Submitted by: Ella Mudie, Green Building Council Australia

Reducing the impact of development on urban heat remains a key goal in the Green Building Council of Australia’s recently launched Green Star Communities Version 2, which aims to ensure new precincts are designed to be climate-ready, socially inclusive, and resilient to future challenges. 

Since its launch in 2015, Green Star Communities has played an important role in supporting more sustainable development in Western Sydney through the certification of new suburbs, growing suburbs, areas undergoing urban renewal and vibrant CBD precincts.  The new version aims to continue doing so, driving even better outcomes.

This latest evolution of the rating tool sets out minimum expectations for urban heat mitigation measures from decreasing solar gains and increasing passive shading on building facades to soil permeability and the selection of roof and pavement materials with good solar reflectance.

Enhanced measures for biodiversity and green space speak to the critical role of nature in urban resilience. Precincts will be rewarded for committing to delivering urban tree canopy coverage across at least 40% of the site. The rating tool also recognises the Cool Suburbs Assessment as a pathway to meeting heat resilience requirements.

For more information on the release of Green Star Communities Version 2 go to https://new.gbca.org.au/green-star/rating-system/communities