Sustainability in Construction — Green Star, NABERS, and Waste Reduction
General information only. This article is a summary of publicly available information for general industry reference. Building Solution Australia is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government department or institution referenced. Content does not constitute legal, financial, planning, or regulatory advice. Refer to the original source and seek independent professional advice.
Sustainability requirements in Australian construction are increasing — driven by NCC energy efficiency standards, Green Star and NABERS rating schemes, government procurement requirements, and growing investor and occupier demand for sustainable buildings.
Sustainability in construction encompasses energy efficiency, water efficiency, materials selection, waste reduction, indoor environment quality, and carbon emissions. Key frameworks and requirements in Australia include:
Green Star
Green Star is a voluntary sustainability rating scheme administered by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). Green Star ratings are used for commercial buildings, residential buildings, and communities. The scheme was updated in 2020 with a new framework covering all building types.
NABERS
The National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) measures the operational energy and water performance of existing buildings. NABERS ratings are required for commercial office buildings above a certain size under the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) program.
NCC energy efficiency
NCC 2022 introduced significantly higher energy efficiency requirements for new buildings — including the 7-star NatHERS requirement for houses and new whole-of-building requirements for apartments.
Construction waste
Construction and demolition waste is the largest waste stream in Australia by volume. The National Waste Policy Action Plan sets targets for reducing construction waste, including a 10% reduction in total waste generated by 2030. Prefabrication and modular construction can significantly reduce construction waste by moving production to a controlled factory environment.
Embodied carbon
Embodied carbon — the carbon emissions associated with the manufacture and transport of building materials — is an increasing focus for sustainability in construction. The selection of low-carbon building materials and the optimisation of supply chains are key strategies for reducing embodied carbon.
Relevance to Building Solution Australia
Building Solution Australia's manufacturing and supply chain capability supports sustainability outcomes — including waste reduction through factory production, energy-efficient product specification, and supply chain optimisation to reduce embodied carbon.
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