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Zero carbon developments

Learn more and explore our case studies.

Globally, there’s an urgent need to rapidly reduce carbon emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

With around 85% of carbon emissions in the City of Yarra coming from electricity and gas usage in residential and commercial buildings, there is a clear need — and considerable opportunity — for new developments that achieve zero net carbon emissions.

The built environment can deliver rapid and cost-effective reductions to emissions and energy consumption using technologies and approaches that are widely available today. 

Net zero carbon buildings are less expensive to operate, healthier and more resilient than typical buildings. They deliver considerable environmental, social and economic benefits to the community.

Explore recent case studies
65-81 Dover St, Cremorne
A carbon neutral commercial building
The Rochester, 178-182 Johnston St, Fitzroy
A zero carbon apartment building
Ford St, Clifton Hill
Zero carbon townhouses.
34-40 Cubitt St, Cremorne
A zero carbon commercial building.
116 Rokeby St, Collingwood
An all-electric, carbon neutral building with a focus on wellbeing.
82 Westgarth St, Fitzroy
A carbon neutral residential building
Frequently asked questions
  • As a member of the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE), Yarra City Council is looking at planning amendments that build on the existing Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) Policies
  • Along with 24 urban and regional Victorian councils, Yarra City Council is involved in the Elevating ESD Targets Planning Policy Amendment project. This project involves drafting ESD planning policy objectives and standards
  • Engaging with the development industry, and current leaders in the industry working towards achieving a zero carbon standard, to help develop policy. Once the policy work is ready Yarra City Council will seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning

If you aspire to high sustainability standards in future developments in the City of Yarra, we’d love to hear from you, please contact our statutory planning department on T: 9205 5555.

Carbon emissions associated with the building’s operational energy on an annual basis for a zero carbon development needs to be zero or negative. This can be achieved through:

  • optimised passive design to deliver an energy efficient building envelope
  • maximised energy efficiency standard for all appliances, systems and lighting
  • no fossil fuel consumption on-site, such as gas or LPG
  • maximised on-site renewable energy generation
  • residual electricity demand met from local and/or off-site renewable energy generation
  • materials that minimise carbon emissions, and offset these emissions through a verified carbon offset scheme

 

  • New developments can improve energy efficiency through architectural and landscape design strategies, such as passive design and insulation.
  • Reduce the energy demand of the building’s systems, such as efficient heating, cooling and hot water, and through full-electrification instead of using gas.
  • Generate remaining energy needs from on-site and off-site renewable sources.
  • Offsets should be used for any remaining carbon balance including embedded carbon within the building’s fabric, using a recognised offsetting framework.
  • Operational carbon emissions are emissions associated with the operation of the building, such as those used in heating, cooling and all other energy uses, as well as emissions resulting from operational waste.
  • Embodied carbon emissions are emissions associated with materials and construction processes throughout the whole lifecycle of a building, including the production and transport of building products.

If you are looking to certify a new development as a net zero energy or carbon building, there are organisations that can provide third party certification: