In Australia, where a large proportion of commercial buildings and the Australian energy grid is reliant on natural gas, electrification is a key step in the decarbonisation.
During the year, we commenced an electrification upgrade at our McKell building, a first for the Sydney CBD. The multi-million-dollar project will convert the 24-storey building’s existing commercial gas-fired heating system to an electric heat-recovery reverse cycle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
As NABERS moves to favour buildings that are fully electric, removing natural gas, as the electricity grid shifts to increasingly rely on renewable sources, building upgrades such as the McKell project will not only improve our energy ratings, but also reduce emissions in the longer term.
Predicted impact
We also estimate that future proofing the building through this electrification project will achieve a 5% energy reduction of the total base building electricity consumption.
Considering environmental factors when selecting suppliers is one of the key ways to reduce the carbon footprint of our business. For CEREIT’s Nervesa 21 refurbishment, our Italian team has been partnering with AGC Glass Europe, that produces Low-Carbon Glass. According to them, glass accounts for 5% to 15% of the embodied CO2 emissions in a building. By using Low-Carbon Glass instead of standard glass, a building’s embodied CO2 emissions are reduced.
Low-carbon glass is manufactured in an optimised process to reduce its carbon footprint. Using recycled glass and low carbon supplies in highly efficient melting furnace reduces the carbon emitted from the production process. AGC Low-Carbon Glass used for 50% of façade of the renovation project.
Predicted impact
Nervesa 21 will have WELL Platinum and LEED Gold certifications. These levels are achieved by the circular practices implemented to reduce carbon emissions. Maintaining the existing structure is enabling potential embodied carbon savings of approximately 1,288 kgCO2e/m2 vs. demolishing and rebuilding.
Our Australian property team worked to reach total waste diversion from landfill for a recent refurbishment of 100 Creek Street in Brisbane. The original diversion target was 90%, with a stretch target of 100%.
Key Results
By working hard with contractors and suppliers, 96% of waste was recycled or reused at the site. Although the team looked for solutions for all waste, a portion was unavoidable, such as the packaging on supplied goods.
In 2020 Cromwell entered into a partnership with Being to build a state of the art, high quality and sustainable 24,000 sqm office building called ‘The Joan’ in Amsterdam Overamstel.
KEY RESULTS
The Joan was built to BREEAM Excellent and Well Platinum certification standards and consists of a multifunctional and creative ground floor, a restaurant, and lots of natural light and greenery in a sustainable and healthy business climate
The design encompasses arrange of impressive sustainability initiatives including:
The adjoining parking garage, ‘The Joan II’ consists of 247 car-parks and feature dedicated bike parking spaces, as well as charging points for electric cars and bicycles.
The Department of Social Services were existing tenant-customers
at the Cromwell-owned Tuggeranong Office Park, with their lease due to expire in December 2016. Cromwell constructed a new dedicated building for the department in turn retaining their tenancy for a new 15-year lease.
KEY RESULTS
The sustainable design, construction and performance for the commercial office and tenant-customer fitout were set to provide solutions that outperformed original environmental and energy requirements. Key features:
Testament to its thoughtful design, the building received a 5-Star Green Star Office Design v3 rating, 5.5-Star Base Building NABERS Energy rating, 4.5-Star Base Building NABERS Water rating and 6-Star Tenancy NABERS Energy rating. The Energy rating has further improved to 6-Stars with the recent installation of solar panels.