76 Berry St North Sydney
Back in August, NABERS extended its overall rating system from 5 stars to 6, bringing with it developments that offer to exceed traditional sustainable design feats.
One such recently completed development is the retrofit of 76 Berry Street in North Sydney, which has become one of the first two buildings in Australia to sign a NABERS 6 Star Energy Commitment Agreement.
Built in 1985 and spanning over two levels of underground parking and ten levels of above ground space, the building was originally a stereotypical Australian office space, not unlike thousands around the country. However, not satisfied with their 4.5 star NABERS rating, the building’s operators have committed to lowering its carbon footprint even further.
The $4.9 million redevelopment has been labeled as the flagship refurbishment of client Local Government Super (LGS). The project involved the implementation a the SHAW method of air conditioning and the inclusion of a trigeneration system in order to reduce output carbon emissions by 80%.
As well as offering a stable energy source, the system provides the office building’s heating, cooling and energy production. Roger Walker, the project director and director of Walk EcoStrategies explains the extent to which this innovative green technology could possibly take the building.
“As this was the first time that the lean burn low environment impact Bennett Clayton engines have been used in a trigeneration plant, the funding essentially enabled us to take that risk,” says Walker, “We believe that on completion this will result in the lowest emission office building in occupancy in Australia and will be a world leading example of emission reductions in existing buildings”.
E1 lighting has also been included in the refurbishment, which offers to substantially reduce the building’s heat load.
The clever facet of the NABERS commitment agreement is that it allows a building to breathe and grow, expanding on its green foundations. In creating a rating system of this nature, designers will look beyond a building’s completion date and implement technologies that will allow the space to continue evolving into a more sustainable environment.
This is certainly true for 76 Berry St, as it already has plans to be 100% off grid by the end of this year. What is after that is uncertain, but this building is one that will continue to evolve as new technologies are released.
With the new rating level up and running, this new year promises to bring with it even stronger carbon emission reduction results.
Images Source Woodhead
