Three highly prestigious green building projects and a leading business which have made outstanding contributions to the sustainability of Asia Pacific’s built environment, have been announced as winners of the World Green Building Council’s regional awards.
The four winners fought off competition from nine other finalists to be crowned champions of the Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards for 2016 at a ceremony hosted by the India Green Building Council, during its annual congress, in Mumbai.
The Business Leadership in Sustainability Award rewards companies that challenge boundaries, integrate sustainability into their business models and make an outstanding contribution to a sustainable built environment.
The Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award is presented to green building projects that set new benchmarks for sustainability (with three sub-category winners for residential, commercial and institutional buildings).
Green building projects and companies were nominated by the 15 Green Building Councils which make up the WorldGBC’s Asia Pacific Regional Network.
Terri Wills, CEO of the World Green Building Council, said:
“Our Green Building Councils in the Asia Pacific Regional Network work with some of the most pioneering companies on green building and I’d like to congratulate all those projects and businesses which were put forward for the Awards.
“Four nominations really pushed the boundaries on sustainability, and in the eyes of our judges stood out as true green building leaders. They have raised the bar for others to follow and are deserved winners of the Awards.”
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC – a member of the World Bank Group) are the official Partners for this year’s Awards.
Roland Hunziker, Director of Sustainable Building Cities, at WBCSD, and Autif Sayyed, Green Building Specialist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), both sat on jury. The other jurors were Stefanos Fotiou, Director of Environment and Development, at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Inhee Chung, Senior Sustainability and Safeguards Specialist at the Global Green Growth Institute; C N Raghavendran, Managing Director at C.R. Narayana Rao Architects; and Phil Smith, Director of New Zealand Collingridge and Smith Architects (UK) Ltd.
The Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards are biennial awards, which were first held in 2014. They showcase and celebrate the achievements of companies pushing the envelope on sustainable buildings in the region.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, India – Business Leadership in Sustainability
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is a founding member of the India Green Building Council, and worked collaboratively to develop the world’s first green certification standard for metros, which was launched in 2014. 15 of its stations and two sub-stations have the prestigious ‘Platinum’ mark of quality through the standard. In 2015, the metro cut the number of cars on Delhi’s roads by almost 420,000 – and slashed greenhouse gas emissions by almost 620,000 tonnes.
Double Cove, Hong Kong – Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance (Residential)
Double Cove is made up of 3,500 residential units, as well as a shopping mall, clubhouse, landscaped gardens and a central park which acts as the precinct’s ‘green lung’. The development has reduced energy consumption by 15 per cent when compared to business as usual, has more than 80 electric vehicle charge stations and direct access to public transport, and rainwater harvesting captures 1,700 cubic metres of water each year, saving around 70 per cent of the precinct’s drinking water.
69 Robertson Street – Floth, Australia – Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance (Commercial)
Floth’s 69 Robertson Street building in Brisbane was the first to achieve the 6 Star Green Star – Design & As Built v1.1 rating, and also the first to meet the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council’s standard definition of a zero carbon building. Energy modelling has predicted a 53 per cent reduction in operational carbon emissions; a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system offsets 28 per cent of the building’s final operational energy; and the building will also be zero carbon in operation through the purchase of 100 per cent GreenPower supply.
Construction Industry Council – ZCB, Hong Kong – Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance (Institutional)
ZCB was the first zero carbon building in Hong Kong, and was specifically designed for the high-density, hot and humid sub-tropical urban context, able to switch from a tightly-sealed air-conditioned environment to a highly-porous cross-ventilated space. More than 1,000 building-integrated solar photovoltaics help ZCB produce enough renewable energy for its ongoing operation, while also exporting surplus energy back to the grid. Half of the site is covered by urban native woodland and high greenery to enhance biodiversity and cool the building in summer by providing shade.
For further information visit our Asia Pacific Network webpage.
