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The Issue  | Avoid & Reduce | Offset | Case Study | Links

What's the issue?

The design and construction of a commercial building strongly impacts the long term environmental performance of the building.

Additional time and resources invested in the early stages of a construction or refurbishment project can lead to significant reductions in costs and greenhouse gas emissions during both construction and operation of a commercial building.

How to avoid and reduce emissions

 

Shade - nature's cool tool!  Awnings, eaves, trees, shade sails and building aspect can all provide shade and reduce the amount of summer heat that penetrates windows and external walls.  This will reduce your reliance on air conditioning and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with artificial cooling.

Open windows if you can.  Natural air flow will help to cool the office and also reduce your reliance on the air conditioner.  Many business parks are incorporating ornamental lakes - take advantage of them if you can, air that flows over water can reduce its temperature even further.

Take advantage of natural light by placing desks (or other areas where people spend most of their time) near windows and moving meeting spaces to internal areas of the building where artificial light can be used only as needed.

Zone your heating, lighting and air conditioning systems.  Install timers and / or sensors as well to control when these systems operate.  There is no sense having lights, cooling or heating going overnight, during weekends or even during the day in areas where nobody is actually working.  The upfront costs are generally recouped within one year due to the ongoing savings on energy costs.

Install task lighting if you have a workforce that works outside the traditional "9 to 5" regime.  Efficient local area lighting means whole banks of overhead lights don't need to be turned on for one or two staff.

Insulate.  Prevent (or minimise) the transference of heat and cold between your building and the outside environment, making the inside environment more pleasant and reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling.

Select materials carefully.  Try to re-use existing materials, source recycled materials or those from sustainable / renewable sources, and look for locally made products.  Plan projects thoroughly and work with materials carefully to reduce wastage.

Location - consider the location of your suppliers, clients and staff when choosing a location for your workplace.  Positioning your workplace close to the people / businesses you work with will reduce the emissions associated with transportation and freight.

There are many other energy efficiency and environmental considerations that can be incorporated into the building design and construction, and even refurbishment projects - in most cases the ongoing operational costs will be reduced and the environment will be more comfortable for occupants.

Related areas include: Utilities, Water

Offset the rest

It's important that we counteract the impact of the greenhouse emissions we create by undertaking an activity to absorb an equivalent amount of greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.  Greenfleet plants permanent, biodiverse, native forests to offset greenhouse gas emissions on behalf of businesses and individuals.

Use our online Tree Totaller to calculate the emissions generated by your business' car fleet, air travel and on-site energy consumption, then submit your calculations for a quote from our business offset managers.

Or contact one of our business offset managers for assistance.

Case study - The GPT Group

The GPT Group was recognised with the People's Choice Banksia Award in 2008, for employing green design and construction principles in their Rouse Hill Town Centre shopping centre (approx. 40km NW of Sydney CBD). 

In addition to the reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the construction phase, Rouse Hill Town Centre is expected to reduce emissions by 25% during its operation (compared to similar sized centres elsewhere). 

The GPT Group also engaged Greenfleet to plant 10,000 trees which, as they grow, will offset 2,680 tonnes of emissions created during construction.

Links

• Green Building Council of Australia administer the Green Star building rating tools and also provide simple fact sheets on green building design.
• NABERS is a performance-based rating system for existing buildings, measuring operational impacts of buildings.
• Ecospecifier helps you source sustainable and healthy building materials.
• Environmental Design Guide - a font of green design information.