Age
Wednesday 26/3/2008 Page: 11
UNTIL now, even the very best "sustainable" office buildings have managed only to reduce carbon emissions, not eliminate them. But a team of Melbourne architects say their design for a 19-storey building atop Richmond station will achieve the Holy Grail of greenness: zero emissions. Architectural director Paul Thatcher, of professional services company GHD, said the Zero project was hypothetical, but its environmental claims were real, and vetted by green ratings experts.
Mr Thatcher said the aim was to show that it was possible for a building to be emissions neutral, not because it was offsetting its emissions, but because it produced all its own energy on site. "It's not just about planting enough trees to offset carbon, it's about trying to stop polluting altogether," he said. The Zero building would create energy through massive solar panels and wind turbines on its roof. The narrow design and an atrium would give workers good natural light and ventilation, and water captured on the roof would be recycled.
The catch was the cost: about $165 million by GHD's estimates or about 20% more than a conventional office building of its size. It could take more than 25 years to get a return through rental on an investment of that size. Executive director of the Green Building Council David Craven said such an investment could be repaid more quickly once a carbon tax system was in place. This is really the next big challenge, to make building 'good' rather than just 'less bad'." Mr Craven said.
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