24 August 2011

Christchurch green rebuild tool draws on local expertise

The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) today announced the members of an advisory group of local industry specialists helping to shape a new green rebuild assessment tool for Christchurch that meets the needs of central city property owners, tenants and residents.

Developed by NZGBC, in partnership with Christchurch City Council (CCC) and with the support of Beca as Primary Sponsor (Technical), Warren & Mahoney and the Sustainable Steel Council, the rebuild assessment tool is a critical, first step in fulfilling the city’s aspiration to be among the world’s most sustainable cities.

NZGBC Chief Executive Alex Cutler said Christchurch has lead the way in New Zealand with the country’s first 6 Green Star designed and built office – Te Hononga, the Christchurch Civic Building – representing world leadership in environmentally sustainable design. “With the rebuild assessment tool, Christchurch will be an inspiration to the world with sustainably designed, high-performing buildings at the heart of the new city centre,” she said. “New Zealand has some great examples of green office buildings that not only cost less to run, they are also healthier and more comfortable to work in. We’re delighted to work with the Christchurch property industry to develop an introductory-level building assessment tool that meets their needs, and responds to the wishes of the people of Christchurch.”

The Christchurch rebuild tool will apply to multiple building types (office, retail and residential and combinations of these) and feature a streamlined, affordable submission and assessment process. Complementary to the Green Star rating tool, the Christchurch rebuild tool will also have a number of conditional requirements in areas such as energy, thermal comfort, ventilation and water efficiency, and project teams will be able to select from a broad range of additional credits to achieve a pass mark.

Graeme McDonald, President - Property Council of New Zealand (South Island Branch), welcomes the flexibility of the planned tool. “This new tool makes green building accessible and affordable to a wider audience with a range of options available to owners and developers. It will promote awareness of environmental and sustainable building solutions and encourage the development of an appealing, world-class inner Christchurch – The Garden City.”

The Christchurch Green Rebuild Tool Advisory Group includes:

Alan Barbour, Beca
Carena Parish, Hawkins
David MacDonald, MacDonald Consultancy
Gordon Craig, Ngāi Tahu Property Ltd
Graeme Finlay, Warren & Mahoney
Michael Doig, Ganellen
Philip Neale, Davis Langdon
Ross Davidson, Davis Langdon
Susan McLaughlin, CCC
Tony Moore, CCC

NZGBC Chief Executive Alex Cutler will discuss the rebuild tool with a panel of property industry specialists at its first Green City Dialogues session in Christchurch on Thursday 25 August. The series is sponsored by local businesses Wynn Williams, Warren & Mahoney, Colliers International and Westpac. For more information, visit www.nzgbc.org.nz.

About The New Zealand Green Building Council
The New Zealand Green Building Council is a not-for-profit, industry organisation dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of market-based green building practices. The Council achieves these aims through:

• Setting standards of best practice with its suite of rating tools
• Education and training across the building industry value chain
• Providing a focal point for the latest thinking in green building practice and research, and
• Connecting members together, to create change in the New Zealand marketplace.

NZGBC has more than 420 member organisations, and has trained more than 2000 industry professionals. 65+ building projects have been certified by the Green Star rating scheme, and more than 6000 New Zealand home-owners have undertaken Homestar self-assessments.

ENDS

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