If you are considering buying a new apartment or moving into a home in a new suburban development, one item that should be on your checklist of desirable features is a Green Star rating.

Green Star is a voluntary rating system that assesses the sustainability of buildings, fitouts and communities in Australia.

It was introduced in 2003 by the Green Building Council of Australia and benchmarks projects against nine categories that include:

• Management
• Indoor Environment Quality
• Energy
• Transport
• Water
• Materials
• Land Use & Ecology
• Emissions, and
• Innovation

The sustainability of a Building or community is categorised by a system of star ratings:

• 4 Star – Best Practice
• 5 Star – Australian Excellence
• 6 Star – World Leadership

If the rating is less than 4 star no Green Star rating is awarded.

By ensuring that your apartment building or new community development has a 4 (or ideally higher) Green Star rating, you can make your own personal contribution to ensuring a more environmentally sustainable future.

• Article: Vanessa Couzens
• Image 1: Alkimos Beach, Western Australia developed by Lend Lease, was Australia’s first 6 Star Green Star – Community. (Click here learn more on the Lend Lease website)
• Image 2: The Green Building Council of Australia website. Check out some case studies by clicking here.