Green Urbanism in Australia: An Evaluation of Green Building Rating Schemes

Running head: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: GREEN URBANISM IN AUSTRALIA
Green Urbanism in Australia:
An Evaluation of Green Building Rating Schemes
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Running Head: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT- GREEN URBANISM IN AUSTRALIA 2
Introduction
The analyzed journal is accredited to Ms. Jessica L Holz and Dr. Thomas J Sigler of The
University of Queensland, retrieved from http://apo.org.au/system/files/63217/apo-nid63217-
54776.pdf.It was prepared for use during the State of Australian Cities (SOAC) Conference Gold
Coast, Queensland in Australia. It looks at the relationship between buildings the built
environment for sustainability. Buildings have a great impact on the environment and the
construction industry estimated to be consuming over 40% of basic energy and a considerable
amount of available water for consumption.
Q 1 ANSWER
With the much evident environmental problems related to the building and construction industry,
there is need for creating of sustainable cities or towns for the better built or sustainable
environment. In order to meet this objective, the Green Building Council of Australia was
created which has a mandate of encouraging the use of green features in the design and
construction of buildings in the country. The council carries out evaluation of its progress by use
of green building rating schemes which ensure the implementation of proposed required green
features in designs. The green rating schemes also provides methodologies of assessment of the
extent of benefits of the green features incorporated in building designs in relation to the
negative environmental impacts. Generally, there is need to evaluate the roles played by the
green building stakeholders who include the engineers, building professionals like architectures,
builders and town planners and the local community affected by the negative impacts resulting
from developments and construction industry.
Q 2 ANSWER
• Climate Change, Energy generation and greenhouse gas emissions relating to the built environment

Running Head: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT- GREEN URBANISM IN AUSTRALIA 3
The green urbanization concept involves the incorporation of green features in the design and
construction of human environments in urban centers. This concept has been deployed through
the use of specific policies and the underlying building principles that are aimed at beautification
and smart growth of cities .Green building rating schemes has played a major role in enhancing
sustainable built environments through promotion of the use of green features, leading to
reduced consumption of building materials and reducing the overall effects on energy ,air and
water apart from controlling the uncoordinated urban growths which has led to slow and
undesirable developments in urban areas. The success of green urbanism greatly depends on the
consciousness of individuals on the green environment which may lead to the use of clean
energy sources such as electricity and gas despite the rising cost of such sources. The knowledge
and interest in the green energy consequently leads to the increased investments in the green
building across the country.
Q 3 ANSWER
Various environmental sustainability parameters are always employed by the various green
rating schemes for the evaluation of green-ness of buildings. Such factors include the water,
energy and material consumption, ecosystem and infrastructural impacts not forgetting the
indoor environmental quality. It is important to note that there is need for the use of correct,
available information including correct formulas and calculations during the evaluation so as to
avoid the green-wash which results from exaggerations of environmental performance with an
aim of creating good image. This therefore means that stakeholders greatly rely on the green
rating schemes in the identification of performance of green building in relation to the reduction
of negative environmental impacts. The performance evaluation greatly helps the stakeholders