Buildings can be made more energy and waste efficient in a number of different ways. In the examples below, you'll find innovative use of sunshades, vacuum toilets, solar systems and recycled materials. We also want to reduce our reliance on fossil fuel powered electricity and are making changes to our existing buildings where we can.
The decision to switch the Queen Victoria Market to solar power brings about a dramatic reduction in the volume of greenhouse gases being generated in Melbourne's inner-city.
Address
Corner of Victoria and Elizabeth streets, Melbourne
Facts and figures
- 1328 solar photovoltaic laminates have been installed
- Each laminate measures 1.59 metres by 0.79 metres
- Installation required around 2000 man hours to complete
- Has the capacity to generate 252,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to power 46 average sized homes for a year.
Address
240 Little Collins Street
Facts and figures
- 10 storey commercial office building
- Australia's first 6 Star Green Star Design rated building International leader
- Gas-fire cogeneration plant provides 40 per cent of the building's electricity requirements
- Louvre shading system that responds to the internal light conditions on the western facade
- Green roof
- 100 per cent fresh air
- 10.9 per cent productivity improvement.
Address
122 George Street, East Melbourne
Facts and figures
- Naturally ventilated by a subfloor plenum and floor and ceiling vents
- Geothermal heating and cooling that uses a fraction of the energy compared to normal air-conditioning
- Two 7500 litre rainwater tanks supply water for toilet flushing and garden irrigation
- Furniture and fittings made from materials with low or no VOC emissions
- Recycled or recyclable materials used for the acoustic lining, flooring, carpet tiles and window frames
- High-performance film on glass fa ades and shell shading on the roof to reduce heat transference
- Sensor controlled lighting that switches on when there s not enough natural light.
Address
490 Spencer Street, West Melbourne
Facts and figures
- Carbon negative commercial office building
- 1200 Buildings program signatory
- Retrofit commenced in 2009 and completed in 2013
- 100 per cent green energy
- 23.6 kW solar array supplying 20 per cent to 100 per cent of the building's energy requirements
- Energy efficient lighting
- Virtual double glazing.
Address
807 Bourke Street, Docklands
Facts and figures
- World's tallest residential timber building (32.17 metres)
- 5 Star Green Star as-built residential rating
- Built with cross laminated timber which reduces CO2 equivalent emissions by more than 1400t when compared with concrete and steel
- Smart meters link to home display showing real time and historical data on energy consumption
- Car sharing system in operation.
Address
636 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Facts and figures
- Australia's first carbon neutral hotel
- 1200 Buildings program signatory
- NABERS Energy 6 star rating
- 100 per cent of total electricity used is generated from renewable sources
- 95 per cent of all lighting is based on energy efficient, CFL or LED globes
- Rainwater used for public toilet cisterns, gardening and cleaning purposes
- All windows are double glazed.
This commercial office building is a redevelopment of the derelict former Carlton United Brewery laboratory.
Address
200 Victoria Street, Carlton
Facts and figures
- CitySwitch program signatory
- 5.5 star NABERS
- 6 star Green Star office interiors
- Electricity generated onsite using a gas-fired tri-generation plant
- Under-floor air distribution and demand-based airconditioning in meeting rooms
- Sensor controlled energy efficient lighting
- Reduces its annual greenhouse emissions by 40 per cent compared to the industry average.
Address
60 Leicester Street, Carlton
Facts and figures
- All new concrete used for construction contains about 60 per cent recycled material
- Two 10,000 litre tanks collect about 400 kL for reuse every year
- Hybrid ventilation system: the combination of passive building design and individually controlled air-conditioners
- Tenants sign a Green Lease
- Building management system monitors the use patterns and actions of various tenants.
Address
1 Spring Street, Melbourne
Green tenants Victorian Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure
Facts and figures
- Saved 33 per cent of energy since 2009
- Worked with RMIT students to do a waste audit through the CitySwitch program
- Stationery free cycle scheme to reuse or re-house surplus stationery items
- Reduced their annual waste to landfill by 7000kg
- Reduced their stationery procurement by one third
- Real-time water tracking.
Address
1 Freshwater Place, Southbank
Facts and figures
- Residential building Smart Blocks program signatory
- Green roof on top of the nine-storey car park
- Undertook an energy audit and five-year energy plan
- 20-watt down lights replaced by 6-watt LED in common areas
- Annual electricity consumption reduced by more than 62,000 kWh per year
- CO2 emissions reduced by more than 84,000 kg per year.
Address
80 / 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Facts and figures
- GBCA 5 Star Green Star Education Design Australian Excellence
- Demand based control ventilation technology improves air quality while saving energy
- Solar panels used to preheat the water for the building delivering much lower energy and carbon intensity than an electric system
- Innovative aluminium facade complete with sunshades to maximise shading and reduced solar heat gain.
Address
250 Queensberry Street, Carlton
Facts and figures
- First building to achieve a perfect Green Star score
- Green Building Council of Australia 6 Star Green Star Office Design v3 rating
- Pixelated sun shade system
- Extensive photovoltaic array on the roof, mounted on a tracking device to improve output by 40 per cent
- 1kW wind turbines
- Rainwater falling on the living roof and captured and stored in water tanks
- Installation of small-scale vacuum toilet technology.
Address
87 / 93 Haines Street, North Melbourne
Facts and figures
- Kitchen gardens around the centre
- Two composting bins
- Solar hot water system
- 26,000 litre rain water tank.
The Venny facility was designed and built sustainably. Refurbished shipping containers form part of the building and it features a green 'planted' roof, water recycling and other environmentally-friendly elements.
The building has been designed to suit the needs of users, while also showcasing passive solar design and other ecologically-sustainable development principles. The green roof and rainwater harvesting are also in keeping with the educational function of the building.
Read The Venny overview (PDF 944 KB) for more information.
Address
JJ Holland Park, 85 Kensington Road, Kensington
More information
