TWO industrial facilities have been awarded the Green Star – As Built ratings, by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
Goodman Group’s Metcash distribution centre in New South Wales is the first distribution centre to be awarded a 4 Star rating under the Green Star – Industrial As Built v1 rating tool.
The second property, the Sherwood Road Bus Depot, developed by Commercial & Industrial Property Pty Ltd (CIP), championed by the Brisbane City Council and owned by Telstra Super, has been awarded a 5 Star Green Star – Industrial As Built v1 rating, and is also the first of its kind to be granted this rating.
GBCA chief executive Romilly Madew said the certification proving that sustainable construction in the industrial market is achievable.
The Metcash distribution centre incorporates more than 77,000 sqm of ambient and temperature-controlled warehouse storage areas and 5,500 sqm of A-grade corporate office space.
Goodman Group’s head of sustainability James Vesper said the building features energy-efficient lighting which will reduce energy consumption by around 30% and save more than 2,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Up to 300,000 litres of rainwater per year will be captured from the warehouse’s roof before being recycled.
A Green Star ‘Innovation’ point was awarded for the materials efficiencies achieved through using a jointless steel fibre reinforced concrete in for the warehouse floor slab, which reduced the amount of concrete needed by 16%, and the amount of steel needed by 40%.
“We believe this project is representative of a shift in thinking about the value proposition of sustainability and certification within the industrial sector. Sustainability was a top consideration across all aspects of the Metcash development. The delivered outcome is commercially competitive and aims to provide Metcash with a market advantage,” Vesper said.
The Sherwood Road Bus Depot, now owned by Telstra Super, was also recognised for its site water collection, re-use and management strategy that treats stormwater through a biofiltration system, which then provides most of the depot’s non-potable water demand.
Particularly notable achievements included the recycling of more than 90% of waste generated throughout construction and demolition, a 50% abatement in greenhouse gas emissions as compared to benchmark projects, a 35% net reduction (by mass) of structural steel while conserving structural integrity, and the use of concrete with an overall average cement reduction of 46% through the replacement of Portland cement with industrial by-products such as fly ash and granulated blast furnace slag.
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