COLONIAL First State’s Grand Plaza shopping centre in Browns Plains, Queensland, has achieved the nation's first NABERS Energy and Water rating for a shopping centre.
The centre achieved 3 star ratings for Energy and Water.
Colonial First State Global Asset Management sustainability manager – property Scott Horsnell said the company was very proud to achieve Australia’s first ever NABERS ratings for shopping centres.
Built in 1994, the Grand Plaza is a 52,967 sqm, single level sub-regional centre and is anchored by Woolworths and Coles supermarkets as well as 165 specialty retailers.
“With the introduction of the NABERS Shopping Centre tool, we can now compare our assets’ operational performance and establish where they fit within the industry. It’s been a critical step forward in streamlining the benchmarking process.
“This more accurate and independent ‘apples to apples’ comparison of The Grand Plaza’s performance gives us significantly more information with much less effort,” he added.
Some of the Grand Plaza’s energy efficiency features include variable speed drives on selected pumps and fans, EffTrack chiller plant efficiency monitoring, and base building electricity meter monitoring equipment.
The NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water manages the NABERS program nationally and developed the NABERS Energy and Water rating tools for shopping centres to complement tools for office buildings, hotels and residential property.
DECCW manager for the built environment Matthew Clark said obtaining a baseline NABERS rating is the first step in any plan to improve the environmental performance of buildings.
Australian Property Journal
