The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) has achieved a 5 Green Star rating for its new Queen Street office fit-out.

“Because of the choices we’ve made, our office uses less energy and water, and promotes health and productivity with great internal air quality,” says NZGBC Chief Executive Alex Cutler.

Although NZGBC certifies Green Star ratings, it was subject to the same independent, robust process all projects experience: two assessors worked on the submission, and an independent chair ran the assessment meeting.

The new office is designed to be a welcoming drop-in space for NZGBC members as well as a venue for events and training.

How the NZGBC achieved its 5 Green Star rating:

Energy
Lighting was reduced (from 56 light fittings to 20) and re-designed with presence detectors; new lights are either high-efficiency lights or LEDs. The fridge, dishwasher and IT hardware are Energy Star rated. There is also a real-time energy monitoring display to help NZGBC track and improve energy efficiency.

Water
The dishwasher and hot-water dispenser were chosen for their high water-efficiency ratings.

Materials
Office furniture and computers were reused; any new furniture or cabinetry is certified by a recognised eco label. Existing Green Tag-certified carpet tiles were supplemented with new low-VOC carpet made from recycled fishing nets. Walls and doors were painted with low-VOC, Environmental Choice NZ-certified product. Waste is separated and recycled, and food scraps are composted.

Indoor Environment Quality
The office features planter pots and two small climbing walls; species were selected to help filter particles and toxins from the air. A separate air-conditioning unit was installed to regulate the temperature and provide fresh air in the new training rooms. The photocopier room has a dedicated exhaust to remove toxins.

Emissions
NZGBC’s office is in a building with a 5 Green Star Design rating, which means the bathrooms already has low-flow water fittings. The insulation selected had zero ozone depletion potential and was certified by Environmental Choice NZ.

Innovation
Two Innovation points were awarded. One was for exceeding the benchmark in the number of plants; the other was for providing learning resources, such as the energy-monitoring display and information cards around the office.

Management
Construction and demolition waste was minimised and separated on-site, according to a strict waste management plan. Recycling is measured, and eco-friendly cleaning products are used. NZGBC also included environmental management clauses within their lease with the landlord.

Transport
NZGBC chose an office that was close to mass transport and many of its members. 

The companies that supported the fit-out are:

• Needs analysis – Jasmax
• Architect – Phil Smith, CASA
• Engineers – WSP
• Project management – RDT Pacific
• Contractor – Firma Construction
• Air conditioning – Temperzone
• Energy monitoring – Schneider Electric
• Wall partitions – Potter Interior Systems
• Acoustic barrier – Pyrotek Noise Control
• Carpet – Inzide Commercial
• Paint – Resene
• Melteca and Seratone – Laminex NZ
• Plants – Exotic Planters
• Lightshades – ECC
• Hot water dispenser – Merquip
• Tiles – Tileworks
• Appliances – Bosch
  
  

About Green Star

Green Star is an independent rating system that assesses buildings’ environmental aspects across a range of criteria. It rates commercial buildings in New Zealand.

Existing Green Star rating tools are available for offices, education and industrial buildings, and custom tools can be developed for specific one-off projects. Ratings range from 4 Green Star (best practice) to 6 Green Star (world leadership).