Building a sustainable future

Nations around the world will look at the role green buildings and communities play during this World Green Building Week. Tom Quinn says Australia is recognised as a global leader in the green building space.

This week is World Green Building Week, the annual celebration of how green buildings are driving sustainability improvements in our society and are helping combat climate change. Australia is at the forefront of this effort and is recognised a global leader in the green building space.

Historically buildings had a reputation as voracious consumers of resources that gave little back. As we constructed our cities, factories and homes, we also built significant environmental problems. The issues still emanating from the industry are huge: The building sector generates forty per cent of all waste sent to landfill while buildings consume 40 per cent of all electricity and 12 per cent of potable water.

The construction industry also drives global demand for concrete and steel – some of the world’s most carbon intensive products. Poor design is also a problem, leaving many buildings dependent on extensive air-conditioning systems to keep cool. Worse still, the design and materials used can be bad for our health – low levels of fresh air, little sunlight and volatile organic compounds, emitted from paints, carpets and furniture, are all symptomatic of “sick building syndrome”.

Luckily, green buildings are delivering solutions to these issues and offer hope for the future.

Hope emerging
Since the early 2000’s a new approach to building has risen along our streets. First there was 60L – an innovative green building financed by the Australian Conservation Foundation with help from the Green Building Partnership that demonstrated that sustainable buildings were both possible and practical. The next major milestone was the construction of world leading projects like the City of Melbourne’s CH2 building. The CH2 building was crucial in encouraging private sector investment by demonstrating the business case to support cutting edge design. Finally, in 2011, we saw the completion of the Pixel building in Carlton – a carbon neutral building, seen as the office of the future after achieving perfect scores under leading assessment tools; Green Star, LEED, and BREEAM. Promisingly, Pixel was delivered by a private developer, proving the business case for green buildings across the investment spectrum, from light green to deep green designs.

Economic benefits
Investment in green buildings makes sound financial sense, which can surprise those outside the industry. There are a few reasons why. First of all, a well-designed green building doesn’t need to cost any more than a non-green building. Through smart design, Australia’s architects can and do deliver substantial sustainability improvements without it costing a cent more.

Savings are also achieved through reduced energy and water use. Green buildings report energy use 26 per cent lower than average while eliminating potable water use for all but drinking. The real economic driver though is staff productivity. 

Multiple studies have shown productivity gains of 10 per cent compared to equivalent non-green buildings. The winning combination of more daylight, better air-quality, and higher moral staff seems to key to reducing sickness, improving retention and hence driving up productivity.

This productivity incentive has led to a surge in green buildings around the country to the extent that it is now rare to find a premium grade office building that hasn’t achieved a Green Star or NABERS rating.

Not every building sector is following suit
Unfortunately, not all sectors have followed suit. Despite the well documented health, economic and environmental benefits, the uptake of green buildings beyond the CBD office market has been slow. The main barrier to date has been misinformation about cost.

The reality is far different. Research by the Australian Property Institute has shown that rents for Green Star rated buildings are 5 per cent higher and the physical buildings are valued 12 per cent higher than non-green buildings. What’s more, green buildings are increasingly deliverable on standard budgets, meaning there is no cost barrier to realising these financial benefits. Green buildings are an increasingly wise investment as high performing assets that deliver greater returns than traditional buildings.

Small signs of hope
In roads are starting to be made beyond the commercial space though as the broader benefits are realised. 

A rush in the education space has seen Australia’s universities engage in a green building arms race to attract the environmentally conscious student. These buildings aren’t just there for the feel good factor though – they are delivering improved student outcomes. Higher reading retention levels, better concentration and reduced staff sickness mean that students in green buildings not only feel good but they learn better than their peers.

Innovation in the industry is taking green buildings to all corners of the country. In far-north Queensland the William McCormick Place 2 is pushing the boundaries of efficient cooling in tropical climates by installing a massive, 1.5 million litre, chilled water tank inside the building to keep it cool. In Sydney a waste paper fired co-generation plant will provide both energy and heating the redeveloped Legion House building, while in West Australia the Australian Institute of Management’s Katitjin Centre has achieved energy neutrality, producing as much as it uses. Technological advances continue to reveal previously unrealised green building opportunities.

There is however lots of room for improvement in the residential, medium commercial, and healthcare building sectors. To realise the economy wide benefits, sustainability must be embedded into every building sector – and that will take good policy. We need to call on policy makers to develop incentives and regulations that encourage green building leaders to aim higher and lift the laggards to a green minimum.

World Green Building Week offers governments and industry a chance to make these sectors a priority and realise the full benefits a sustainable building industry. In a world constrained by rising environmental pressures, green buildings can be the foundations for a more sustainable future where carbon emissions are slashed, water is preserved and human health is enhanced.

Happy World Green Building Week! 

Tom Quinn is a political strategist with a passion for developing sustainable business opportunities. He previously worked with the Green Building Council of Australia advocating policies to increase the uptake of green buildings in Australia. He is a fellow of the Centre for Sustainable Leadership and currently works for government developing climate adaptation strategies.