11 Dec 2024
Seven stories in 2024 captured your attention, sparking lively conversation and social media chatter. Here, our writer Karen Jamal reflects on the mix of policy pronouncements, catalyst projects and passionate change-makers that have left a lasting impression on Green Building Voice readers this year.
The most-read story of 2024 was one we wish no one had to write. Australia’s built environment industry was deeply shaken by the loss of sustainability champion Jeff Robinson in April. In her poignant tribute, Davina Rooney called Jeff “a towering tree who sheltered many of us in the forest of sustainability.” Aurecon’s Global Sustainable Design Expertise Leader for 20-plus years, Jeff pioneered projects like Melbourne’s first Green Star refurbishment at 40 Albert Road. Yet his true legacy transcends technical brilliance. Jeff’s greatest gift was his ability to inspire those around him. As Davina noted: “Jeff understood that the tallest trees must shelter and nurture those beneath them. To drive real change, we must uplift everyone.”
Davina’s first column for 2024 struck a chord with sustainability teams feeling the burden of having to do “everything, everywhere all at once”. From net-zero buildings and circularity to social value and biodiversity, the ‘laundry list’ of issues gets longer each year, and sustainability teams haven’t grown as fast as the expectations now placed on them. But the feedback from the GBCA’s member survey suggests a “collective, steely resolve,” Davina said. “We can do this together.”
3. Riding the policy waves
This year saw a flurry of policy action, but three stories made the biggest waves – and one sailed to the top. The federal government’s launch of the Environmentally Sustainable Procurement (ESP) policy sets a clear direction for a net zero, circular economy. Five minutes with our policy expert Katy Dean and materials guru Katherine Featherstone was all it took to learn why the ESP policy is more than compliance – it’s a bold call for industry transformation. Honourable mentions go to our media releases applauding the ACT Government’s Sustainable Buildings Pathway and the NSW Government’s Consumer Energy Strategy.
4. 1970s relic to industrial icon
For the first time in Green Star’s 21-year history, commercial offices are no longer the biggest asset class – industrial buildings now lead with 24% of registrations. So, it's easy to see why our case study of Eumemmerring Business Park, the first industrial project to achieve a Green Star Buildings certification, turned heads in 2024. Goodman chose to repurpose, rather than redevelop, a 1970s relic into an all-electric, energy-efficient icon. By retaining the existing structure and brick façade, Goodman reduced embodied carbon emissions by more than 15%. The building is a powerhouse for people, too, with natural lighting, fresh air, acoustic comfort and ample outdoor spaces. As Emma McMahon, General Manager of Sustainability at Goodman, puts it: “Third-party green building certification such as Green Star is a signal to the market and stakeholders of a genuine commitment to ESG.”
5. Connecting with Country in our cities
Country is a 65,000-year-old “database” Yerrabingin CEO Christian Hampson told a transfixed audience at TRANSFORM 2024. “It has millions of authors, rich with wisdom, and a story that continues to grow with each new generation.” How do we connect with Country when 96% of us are surrounded by concrete and steel? This question sparked a standout conversation and a favourite Green Building Voice article. (And by the way, make sure you’ve got your ticket for TRANSFORM 2025 on 19-20 March and for the pre-conference Innovation Forum on 18 March.)
6. Green Star Performance v2 is here
In July, the GBCA launched Green Star Performance v2 “to meet changing expectations in a changing world” – and plenty of you clicked through to find out more. “It’s been a mammoth effort over many moons,” to rebuild the rating tool “from the ground up” Davina reflected in this popular article. Project teams are now stepping up to the challenge of using Green Star Performance v2 to elevate corporate reporting and disclosure, help investors and banks make smarter decisions, and to give facilities managers a “ladder to better”.
Sustainable finance was the talk of 2024, fuelled by the launch of two groundbreaking reports from a global coalition of GBCA, the UK’s BRE, Singapore GBC, USGBC and France’s HQE-GBC. Financing Transformation explored how green bonds and loans are funding top-tier projects, while Building Transition spotlighted the urgent need to bring sustainable finance to the “other 75%” of buildings. Stories on both reports attracted headlines and headspace. Episode 18 of The Voice podcast also captured the zeitgeist. This fascinating conversation at TRANSFORM 2024, featuring some of Australia’s sharpest financial minds, dug deep into how to turn green into gold.
What ties these seven stories together? The relentless pursuit of transformation. Whether it's revolutionising policies, redefining building standards or rethinking finance, each of these stories is a testament to the power of change.