A carbon neutral commercial building
Developer
Fortis
Architect
Fieldwork
Sustainability Consultant
GIW Environmental Solutions
Development summary
With a shared commitment to achieving carbon neutrality, Fortis’ foray into the creative fringe of Cremorne has aligned its latest commercial development with City of Yarra’s Climate Emergency Plan to ‘achieve zero-net emissions across the entire Yarra community by 2030’.
The 8-level commercial development comprises 9,286 square meters of premium office and ground floor retail space, basement parking and a new standard in active rooftop amenity.
The development has been designed to achieve a sustainability performance standard of Australian Best Practice, having achieved a 37% reduction in peak electricity demand and sourcing 100% of all off-site energy from certified renewable sources.
This development is under construction, with completion anticipated in Quarter 4 of 2023.
The zero carbon development features have been framed around GIW Environmental Solutions' '4Rs' of emissions management:
Reduce
- Building designed to achieve a 37 per cent reduction in peak electricity demand.
- High efficiency thermal fabric and building façade optimised for thermal comfort and energy efficiency.
- A focus on highly efficient appliances and systems including efficient heat recovery ventilation, an air-cooled chiller, high efficiency variable refrigerant volume system, electric heat pump hot water and energy efficient lifts.
- Reduced lighting power density, efficient lighting and localised lighting control.
- Combination of blinds, screens, fixed devices to reduce excess solar gains.
- Double glazed windows with low-E panes.
Renew
- A fossil fuel free development through all-electric services (excluding cafe equipment).
- Generating renewable energy on-site via 15kilowatt rooftop solar system.
- A 10-year commitment to purchase grid-supplied accredited GreenPower to meet the building’s remaining electricity needs.
Regenerate
- Additional carbon emissions will be offset under the National Carbon Offset Standard.
Refine
- A commitment to set, measure and report against environmental performance targets.
- On-going refinement of performance, education and reporting against energy and water consumption targets.
- Metering and monitoring system to monitor building energy and water consumption, including all energy and water use in common areas and major uses.
- Use of alternative and recycled materials to reduce embodied emissions and raw materials, including components of the concrete.
- Reduction in the mass of reinforcing or high strength steel, and bars and mesh are produced using energy efficient processes.
- Timber used is either certified by a forest certification scheme or is from a reused source.
- Avoids use of materials made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).
- Mix water for concrete includes at least 50% captured or reclaimed water.
- Light coloured roof with high solar reflectance to reduce heat gain.
- Use of native species in terrace planter boxes and landscape drip irrigation with moisture sensors.
- Low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints, adhesives, sealants and carpets and low formaldehyde engineered wood products.
- 120 bicycle spaces ensuring secure bicycle parking for 7.5% of regular occupants and 5% of visitors.
- End of trip facilities include showers and lockers and a bicycle storage room.
- Dedicated electric vehicle parking spaces and charging infrastructure.
- Close to public transport, walking and cycling routes.
- A commitment to reduce demolition waste at the end-of-life of interior fit-outs and base.
- Building components for least 80% of the building’s floor area.
- 90% (by mass) of the waste generated during construction and demolition to be diverted from landfill for reuse and recycling.
- The rainwater collected off the roof areas will be directed into a 25,000 litre rainwater tank and connected to toilets and used for landscape irrigation.
- Highly water efficient fixtures including taps, toilets, showers, dishwashers and washing machines.
- No use of water for heat rejection in the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system.