18 Aug 2016

Top energy rating awarded to Melbourne high-rise office building

A Victorian high-rise commercial office building has become the first in the state – and just the second in Australia – to achieve a 6 star NABERS energy rating.

The building, 171 Collins Street in Melbourne, is owned by Cbus Property and Charter Hall, and is the headquarters for Australian mining giant, BHP Billiton.

A building with a 6 Star NABERS Energy rating emits 50 per cent less greenhouse gases than a building with a 5 Star rating which is seen as the benchmark for modern sustainable office buildings.

Among the features that have won it the milestone rating are an Australian-first ceiling tile system that absorbs office pollutants; and an innovative grey water treatment system that collects used water from the cyclist shower facilities and recycles it through the building’s
cooling towers and toilets, offsetting more than 90 per cent of the cooling towers’ water consumption.

The building also has a high-performance façade made up of floor to ceiling double glazing, with thermal insulation to help maintain occupant comfort, and a nine storey glass atrium that maximises natural light and helps it achieve energy efficiency targets.

A radiant cooling and heating system and an under-floor air distribution network provides energy efficient thermal comfort for occupants, while the air conditioning system allows large quantities of outside air to be brought into the office space at a low velocity and distributed using natural stratification.

Cbus Property CEO Adrian Pozzo said 171 Collins Street had set a new benchmark in sustainability and was a shining example of the drive to create highly sustainable workplaces for the future.

“171 Collins Street is a lighthouse example of how premium grade buildings can deliver architectural beauty, world leading sustainability and exceptional occupant amenities without
compromise,”  he said.

“This milestone caps off several years of dedication by the entire project team as well as 171 Collins Street’s tenants in delivering and maintaining a truly green and sustainable building.”

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