This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
SENTINEL’S flagship Australian build-to-rent project, Element 27, will become the country’s first carbon neutral certified apartment building.
The development, located in Subiaco, Western Australia is comprised of 264 apartments and is the only active build-to-rent property in the state.
Sentinel, along with environmental consultant Stantec, has worked with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and Climate Active to create a certification methodology for the build-to-rent model, through the Green Star Performance pathway.
“Following a productive and considered process with Climate Active and the Green Building Council of Australia, it is rewarding to see Element 27, Australia’s first purpose-built Build to Rent project, successfully certified as the first Carbon Neutral Certified project of its kind as well. The development was registered for this certification in April, with the final certification to have gone through on 29 June 2021,” Michael Streicker, president, Sentinel.
“The Build to Rent model is recognised to provide a more sustainable living option for many Australians when it comes to quality of living and housing security. Equally, it should target high environmental standards to support a more sustainable future Element 27 will include sustainability measures such as electric car charging stations, a 30kW photovoltaic system for energy use in common areas, a rainwater and grey-water recycling system, specialty waste streams, access to a centralised geothermal system, energy efficient appliances, occupancy sensors, an embedded metering network and an 8-star NatHERS rating.
“There’s a unique opportunity with Build to Rent as an asset class. The developer’s continued role in management of the building following design and construction means it is possible to track, benchmark and publish residential environmental performance in ways that differ from the traditional residential strata model. The developer has a continued responsibility and can ensure the building performs to high sustainability standards once occupied,”
In order to qualify for certification within Climate Active’s Carbon Neutral Standard for Buildings, a development must meet standards of operation, including stabilisation, greenhouse gas emissions, waste from operations, refrigerant impacts and transport emissions.
The Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard for Buildings was founded in collaboration between the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the GBCA and NABERS.
“We congratulate Sentinel for their leadership setting the standard for the residential market with a net zero rating from Climate Active for their Element 27 development, using Green Star – Performance,” said Davina Rooney, CEO of GBCA.
While the GBCA provides Climate Active with validation of projects for certification through industry recognized pathways such as Green Star.
“The residential sector is responsible for over 50 per cent of Australia’s building related emissions and the Build to Rent sector has an opportunity to set clear leading goals in this space by bringing investor drivers to the residential market,” added Rooney.
The second phase of Element 27 is nearing practical completion and is scheduled to open by September 2021, with pre-leasing set to begin this month.
Construction on the project’s third phase is expected to commence in Q3 2021, after receiving approval in November 2020.
