Green Star rating tool launched for industrial buildings

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Warehouses and factories will soon be able to achieve a Green Star rating with the release of the New Zealand Green Building Council’s (NZGBC) new Green Star – Industrial rating tool out now in PILOT for public consultation and feedback.

More than 200 of New Zealand’s property industry leaders turned up at the launch of the PILOT tool recently to hear how this new tool in the Green Star suite of tools will assess the unique environment opportunities for new and refurbished industrial and light commercial buildings.

Like Green Star for Office Buildings, industrial buildings will be assessed against the eight categories of Green Star, including energy, water, emissions, materials, indoor environment quality, ecology, management and transport plus innovation.

Green Building Council chief executive Jane Henley says the release of this tool is significant for the property industry. “Green Star unlocks opportunities for all building types to meet and exceed best practice green building targets, and creates a common language for all users to communicate with.

“Industrial buildings are different in many ways from the needs of office buildings, and this new rating tool considers how these projects can deliver high performing, environmentally friendly and future-proofed buildings.

“Expanding on the current Green Star tools available for offices buildings, the Green Star – Industrial PILOT tool includes a number of credits unique to the industrial sector.
“For instance, credits will address the indoor environment quality issues for workers in industrial facilities such as factories, with projects awarded for designated breakout areas free of emissions.”

The new 21,625sq m CourierPost building at Highbrook Business Park was the venue for the launch event, and will be used to test the rating tool, by aiming for Green Star certification under the Industrial PILOT.

This purpose-built facility will be the hub of CourierPost’s Auckland operations and incorporates the latest technology and various sustainable design principles.

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