6 Star Green Star – Communities Recertification

Launched by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) in 2003, Green Star is Australia’s largest voluntary sustainability rating system spanning a range of applications from individual fit outs to whole communities. Receipt of a 5 or 6 Star certification affirms a recipients’ position as a leader within the sustainability space.

The certification is driven by the Greater Curtin Master Plan, a transformational vision for Curtin’s Perth Campus with a view to enhance the student experience, attract business and industry partners and to position Curtin and Perth as a core component of a robust innovation ecosystem. The Exchange development is the first precinct to be delivered in response to the Greater Curtin Master Plan and is due for completion in early 2022.

Green Star – Communities is assessed on a matrix of 110 points across 33 credits encompassing Governance, Liveability, Economic Prosperity, Environment and Innovation.  Key credits that have contributed to Curtin’s recertification as a 6 Star Community are Liveability and Innovation, as addressed by the below initiatives:

Liveability

• Updates to Curtin’s Climate Adaptation Plan
• Implementation of Curtin’s Stakeholder Engagement Strategy on campus
• Development of the Explore Curtin Place Activation Plan
• Increased access to food and dining options on campus
• Reduction in peak electricity demand and greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the Greater Curtin Master Plan
• An aim to certify 75% of Curtin’s new buildings with Green Star Design and As Built

Innovation

• Development of Curtin’s Interim Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan
• Development of Curtin’s Safer Community Team
• Introduction of occupancy sensors in classrooms to better assign room bookings
• Development of the Living Campus platform

Owing to the protracted nature of precinct and land developments, Green Star – Communities ratings require recertification every 5 years, with Curtin’s next recertification taking place in 2025. Key initiatives in the pipeline to ensure the retention of a 6 Star rating include:

• Development and implementation of the next stages of the Greater Curtin Master Plan
• Completion and ongoing activation of the Exchange precinct
• Renewal of Curtin’s Biodiversity Plan
• Development and installation of a campus sustainability trail
• Continued implantation of outcomes informed by the Living Knowledge Stream
• Upgrades to the existing Living Campus platform
• Continuous review of opportunities to innovate on campus