Healthy office opens

The CH2 office building has opened in Melbourne, setting the benchmark for all future high rise buildings.

Lord Mayor John So said the United Nations award winning building would set a new world standard for sustainable design and construction.

The $51 million six Green Star-rated building will:

• reduce electricity consumption by 82%;
• reduce gas consumption by 87%;
• reduce emissions by 87%;
• reduce mains water supply by 72%.

"These savings in electricity, gas and water alone are expected to save Council about $300,000 per year," the Lord Mayor said.

"CH2 will also be a healthier building using clean fresh air and non-toxic finishes which we calculate will improve staff effectiveness by 4.9% and save $1.12 million annually.

"On these conservative estimates CH2 will pay for its sustainability features, worth $11.3 million, in a decade. Overall these estimated savings CH2 will pay for itself entirely within 36 years."

Features of the building include:

• a water mining plant that will deliver 100,000 L of recycled water per day;
• a low energy cooling system;
• automatic windows that open at night to cool the building;
• vaulted concrete ceilings that will improve air circulation, cooling and natural light;
• a facade of louvres that will track the sun to shade the western side;
• roof mounted wind turbines to draw hot air out of the building.

17/10/2006