Green Star apartments
What is a Green Star apartment?
As our cities grow denser, housing costs climb and climate pressures intensify, many Australians are choosing apartments not as a compromise, but as a conscious choice. People are on the hunt for homes that are well located, affordable and sustainable.
Our rating tool, Green Star, certifies the sustainability of buildings, fitouts and communities across Australia. Green Star apartments is a new addition to our Buildings rating tool. It provides apartment developers with a roadmap to create apartment buildings that are healthier, more efficient, and better for the environment.
That means when you see a Green Star apartment, you’ll know it’s been independently certified, and is better for today, and tomorrow.
A Green Star apartment is:
More energy efficient
Saving you money
Healthier
Better for you and your family
Minimal impact
Considerate of impacts on people and the environment
More economical
Unlock green finance
What are the benefits of a Green Star apartment?
From cleaner air and more natural light to lower energy bills and reduced maintenance costs – a Green Star apartment has many health, lifestyle, economic and environmental benefits for both renters and owners.
*A Green Star apartment is modelled to grow in value at a premium of 2% above the standard Sydney apartment appreciation rate of 3.12% per year. (Figures may vary across capital cities.)
The above claims cannot be applied to all Green Star apartments. Only those that have followed the Apartments Pathway and/or the Climate Positive Pathway within Green Star Buildings (there are many Green Star certified apartments that have not followed the pathway already in the marketplace with gas for cooking and space heating).
See footnotes at the bottom of this page.
Green Star apartment case studies
Nightingale Bowden, South Australia
Designed with sustainability and community connection at its core, Nightingale Bowden has achieved a 5 Star Green Star certification*, representing Australian excellence. Comprised of 36 one- and two- bedroom apartments, Nightingale Bowden is designed as a place for tenants and owners to lay down long term roots. All 36 apartments are all-electric and feature either induction cooktops or electric hotplates in their kitchens. The embedded, green-powered electricity is connected at no extra cost to the residents.
Nightingale have delivered an apartment where you can expect:
More efficient:
- Quality double glazing to help the building perform well
- Energy efficient heat pump hot water system
- Average 8.2 stars NatHERS rating for thermal performance
Healthier:
- All-electric design means no fossil fuels in the home
- Low toxicity internal finishes (including paints, adhesives, sealants, carpets and engineered wood)
- Shared community space and communal garden
- Extensive bicycle storage
- Bright, airy staircases and passageways
- In a walkable area close to public transport links
More responsible:
- Solar array on roof
- Low embodied energy materials, including recycled brick
- Green cement reduces co2 emissions by at least 30% compared to ordinary concrete
- Rainwater collection for common area use
Nightingale Bowden, SA, achieved a 5 Star Green Star Design & As Built v1.3 rating and was delivered prior to the development of the Green Star Buildings - Apartments pathway. It aligns with the intended outcomes of the Pathway.
For developers
If you're a developer, find out more about the Green Star Buildings Apartments Pathway in our industry brochure or learn more about the Green Star Buildings rating tool.
'Benefits of a Green Star apartment' references
1. GBCA, 2024 2. Climate Council, 2021 3. Positive Zero, 2025 4. Climate Council, 2021 5. Gateway Bank, 2025 6. Green Star Apartments Pathway submission guidelines, 2024 7, 8, 9. GBCA, 2024 10. Gateway Bank, 2025