First Green Star - Performance project registered

The Wyndham Civic Centre in outer Melbourne has become the first building in Australia to be registered for a Green Star - Performance rating. The three-storey building is a conference and expo space used by a variety of community groups.

The rating tool was launched by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) in October to improve the efficiency and environmental sustainability of Australia’s existing buildings. Wyndham City Council was the first to sign up to the PILOT program, with a further 30-plus buildings expected to be announced within weeks.

Wyndham Mayor Cr Bob Fairclough said Wyndham City jumped at the opportunity to sign up to the pilot program, implementing “a range of sustainability measures across its existing buildings in recent years including energy- and water-efficiency upgrades and community e-waste recycling hubs.

“As part of the Wyndham Environment and Sustainability Strategy, Wyndham City is aiming for a 40% reduction in corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 and a $2.47 million federal government grant will allow us to convert the City’s 12,088 street lights to compact energy-efficient fluorescent tubes.

“These measures highlight our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint and, through our involvement with Green Star - Performance, we’ll be able to measure the environmental performance of the civic centre, identify pathways to improve the building over time and reduce its operational costs.”

The GBCA’s chief executive, Romilly Madew, noted, “Measurement is the first step towards better management of our buildings. Wyndham City Council understands this, and a Green Star - Performance rating will help council to demonstrate its commitment to environmental, social and economic sustainability.

“Achieving one of the first Green Star - Performance ratings will enable council to identify and upgrade the operational performance of a valuable community asset in areas such as energy, water, waste reduction and indoor environment quality,” Madew concluded.