Increased Green Star ratings at zero net cost

Australian consultants Edge Environment and Sustainable Future Group have announced a joint service offering that guarantees to improve the Green Star rating of a building at zero net cost, according to the companies. The service also promises to reduce building life-cycle cost and greenhouse gas emissions, improve environmental performance and identify the social return on investment of project sustainability initiatives.

“We see this as value engineering at its best: we are working with clients to identify and eliminate unwanted costs, whilst improving the quality and value of their product,” said Sustainable Future Group Director James Cronan. “We help them take their product’s performance above and beyond business as usual at the lowest possible cost.”

The service recently helped a multiunit residential development in Sydney reduce its net capital cost by over $200,000 and achieve forecasted savings of more than $700,000 over 20 years. The uptake of measures identified through the value-engineering service is saving the building owner almost $25,000 each year and over $500 per apartment annually, delivering a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact.

“Our aim is to help set a new parameter for what is normal in terms of design, environmental performance and livability of buildings,” said Edge Environment CEO Jonas Bengtsson.

“It is quite a simple concept; we can see other companies starting to replicate it soon.”

Image caption: Ken Lunty, Marlon Kobacker, Jonas Bengtson and James Cronan.