The western Australian city of Perth, often referenced as a Wild West city, is setting itself apart and standing out due to its work to become a sustainable city. With the environment in mind, innovative construction techniques are being implemented to provide greater infrastructure and “green” buildings, all of which are contributing to the city’s shift from a logistical hub to an economic one as well.
Perth has recently seventh place in the Economist’s World’s Most Liveable City survey. The latest Australia Bureau of Statistics projects illustrate the expected growth of Perth to reach a population of five million by 2050, and the city has put its plan in full force to be more conscious, offer a higher quality of life and encourage the construction of sustainable buildings in Australia.
Seeing Green: Sustainable Perth Walking Tour Highlights
The Green Building Council, which is in charge of the Green Star environment certifications, has organized the Sustainable Perth Walking Tour to show visitors some of the greatest “green” buildings. The two-kilometre walking tour starts at 235 George’s Terrace, a 5 Star Green Star 17,849 square metres glass office tower designed by architects Fitzpatrick+Partners, and wanders its way through the city centre. Other constructions on the tour include: Brookfield Place (a 5 Star Green Star 40-story development with superior air change effectiveness), Perth GPO Building Refurbishment (4 Star Green Star refurbishment of an existing heritage building), and 2 Victoria Avenue (6 Star Green Star 4 story office building).
Another construction along the walk is the Green Skills Training Centre, which has a solar power plant that yields 100% of the building’s energy needs. With its energy consumption, heating and air conditioning taken care of via solar energy, the Green Skills Training Centre has been named the state of Western Australia’s “greenest” public buildings. Along this walk, you visibly see how sustainability is considered amongst city development. New buildings in the city are now even being started with the green movement in mind and in 2017, the city government illustrated its commitment to a better Perth by launching a two-year program that economically supports business owners and landowners.
Green Building is Spreading Across Australia
The green building trend is not a trend exclusive to Perth, but is a trend that has exploded in all of Australia over the last few years. Green Star, the first Green Star rating in Australia, was developed by the Green Building Council of Australia to set a standard for green buildings in Australia. Currently, 20% of offices across the country are “green” certified, which lead to fewer gas emissions, usage of less water and the ability to recycle a substantial amount of waste. Two standout sustainable buildings in Australia include: 1. The Commons building in Melbourne, which consists of 24 apartments that require no air conditioning, and 2. The Central Park building in Sydney, which has its own natural gas plant and recycles 70% of its water used for domestic use.
We will surely be seeing many more green buildings in the future, and this is important for everyone. Taking care of our environment will impact us all; even if it’s simply (but significantly) by the quality of life you get in your home city.
Have you added The Sustainable Perth Walking Tour to your eco-travel must-see list?
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