Notice Board - News

Green Buildings

Green Building Council, National

The greening of NZ's commercial buildings and homes is about to accelerate with the imminent incorporation of a Green Building Council (GBC).

Supported by both the government and the private sector, the Council is to establish an official rating system for commercial buildings which is designed to improve the sustainability of buildings, of which energy efficiency is a key component.

The research programme to identify the system is being funded by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and a call for expressions of interest for the provision of a rating system is currently being prepared by GBC. In advance of joining the World Green Building Council, to which it hopes to be admitted by July, the GBC aims to have achieved the:

• adoption of a green home rating system;
• establishment of a web-based information hub on sustainable buildings;
• identification of an appropriate office sustainability rating system for NZ;
• development and facilitation of education programmes; and
• preparation of an outline of a clear commercial benefit case for sustainable buildings.

Information on the GBC can be found at: www.nzgbc.org.nz.