National accolade shows WA’s green ambition
National recognition of local sustainable developments is giving Western Australia a reputation as a state with a green ambition, with an apartment project in White Gum Valley the latest to receive a highly-regarded sustainability accolade.
This week Yolk Property Group’s Evermore development was recognised by Bioregional Australia Foundation as a One Planet Community and national leader for a commitment to sustainable living – making it the first apartment development in Western Australia to receive this honour.
Bioregional Australia Executive Director Suzette Jackson said Evermore showed a strong commitment to sustainability, particularly through its shared solar initiative.
“Evermore is setting the bar high with its sustainability and quality of life features and is showing strong initiative in pioneering new technology and applications,” Ms Jackson said.
Ms Jackson said One Planet Communities lead by example enabling people to transition to a one planet lifestyle.
“Evermore is unique not only in that it is the first apartment development in Western Australia to be recognised as a One Planet Community, but it sits within a One Planet Community, LandCorp’s WGV precinct, within a One Planet City, the City of Fremantle. While individually assessed and recognised they share a common vision of creating communities where it’s easy, attractive, and affordable for people to lead happy and healthy lives using a fair share of the earth’s resources,” she said.
Director of Yolk Property Group Pete Adams said the recognition has added weight to the claim that Evermore is the greenest apartment development in Western Australia.
“We’re immensely proud to become part of a network of the earth’s greenest neighbourhoods. Our goal with this development is to go beyond and lead by example, even if it means treading untested waters, taking risks and trialling new ideas or technology,” Mr Adams said.
At Evermore, Yolk Property Group is pioneering the use of shared solar technology in a large-scale strata setting with a governance model developed by the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute.
It has been forecast the technology will produce approximately 80 per cent of the apartments’ power, with residents expected to benefit from a 30 per cent saving on their electricity bills. With so much power off the grid, residents also have the advantage of being less affected by fluctuations in energy prices. Real-time measurement and recording of water and power consumption will further give residents greater control over their energy usage and ensure maximum energy-efficiency.
Mr Adams said Evermore aims to achieve sustainability through addressing the One Planet Living principles related to sustainable water, local and sustainable food, sustainable materials, zero waste, zero carbon as well as culture and community. He said the focus with Evermore was not solely on the end-product, but how residents will live in the development after building is complete.
“One example of how we’re looking beyond construction is our aim to promote social interaction and reduce disconnectedness and isolation of residents. The design of a communal space between buildings with courtyard, veggie garden and bicycle repair station will offer shared spaces to encourage interaction, a way for neighbours to foster relationships,” he said.
Construction of the highly sustainable Evermore development is expected to commence shortly and conclude early 2018.