The Green Building Council of Australia was established in 2002 with the mission to "develop a sustainable property industry in Australia and drive the adoption of green building practices".
As at August 2009, the GBCA had more than 800 member companies made up of developers, local, state and federal governments, owners, professional services firms, investors, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, facility and asset managers, universities, professional societies, utilities and contractors.
The GBCA operates Australia’s only national voluntary comprehensive environmental rating system for buildings, Green Star, and has certified more than 170 buildings.
The GBCA Board is made up of industry leaders and senior government representatives who are widely recognised for their contributions towards furthering the green building industry in Australia. The GBCA's Chief Executive is Romilly Madew.
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The Green Building Council of Australia launched the Green Star environmental rating system for buildings in 2003.
Green Star environmental rating tools support the property and construction industry to reduce the environmental impact of buildings, improve occupant health and productivity and achieve real cost savings, while showcasing innovation in sustainable building practices.
Green Star benchmarks the potential of existing buildings based on nine environmental impact categories: Management; Indoor Environment Quality; Energy; Transport; Water; Materials; Land Use & Ecology; Emissions and Innovation.
An assessment panel awards points to the project based on each category and the Green Star rating is determined by comparing the overall score with the rating scale:
| Score | Rating | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 45-59 | Four Star | Best Practice |
| 60-74 | Five Star | Australian Excellence |
| 75+ | Six Star | World Leader |
Projects cannot achieve ratings of 1, 2 or 3 Stars at certification, as these ratings represent minimum, average and good practice, whereas Green Star aims to recognise and reward best practice and above.[1]
Green Star rating tools are currently available or in development for a variety of sectors, including commercial offices (design, construction and interior fitouts), retail centres, schools and universities, multi-unit residential dwellings, industrial facilities and public buildings.