the Green Star – Education rating tool, can be downloaded from the GBCA website: www.gbca.org.au/greenyourschool

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