The latest information from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is proving what has been long foretold. Green initiatives are good for the hip pocket.
The newest releases from the GBCA, the country’s highest green authority, show that the positive aspects of sustainable building go far beyond environmental savings. Findings from the Property Funds Association’s “Building Better Returns” showed that green buildings, especially those with a high rating, such as 5 star NABERS Energy rated buildings, brought in a premium of 9% in value.
“This report provides further evidence of why Green Star has been embraced by the commercial property industry,” said Chief Executive Romilly Madew,
“It’s all there in black and white: Green Star makes good business sense”.
It is certainly shaping up to appear so.
One day after these new positive statistics were released, the GBCA revealed that now supermarkets, restaurants, mixed-use developments and retirement facilities would be able to be achieve a Green Star rating under the authority’s newest rating tool.
The specially developed rating tool has been the working process of both the GBCA and four major companies including Coles, McDonald’s, Stockland and Rock Development Group. The nature of the specifics behind the current rating tools make a new specified system the only feasible option to rate buildings that fit outside of traditional guidelines.
“We are very excited to announce that the first custom-built Green Star rating tools have been approved by the Green Building Council of Australia. These four companies now have exclusive use of their Green Star – Custom tools, and will be registering projects to achieve Green Star rating,” Madew said.
Although these major companies have been moving toward their Green Star goals for some time, the latest developments in the positive business are sure to spur others to join their green-lined ranks.
A 9% premium on these buildings that have rated highly though the original Green Star rating and NABERS rating system is one of the most straightforward motivators backing the green building movement. With the aforementioned companies being on the scale that they are, their eagerness to be a part of the Green Star rating system only emphasises this fact.
“Now that their Green Star rating tools have been approved, we can expect to see Green Star-rated McDonald’s restaurants, Coles supermarkets, Stockland retirement villages and mixed-use developments like Loop in Canberra in the near future,” Madew said.
The GBCA believe that this is a benchmark move for the industry in terms of Australian sustainable building, and would offer a chance for all facets of society to experience and achieve a recognised green lifestyle.
