Australia retains top spot for sustainable building
Living in Australia is no easy task. The driest habitable continent in the world calls for extra thought when it comes to retaining water and creating environmentally sustainable buildings.
Fortunately, we're handling the pressure of doing so admirably, as the country took the top spot for yet another year in the 2015 GRESB Report. The global analysis of building sustainability awarded Australia and New Zealand with a score of 69 – the highest scores of any nation. In fact, Australia is streets ahead, with the global average score a mere 59 points.
The criteria for taking this position included the way Australian households and businesses manage water wastage, which we can see through the number of people who rely on their polyethylene rainwater tanks.
Water consumption between 2013 and 2014 fell by a substantial 2.3 per cent, the report read. By collecting the rainwater that lands on roofs around the country, a poly water tank is a big part of sustainable building design.
Businesses are also helping the Australia/NZ region lead the world by focusing on obtaining green building certificates and Green Star ratings. More than half (54 per cent) have the former, while 87 per cent have the latter – much higher than the 71 per cent global average with an energy rating.
Chief Executive of the Green Building Council Australia Romilly Madew subsequently suggested that attaining such certification is now ingrained in Aussie culture.
"Green building certification programs have become institutionalised in mature real estate markets, and Australia now has more than 1,000 Green Star-certified buildings," he explained.
So, we're in a good position – and we need to be in such a harsh climate. Now, the focus is on retaining this top spot for another year, while ensuring we have the water resources to last through the dry summer months.
If you'd like to buy a poly water tank, speak to your local supplier and help make Australia even more sustainable.
By Gerald Beckton
