Green Steps ………towards a Green Building Industry Margaret Page Green Steps ‘Change Agent ’

Why I selected this topic ? …to develop and implement a ‘green steps’ sustainability consultancy service for the building industry.. Proprietor of Page Architectural Products for the past 11 years representing Proprietor of Page Architectural Products for the past 11 years representing Caesarstone, Madinoz, Murobond, Rogerseller, and IFCCaesarstone, Madinoz, Murobond, Rogerseller, and IFC networking facility that generated sales and marketing leads by seeing architects, interior designers, builders, developers.networking facility that generated sales and marketing leads by seeing architects, interior designers, builders, developers.

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 solution Buildings: the problem and the solution Rising to the Challenge: Rising to the Challenge: -Solutions – globally/locally -GBCA - Green star ratings for buildings -GECA – Good Environmental Choice Australia CONCLUSION – Where to from here?

Climate change is real ‘There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we take strong action now’ ‘There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we take strong action now’ 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 be equivalent to losing at least 5% of global GDP each year, now and forever. 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 be equivalent to losing at least 5% of global GDP each year, now and forever. ‘ – Nicholas Stern, Chancellor of the Exchequer in England, July ‘ – Nicholas Stern, Chancellor of the Exchequer in England, July 2005.

IPCC Scientists unanimous International Panel Climate Change Report warns we need to scale back our assault on the climate system by reducing our release of greenhouse gases. International Panel Climate Change Report warns we need to scale back our assault on the climate system by reducing our release of greenhouse gases. Reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide to less than half the present level. Reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide to less than half the present level. We release carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas. We release carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas. Logical way is to reconcile the demand for energy services, change the way we do things, be responsible globally and locally Logical way is to reconcile the demand for energy services, change the way we do things, be responsible globally and locally Green steps …. to sustainable buildings in the future…… Green steps …. to sustainable buildings in the future……

The value of construction work done during was $112,817.1million. In the construction industry contributed 6.7% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranked just behind the mining industry. In 2007 it employed 9.0% of the Australian workforce. In the construction industry contributed 6.7% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranked just behind the mining industry. In 2007 it employed 9.0% of the Australian workforce. The construction industry has gradually increased as a share of GDP from 5.4% in to 6.8% in , The construction industry has gradually increased as a share of GDP from 5.4% in to 6.8% in , a 5.7% increase from the previous year. In construction was the fifth largest industry in current price terms. It ranked behind Property and business services (12.2%), Manufacturing (10.3%), Finance and insurance (7.2%) and Mining (7.1%). In construction was the fifth largest industry in current price terms. It ranked behind Property and business services (12.2%), Manufacturing (10.3%), Finance and insurance (7.2%) and Mining (7.1%). ABS – Australian Economic Indicator, Aug 2008 ABS – Australian Economic Indicator, Aug 2008

Buildings: The problem Buildings globally Buildings globally The major C0 2 Culprit The major C0 2 Culprit In USA, buildings are responsible for half of all energy consumption and C0 2 emissions annually. In USA, buildings are responsible for half of all energy consumption and C0 2 emissions annually. 43% of total US C0 2 emissions and 76% of total USA electricity consumption. 43% of total US C0 2 emissions and 76% of total USA electricity consumption.

Sydney’s Next Green Building Sydney’s Next Green Building 6 star Green Rating and 5 star ABGR ratings. 6 star Green Rating and 5 star ABGR ratings. Mirvac’s 8 Chifley Square’s - a conscious decision to reduce the building’s carbon footprint. Mirvac’s 8 Chifley Square’s - a conscious decision to reduce the building’s carbon footprint. energy consumption 50% less than that of a typical Sydney CBD office building. energy consumption 50% less than that of a typical Sydney CBD office building. Green features of 8 Chifley Square Green features of 8 Chifley Square a tri-generation system for onsite electricity generation; a tri-generation system for onsite electricity generation; architectural sun shading;architectural sun shading; advanced black water treatment advanced black water treatment water recycling systemswater recycling systems sub-floor chilled beam air conditioning.sub-floor chilled beam air conditioning. Completion 2011, Completion 2011,

The Solution: The 2020 Challenge a global initiative stating that all new buildings and major renovations reduce their fossil-fuel GHG-emitting consumption by 50% by 2020, and all new buildings should be ‘carbon neutral’ by a global initiative stating that all new buildings and major renovations reduce their fossil-fuel GHG-emitting consumption by 50% by 2020, and all new buildings should be ‘carbon neutral’ by The challenge has now been set for the property industry to take a closer look at how the buildings can be carbon neutral by The challenge has now been set for the property industry to take a closer look at how the buildings can be carbon neutral by Buildings need to have zero emissions in their construction, operation and embodied energy to be truly carbon neutral. Although it is possible to achieve zero net operational carbon emissions from buildings by 2020, truly carbon neutral buildings are a significant challenge. Green Building Council Australia (GBCA ) Green Building Council Australia (GBCA )

How Buildings Achieve Zero Net Operating Emissions Passive Design Passive Design On-site generation of energy from renewable resources On-site generation of energy from renewable resources Efficient appliances and light fittings (Go Green Steps) Efficient appliances and light fittings (Go Green Steps) Purchasing green power Purchasing green power Introducing alternative ways to learn; and Introducing alternative ways to learn; and Optimising, upgrading or removing HVAC systems Optimising, upgrading or removing HVAC systems

How Buildings Can Go Carbon Neutral, Including Embodied Energy Embodied energy is all the energy required to produce a building. Embodied energy is all the energy required 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 energy Measuring the embodied energy Re-using and reducing materials Re-using and reducing materials Re-using and refurbishing existing buildings as opposed to constructing new buildings, and Re-using and refurbishing existing buildings as opposed to constructing new buildings, and Considering how the building material is transported Considering how the building material is transported

In Australia - GBCA Green Building Council of Australia Green Building Council of Australia …provides green star ratings to buildings and is at the forefront in bringing education and Green Star tools to the building industry. In 2007 …provides green star ratings to buildings and is at the forefront in bringing education and Green Star tools to the building industry. In 2007 GBCA Membership now at 500 organisations GBCA Membership now at 500 organisations Projects registered for certification under Green Star: 467 Projects registered for certification under Green Star: 467 Projects achieving Green Star certification: 41 Projects achieving Green Star certification: 41

GECA Good Environmental Choice Australia Good Environmental Choice Australia ISO ISO Based on PLC analysis. Based on PLC analysis. Leading manufacturers in Australia and overseas use the GECA Leading manufacturers in Australia and overseas use the 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 design and good corporate governanceEnvironmental stewardship, leadership in environmental design and good corporate governance To enhance the consumer and legal credibility of their environmental declarations through independent verification.To enhance the consumer and legal credibility of their environmental declarations through independent verification.

CONCLUSION Buildings: The problem and… the solution Buildings: The problem and… the solution Every crisis needs a hero …. in the case of climate change that hero, certainly one of them can be the building industry. Every crisis needs a hero …. in the case of climate change that hero, certainly one of them can be the building industry. By working together, integrating a ‘holistic’ and global vision for the built environment, using renewable energy, sustainable designs, and green products, the building industry will become part of the solution. By working together, integrating a ‘holistic’ and global vision for the built environment, using renewable energy, sustainable designs, and green products, the building industry will become part of the solution. Where to next? Where to next? The future goal need to go beyond negating the environmental impacts from buildings to create a built environment that is restorative to the natural environment. The future goal need to go beyond negating the environmental impacts from buildings to create a built environment that is restorative to the natural environment.