Green Steps ………towards aGreen Steps ………towards a Green Building Industry Green Building Industry

Margaret PageMargaret Page

Green Steps ‘Change AgentGreen Steps ‘Change Agent’’

Why I selected this topic ?Why I selected this topic ?

…to develop and implement a ‘green steps’ sustainability consultancy …to develop and implement a ‘green steps’ sustainability consultancy service for the building industry ..service for the building industry ..

Proprietor of Page Architectural Products Proprietor of Page Architectural Products for the past 11 years representingfor the past 11 years representing• Caesarstone, Madinoz, Murobond, Rogerseller, Caesarstone, Madinoz, Murobond, Rogerseller,

and IFCand IFC• networking facility that generated sales and networking facility that generated sales and

marketing leads by seeing architects, interior marketing leads by seeing architects, interior designers, builders, developers. designers, builders, developers.

Presentation outline:Presentation outline:

Climate change is real – (Stern Report, IPCC)Climate change is real – (Stern Report, IPCC)

Building industry portion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)Building industry portion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Buildings: the problem and the solutionBuildings: the problem and the solution

Rising to the Challenge:Rising to the Challenge:- Solutions – globally/locallySolutions – globally/locally- GBCA - Green star ratings for buildingsGBCA - Green star ratings for buildings- GECA – Good Environmental Choice AustraliaGECA – Good Environmental Choice Australia

CONCLUSION – Where to from here?CONCLUSION – Where to from here?

Climate change is realClimate change is real

‘‘There is still time to avoid the worst There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we take impacts of climate change, if we take strong action now’strong action now’

The central message of the Stern Review is that if action is not taken to The central message of the Stern Review is that if action is not taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions the overall risks of climate change will reduce greenhouse gas emissions the overall risks of climate change will be equivalent to losing at least 5% of global GDP each year, now and be equivalent to losing at least 5% of global GDP each year, now and forever. forever.

‘‘– – Nicholas Stern, Chancellor of the Exchequer in England, July 2005.Nicholas Stern, Chancellor of the Exchequer in England, July 2005.

IPCC Scientists unanimousIPCC Scientists unanimous International Panel Climate ChangeInternational Panel Climate Change Report warns we Report warns we

need to scale back our assault on the climate system by need to scale back our assault on the climate system by reducing our release of greenhouse gases.reducing our release of greenhouse gases.

Reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide to less Reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide to less than half the present level.than half the present level.

We release carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels: coal, oil We release carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas.and gas.

LogicalLogical way is to reconcile the demand for energy services, way is to reconcile the demand for energy services, change the way we do things, be responsible change the way we do things, be responsible globallyglobally and and locallylocally

Green steps …. to sustainable buildings in the Green steps …. to sustainable buildings in the future……future……

The value of construction work done during 2006-7 was The value of construction work done during 2006-7 was $112,817.1million.$112,817.1million.

In 2006-07 the construction industry contributed 6.7% to In 2006-07 the construction industry contributed 6.7% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranked just behind the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranked just behind the mining industry. In 2007 it employed 9.0% of the Australian mining industry. In 2007 it employed 9.0% of the Australian workforce.workforce.

The construction industry has gradually increased as a The construction industry has gradually increased as a share of GDP from 5.4% in 2001-02 to 6.8% in 2006-07, share of GDP from 5.4% in 2001-02 to 6.8% in 2006-07, a 5.7% increase from the previous year.

In 2006-07 construction was the fifth largest industry in In 2006-07 construction was the fifth largest industry in current price terms. It ranked behind Property and business current price terms. It ranked behind Property and business services (12.2%), Manufacturing (10.3%), Finance and services (12.2%), Manufacturing (10.3%), Finance and insurance (7.2%) and Mining (7.1%). insurance (7.2%) and Mining (7.1%).

ABS – Australian Economic Indicator, Aug 2008ABS – Australian Economic Indicator, Aug 2008

Buildings: The problemBuildings: The problem

Buildings globally Buildings globally The major C0The major C022

CulpritCulprit

In USA, buildings are In USA, buildings are responsible for half of responsible for half of all energy all energy consumption and C0consumption and C022 emissions annually.emissions annually.

43% of total US C043% of total US C022 emissions and 76% of emissions and 76% of total USA electricity total USA electricity consumption.consumption.

Sydney’s Next Green BuildingSydney’s Next Green Building

6 star Green Rating and 5 star 6 star Green Rating and 5 star ABGR ratings.ABGR ratings.

Mirvac’s 8 Chifley Square’s - a Mirvac’s 8 Chifley Square’s - a conscious decision to reduce the conscious decision to reduce the building’s carbon footprint.building’s carbon footprint.

energy consumption 50% less energy consumption 50% less than that of a typical Sydney CBD than that of a typical Sydney CBD office building.office building.

Green features of 8 Chifley SquareGreen features of 8 Chifley Square• a tri-generation system for onsite a tri-generation system for onsite

electricity generation; electricity generation; • architectural sun shading;architectural sun shading;• advanced black water treatmentadvanced black water treatment• water recycling systemswater recycling systems• sub-floor chilled beam air conditioning. sub-floor chilled beam air conditioning.

Completion 2011Completion 2011, ,

The Solution: The Solution: The 2020 ChallengeThe 2020 Challenge

a global initiative stating that all new buildings and major a global initiative stating that all new buildings and major

renovations reduce their fossil-fuel GHG-emitting consumption by renovations reduce their fossil-fuel GHG-emitting consumption by 50% by 2020, and all new buildings should be ‘carbon neutral’ by 50% by 2020, and all new buildings should be ‘carbon neutral’ by 2020.2020.

The challenge has now been set for the property industry to take a closer The challenge has now been set for the property industry to take a closer look at how the buildings can be carbon neutral by 2020. look at how the buildings can be carbon neutral by 2020.

Buildings need to have zero emissions in their construction, operation and Buildings need to have zero emissions in their construction, operation and embodied energy to be truly carbon neutral. Although it is possible to embodied energy to be truly carbon neutral. Although it is possible to achieve zero net operational carbon emissions from buildings by 2020, achieve zero net operational carbon emissions from buildings by 2020, truly carbon neutral buildings are a significant challenge.truly carbon neutral buildings are a significant challenge.

Green Building Council Australia (GBCAGreen Building Council Australia (GBCA))

How Buildings Achieve Zero Net How Buildings Achieve Zero Net Operating EmissionsOperating Emissions

Passive DesignPassive Design On-site generation of energy from renewable resourcesOn-site generation of energy from renewable resources Efficient appliances and light fittings (Go Green Efficient appliances and light fittings (Go Green

Steps)Steps) Purchasing green powerPurchasing green power Introducing alternative ways to learn; andIntroducing alternative ways to learn; and Optimising, upgrading or removing HVAC systemsOptimising, upgrading or removing HVAC systems

How Buildings Can Go Carbon Neutral, Including How Buildings Can Go Carbon Neutral, Including Embodied EnergyEmbodied Energy

Embodied energy is all the energy required Embodied energy is all the energy required to produce a building.to produce a building. • producing and transporting building materials, producing and transporting building materials, • on-site processes for constructing the building, on-site processes for constructing the building, • demolition of the building when times comes.demolition of the building when times comes.

What can be done:What can be done: Measuring the embodied energyMeasuring the embodied energy Re-using and reducing materialsRe-using and reducing materials Re-using and refurbishing existing buildings as Re-using and refurbishing existing buildings as

opposed to constructing new buildings, andopposed to constructing new buildings, and Considering how the building material is Considering how the building material is

transportedtransported

In Australia - GBCAIn Australia - GBCA

Green Building Council of Green Building Council of

AustraliaAustralia ……provides green star ratings to buildings provides green star ratings to buildings

and is at the forefront in bringing and is at the forefront in bringing education and Green Star tools to the education and Green Star tools to the building industry. building industry. In 2007In 2007

GBCA Membership now at 500 organisationsGBCA Membership now at 500 organisations Projects registered for certification under Green Star: 467Projects registered for certification under Green Star: 467 Projects achieving Green Star certification: 41Projects achieving Green Star certification: 41

GECAGECA

Good Environmental Choice Good Environmental Choice AustraliaAustralia

ISO 14 020ISO 14 020 Based on PLC analysis.Based on PLC analysis.

Leading manufacturers in Australia and overseas use the Leading manufacturers in Australia and overseas use the GECA GECA • Better consumer recognitionBetter consumer recognition• Green procurement by government and industryGreen procurement by government and industry• Easy access to foreign ecolabelsEasy access to foreign ecolabels• Environmental stewardship, leadership in environmental Environmental stewardship, leadership in environmental

design and good corporate governancedesign and good corporate governance• To enhance the consumer and legal credibility of their To enhance the consumer and legal credibility of their

environmental declarations through independent verification. environmental declarations through independent verification.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Buildings: The problem and… the Buildings: The problem and… the solutionsolution

Every crisis needs a hero …. in the case of climate change Every crisis needs a hero …. in the case of climate change that hero, certainly one of them can be the building that hero, certainly one of them can be the building industry. industry.

By working together, integrating a ‘holistic’ and global By working together, integrating a ‘holistic’ and global vision for the built environment, using renewable energy, vision for the built environment, using renewable energy, sustainable designs, and green products, the building sustainable designs, and green products, the building industry will become part of the solution. industry will become part of the solution.

Where to next?Where to next? The future goal need to go beyond negating the The future goal need to go beyond negating the

environmental impacts from buildings to create a built environmental impacts from buildings to create a built environment that is restorative to the natural environment. environment that is restorative to the natural environment.