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The first building in Tasmania to recieve a five-star Green Star rating for office design from the Green Building Council of Australia was opened by Premier Paul Lennon on Thursday 1 May 2008.
The $25 million new home of Hydro Tasmania Consulting at Cambridge Park sets a benchmark for the State in terms of environmental design and innovation, energy efficiency and sustainability.
The new building housing over 300 people will use just 18 per cent of the eneergy previously consumed by the Consulting business in its Hobart offices.
Initiatives in the building include:
- More than 50 per cent less greenhouse emissions associated with evergy use compared to the average Australian office building - this equates to a saving of more than 600,000 kilograms of CO2 equivilent per year.
- Combining ventilation and air conditioning for greater efficiency. the new offices will see a 50 per cent improvement in fresh air rates to all areas over Australian standards.
- The installation of a carbon dioxide monitoring system.
- The extensive use of recycled materials and building materials with low environmental impact.
- Water conservation measures such as energy efficient shower and toilet facilities, the use of rainwater for landscaping irrigation, the treatment of stormwater and its collection in a retention pool to protect surrounding watercoureses from pollution and flooding.
Chief Executive Vince Hawksworth said Hydro Tasmania made the commitment to develop the new office to house its Consulting staff under one roof, create an improved and more productive working environment and to be at the forefront of green sustainable buildings in Australia.
"We wanted to create a home - a presence - that said something about who we are as a business," Mr Haawksworth said.
"Tasmanians know that Hydro Tasmania has its dams and power stations and generates the electricity that powers our homes and businesses, but we also have a leading international Consulting business committed to creating a sustainable future.
"Hydro Tasmania Consulting is committed to using the considerable expertise of its people to provide solutions to climate change, energy and water projects locally, nationally and overseas.
"It has done work for government utilities, developers, international aid and lending agencies such as the World Bank, and the United Nations in more than 20 countries from a home base in Tasmania with offices in Melbourne and New Delhi.
"Earlier this year Hydro Tasmania Consulting was awarded a contract ot supply and construct a suite of six mini hydro plants for Melbourne Water. Just recently the the team won a contract ot work on the desalination plant in Victoria.
"it is therefore entirely appropriate that it has a building that reflects its commitment to sustainability."
Mr Hawksworth said the Consulting business was anintegral part of Hydro Tasmania's response to climate change as it sought to provide leadership and solutions to what is the most imprtant environmental issue facing the world.
Hydro Tasmania would like to thank all those involved in the design, construction and fitout of the Cambridge office. These included Prudentia Investments, Bovis Lend Lease for the design and constuction of the project, Tasmanian architects Forward Brianese and Partners and Johnstone McGee and Gandy Pty Ltd Consulting Engineers and Planners for the integrated design process neccessary to archive the Green Star target.
The Green Star rating system promotes integrated whole-building design. Its aim is to:
- Raise awareness of green building benefits
- Reduce the environmental impact of development
- Recognise and reward environmental leadership
Further detail on the Green Star rating system can be found at the Green Building Council of Australia's website at www.gbcs.org.au
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