In The News
Local Government Superannuation
— 76 Berry Street, Exemplar Project
The Fifth EstateAPI/PFA Profitable Sustainability Conference 2011
By Tina Perinotto 24.11.11
At last Monday’s conference in Sydney, organised jointly by the Australian Property Industry and the Property Funds Association, it was clear that the industry – represented here by valuers and the unlisted and private owners of a huge swathe of Australia’s commercial property – was fascinated by the potential for their properties to move up several notches in environmental performance.
Star of the event was the outstanding 76 Berry Street, North Sydney, the 25-year-old building just unveiled to the world by its owners, Local Government Super, after a makeover that that has earned it a massive six star NABERS Energy rating.
Emerging issues canvassed also included Environmental Upgrade Agreements, the lending facility for energy efficiency upgrades that ties repayments to council rates and “trophy green technology” ; in other words, what to avoid...
Sydney Morning HeraldSuper's green office block streets ahead
by Harvey Grennan 15.11.11
OVER the past decade local government has been a leader in dealing with climante change. This is what Genia McCaffery told the recent Local Government Association conference at Nowra in her capacity as the association's national president.
Closer to home last week, wearing her other hat as local mayor she was a speaker at a strong manifestation of that earlier claim – the opening of a refurbished office block in North Sydney.
The 25-year-old 76 Berry Street has been converted to a six-star energy rated building without the need to use green power and it is said to be the lowest emitting office building in Australia – and possibly the world...
The Fifth Estate
Meet 76 Berry Street, game changerby Tina Perinotto 9.11.11
The upgrade of Local Government Super’s building at 76 Berry Street, North Sydney, will take a 25-year-old building off the grid, no tenants disrupted, and it will outperform the new six star NABERS Energy rating.
And that’s just the start. In fact, this building outperforms on so many levels that calling it a game changer is almost understating its achievements.
At least that’s the impression you get from the network of people involved with the building that says it sets new world standards, let alone Australian.
It’s a big team...
Australian Financial ReviewUpgrade takes block off grid
by Lisa Carapiet 8.11.11
Local Government Super has completed an upgrade of a 25-year-old office building in North Sydney, cutting emissions by 85 per cent. The block, 76 Berry Street, was fully occupied during the whole refurbishment. LGS is committed to achieving a six-star NABERS environmental performance rating for the property.
The building is expected to operate 100 per cent independently of the electricity grid within the first year following completion. Kicking off in May last year the retro fit has taken 18 months.
Key parts of the refurbishment include Australian technologies such as Envirolite e1 lights, a Bennett Clayton engine tri-generation system, Power Pax chillers and the Shaw method of air-conditioning.
"Commercial buildings can use up to 30 per cent of city energy requirements and are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions," Local Government Super chief executive Peter Lambert said. “Many owners consider it too difficult to retro-fit an older office building, citing cost constraints both from the refurbishment and the loss of income in the building as tenants were disturbed or had to be relocated during the works.”
The refurbishment cost LGS $6million, with the federal government’s Green Building Fund contributing $2.1million, Roger Walker of Walker EcoStrategies said...
Senator The Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and ResearchGreen Building Energy Upgrade to Achieve World's Best Practice
by the Office of Senator The Hon Kim Carr7.11.11
Innovative Australian technologies will see a 25-year-old North Sydney commercial office building cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent, after a $5 million energy efficiency upgrade.
The Australian superannuation fund Local Government Super (LGS) used the Australian Government’s Green Building Fund to support the retrofit of 76 Berry Street North Sydney.
“This is a great example of how the greenhouse gas performance of older buildings can be turned around by using innovative technologies,” Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said today after the official launch of the building project.
“LGS expects the building to achieve a market leading six star base building energy rating (without the use of green power) under the National Australian Building Energy Rating System – a first for a property of this age...
