Becoming Green

As so many builders, clients and tenants alike become more and more aware of the importance to reduce greenhouse emissions within their homes and workplaces, the mechanical services industry is able to play a monumental role in designing and constructing buildings today that will not only meet the standards of our customers but support the environment for years to come. Providing Green alternatives is becoming more and more crucial to the development of our modern world.
 

Green Buildings Rate on the Agenda

(Extract from AMCA Views May 2007)

Environmental considerations are the key factors affecting business decisions today. Choosing and implementing an environmental rating system can be a complex process.

There are currently two accepted rating methods of tracking the environmental impact of buildings in Australia: the Australian Building Greenhouse rating scheme (ABGR) and the Green Star environmental rating scheme (Green Star).

ABGR is a performance based rating scheme which measures actual greenhouse emissions. Green Star is a design and construction based rating scheme which takes a more holistic approach by measuring a range of factors such as building management, emissions, energy consumption, indoor health quality, innovation, land use and ecology, materials, transport and water.

In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, there are several reasons why organizations choose to adopt an ABGR or Green Star rating in respect of a development, including:

• Public and market recognition of commitment to environmental consideration.
• Commercial considerations such as lower energy costs and/or lower operating costs.
• Government, council or tenant constraints.

However, achieving these ratings often means higher development costs.