Eke Panuku raises the sustainability bar for commercial developments
A decision by Eke Panuku to require new commercial buildings to meet 5 Star Green Star ratings will help to achieve sustainable development across Tāmaki Makaurau.
The ratings system, which rates a building’s performance and environmental impact and is administered by the Green Building Council, will now apply to all new commercial buildings over 1000m2 in town centres. The 5 Star Green Star rating is a marker of New Zealand excellence in sustainable buildings.
Green Star certification brings significant benefits to a neighbourhood. Green buildings reduce carbon emissions, the consumption of water and the generation of waste, as well as improved occupant health and wellbeing and lower building operational costs.
This new minimum commercial standard adds to the minimum residential standard Eke Panuku already has for new homes through the Green Building Council’s Homestar Rating system.
Eke Panuku Chair Paul Majurey says the decision to achieve 5 Star Green Star rating is an important step in reducing carbon emissions from new developments across Tāmaki Makaurau.
“It is important that Eke Panuku leads the development of Auckland’s town centres so they are built by our development partners for the future and have a low impact on the surrounding environment,” he says.
“This is an important decision to support Auckland Council’s climate change goals for Auckland”.
Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, says the decision is a step towards supporting Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri – Auckland’s Climate Plan objectives to establish low carbon precincts around the region.
“For our neighbourhoods to be sustainable, we have to think about the built environment and not just the land around our buildings,” he says.
“How we build impacts on our environment and having consistent 5 Star Green Star ratings across Eke Panuku neighbourhoods is a great step towards building resilient town centres.”
Eke Panuku CE David Rankin says 5 Star Green Star Ratings are already required in waterfront developments.
“Our development partners in the waterfront have delivered consistently to this standard and we have received very positive feedback from our partners as they deliver homes and commercial buildings with sustainability in mind,” he says.
“This decision to apply a consistent approach across all neighbourhoods will enable developers to understand our expectations as we build for climate change mitigation, as well as delivering important sustainability outcomes.”