Australand secures nation s largest portfolio of Green Star space

Australand secures nation’s largest portfolio of Green Star spaceAustraland now has 1.3 million sqm of Green Star-certified space, after securing the nation’s first Green Star – Performance portfolio rating for 54 commercial and industrial properties.Diversified property group Australand worked with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) to achieve Green Star certification for the majority of its Australand Property Trust portfolio.The 12 commercial and 42 industrial properties achieved an average 3 Star Green Star – Performance rating, representing ‘good practice’.In total approximately 974,000 square metres of floor space was certified in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.Green Star – Performance was launched by the GBCA in 2013 to enable building owners to measure their existing buildings’ operational performance. Ratings range from 1 Star for ‘minimum practice’, through to 6 Star for ‘world leadership’ in sustainable building operations.The GBCA’s chief executive officer Romilly Madew says Australand now has 64 Green Star-rated building projects around Australia – more than double its nearest competitor.”A 3 Star Green Star rating, representing ‘good practice’, sets a baseline as Australand looks to improve the efficiency of its portfolio in the years ahead,” Madew says.Australand’s general manager of sustainability, Paolo Bevilacqua, says the rating is particularly valuable in the industrial sector, given the lack of any other performance-based rating tools. “With a performance benchmark for 42 industrial properties we are now able to better inform our customers on how their property is performing against similar properties, the opportunities for improvement, and the implications to their business in terms of reduced operating costs and a better performing workspace,” he explains.The smallest property in the portfolio is a 2,0 sqm office, while the largest is a 61,000 sqm distribution centre.Sean McMahon, head of Australand’s commercial and industrial division, says the company believes the Green Star – Performance ratings will “become influential for investors, occupiers and stakeholders” in the years ahead.