GPT Group's 29,600 sqm Darling Park 3 office tower has received a 5 star Base Building rating under the NABERS Energy.
The rating, which was previously known as the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating, is the highest rating available.
It is the first time a CBD tower office building larger than 20,000 sqm has achieved this rating without the assistance of Green Power.
Bovis Lend Lease which was responsible for the project management, design and construction of Darling Park 3 said this rating has been achieved without having to rely on the Green Power that GPT purchases for the building.
When Green Power is added to the equation, the building generates 70% less greenhouse emissions than a “typical” 2.5 star building, and the lowest emissions of the currently rated 5-Star base buildings.
GPT’s head of office Tony Cope said originally the aim was for a 4.5 star rating, but as the design progressed, the Lend Lease design team identified an opportunity to lift the rating to 5 stars with a small investment in higher efficiency plant and the implementation of a very robust commissioning and testing procedure.
Under a unique tripartite agreement, the cost of upgrading the building to achieve the 5-Star rating was shared between GPT, Lend Lease Development and Bovis Lend Lease. The parties shared a common belief that it was possible to create a 5-Star building without having to rely on expensive alternative technologies.
“As a result, not only have the energy bills been reduced but also the building has been somewhat ‘future proofed’ against expected cost increases for energy. With normalised emissions of only 45 kgCO2e/sqm.pa. (including Green Power) the building easily qualifies for 5 star which has a maximum allowance of 71 kgCO2e/sqm.pa. Without Green Power the building operates at 64 kgCO2e/sqm.pa, by far the highest performance achieved for a conventionally air conditioned building in
Australian Property Journal
