Housing NSW is hoping their new public housing initiative in
Redfern sets a precedent for the industry. A first for residential properties,
the Redfern development is one of six national housing projects involved in the
first Green Star Residential rating system.
The Green Building Council of Australia, an industry funded NGO,
devised the Green Star rating system as a tool to evaluate the environmental
sustainability, or “greenness”, of a development.
“The Green Star is holistic environmental rating system
which looks at the use of energy, water, transport, management, land and
ecology in a development,” a spokesperson for the GBCA said.
So far it has only been used to rate commercial projects but
the GBCA is now challenging the residential property market to adopt their
Green Star standards. According to research conducted by the NSW Department of
Planning and Energy Australia,
residential apartments are responsible more carbon emissions per year than in
any other residential structure.
A Housing NSW spokesman said the Redfern development would
set a benchmark, with the department seeking to build a new generation of
public housing blocks which are green friendly.
“The 106 public housing units at the Redfern development
will set a precedent, which we will be basing our future projects on.”
To achieve the Green Star rating, Housing NSW, who are
developing the site, will need to adhere to guidelines set out by the GBCA.
“Developers must provide extensive documentation to
independent assessors and if everything checks out, fingers crossed, they will
be given a Green Star Rating,” the GBCA spokesperson said.
Green Star rated apartments are in high demand, often fully
tenanted before construction is finished. For public housing tenants this will
mean design features they are not normally accustomed to – features like water
harvesting, ventilation systems for natural heating and cooling and materials
with low toxic emissions.
“There will be a significant improvement in the living
surroundings. We encourage the use of paints and materials which are low in
volatile organic materials so it creates a healthier environment,” the GBCA
spokesperson said.
“All this translate into health benefits and financial
savings for residents due to the low operating costs.” the Housing NSW
spokesperson said.
While the project is likely to have higher construction
costs, Housing NSW believes these would be recovered over time.
“For any increase in short term costs there will be greater
long term savings as the buildings are more economical to maintain,” the spokesman
said.
Source:
www.alternativemediagroup.com/ThreadView.aspx?tid=10292#post_10292