Buildings and the construction industry in Australia have a significant environmental footprint, including waste generation, water consumption, energy usage and greenhouse emissions. Building and construction are responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world. GECA is thrilled to announce Green Star recognition for six new standards, which make it easier for architects and other building professionals to select products and materials that are better for people and planet.
Launched by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) in 2003, Green Star is Australia’s only national, voluntary rating system for buildings and communities. A Green Star rating provides independent verification that a building or community project is sustainable across all stages of the built environment lifecycle.
The newly recognised GECA standards include:
🔸 Building Insulation Materials
🔸 Cement, Concrete and Concrete Products
🔸 Steel and Steel Products
🔸 Recycled Products
🔸 Waste Collection Services
🔸 Sustainable Products and Services (Lifecycle Assessment Based)
GECA licensees certified under these standards will be rewarded for demonstrating their ongoing commitment to having a lower environmental, health and social impact!
“We congratulate GECA on achieving Green Star recognition for six new standards, as well as approval of revisions to existing furniture standards. GECA now has 22 standards that contribute towards buildings and fitouts achieving Green Star credits – this is a remarkable achievement,” said Nicole Sullivan, Senior Manager – Green Star Solutions.
The recent bush fires and the current pandemic have further highlighted the need for a new era that celebrates the benefits of building with sustainability in mind. Green Star-certified buildings and communities can lower operating costs and increase asset value, use less electricity, produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, consume less water, boost productivity, improve the health and wellbeing of occupants and much more.
GECA’s standards provide the building industry with an independent, reliable and credible way to source products and materials for their Green Star projects. We’ve developed our rigorous standards, following ISO 14024 principles and ISEAL frameworks for global best practice in ecolabelling, which are then independently assessed by our Assurance Providers.
“Our newly recognised standards promote best practice in areas that we know are of great impact on the environment,” said Michelle Thomas, GECA CEO. “For example, the production of a tonne of steel generates almost two tonnes of carbon emissions, accounting for as much as 5 per cent of the world’s total greenhouse-gas emissions. Cement is the source of about 8 per cent of the world’s emissions. Our standards place clear restrictions on carbon emissions, helping the industry to reduce its impact.”
GECA will continue to develop standards that are rigorous, scientific and relevant to key Australian industries as part of its commitment to offering sustainable solutions for consumption and production.
“We look forward to continuing to work with GECA toward a more sustainable future,” said Sullivan.
