GREEN STAR NZ for Industrial Buildings launches to Property Industry

13 February 2009

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 on Tuesday 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.

Jane Henley, Chief Executive of the Green Building Council 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. Transport emissions are also considered with buildings being rewarded for the proximity to cargo facilities, such as airports, train stations and ports, therefore reducing the distance materials have to travel.

Development of the Green Star - Industrial PILOT rating tool is sponsored by Goodman. John Dakin, CEO of Goodman (NZ) Limited says Goodman is proud to sponsor the Green Star - Industrial PILOT tool.

"Our sponsorship and active involvement in the development of the Green Star rating tool is important for us and the industry, and in particular for Goodman to achieve its long term focus on being a sustainability leader in industrial property space."

The new 21,625sqm CourierPost building at Highbrook Business Park was the venue for the Industrial PILOT tool 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 Courier Post's Auckland Operations and incorporates the latest technology and various sustainable design principles.

Also seeking Green Star certification under the Industrial PILOT is Yealands Estate Winery. The 7,100 m2 winery in the rolling foothills of the Awatere Valley in Blenheim, is a $NZ45 million production facility that incorporates green building features and technology

"I don't see the sense in doing something half-right particularly where the environment's at stake," said Peter Yealands, head of the family-owned estate. "We set out with a vision of best practice from the vine to the bottle.  Building a winery that takes the sustainable production of premium wine to a whole new level has always been an integral part of that vision."

The new CourierPost building at Highbrook Business Park

Attendees at the Green Star NZ - Industrial Tool Launch, dwarfed by the new 21,625sqm CourierPost building that will be rated under the PILOT tool

Jane Henley, NZGBC Chief Executive, and John Dakin, EO of Goodman (NZ) Limited, at the launch of the Green Star NZ - Industrial PILOT