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The company wishing to achieve a Green Star rating on the building/fitout/land. This is typically the owner of the building/fitout/land. Also known as the "Applicant".
Representative from the Applicant Company who is authorised by the Applicant Company to instruct GBCA on matters relating to the project, such as:
The Applicant Contact may be the same as the Project Contact.
Area definition requests are made when you wish to clarify how credits should be applied to your project. The process involves the project team submitting a completed Area Definition Template and marked up drawings, and then working with GBCA to classify each space within the project.
At the end of the process, you will be issued with an approved Area Definition Template.
Area Definition request may incur a charge dependent upon size of project.
Log in to the Green Star Project Manager, and click on “New Request”, select “Request a technical response for my project” and follow the prompts.
Area Definition requests are only available for the following rating tools:
The independent, third party assessment panel is made up of one or more Certified Assessors. See “Certified Assessor” definition.
See “New Generation Assessment process” definition.
The Assessor Interaction process is an opportunity for a project contact to discuss with the Certified Assessor project subtlety not easily conveyed with submission documentation, or clarify comments in the results if the usual process of Clarification of Assessment Comments do not adequately facilitate clarity of documentation requirements for the project team.
The Assessor Interaction process may be held one month prior to Round 1, and/or within one month of the Round 1 assessment results having been sent. The opportunity to conduct a meeting at other stages of the certification process may be available at the discretion of the GBCA. Please note that the Assessor Interaction is not used in place of a submission or technical question. Documentation for assessment must still be provided within the submission.
A proposed Agenda of items to be discussed within the workshop.
At the end of the process, you should expect to be provided with the next steps for the project at the conclusion of the workshop.
An early 'on boarding' workshop to introduce project teams to the Green Star process, on request is included in the Certification Fee. For additional workshops a fee of $220 (excl. GST) per request may be incurred.
Before submitting, review the Green Star FAQs and Green Star Resources page for the latest guidance documents
If you would like to discuss setting up a meeting for your project please contact the GBCA coordinator of your project, or a member of the Green Star team on 02 8239 6200, for more details.
After discussing with your GBCA coordinator, log in to the Green Star Project Manager, and click on “New Request”, select “Have a project workshop / meeting with the GBCA” and follow the prompts.
A calculator is an excel spreadsheet used to complete required calculations with a rating tool Credits criteria. All calculators can be found in the Green Star resources with the exception of the Green Star – Design & As Built and Green Star – Interiors Transport Calculators. For information on how to access the Transport Calculators, please refer to FAQ-96.
Rating tool applicability
Excel calculators are only available for the following rating tools:
All calculators developed as part of the Future Focus program, will be released in the new Green Star online submission portal. To access these calculators log in to the Green Star Project Manager, and navigate to your project, or create a ‘Demo Project’.
For information on how to interact with Green Star Online, the following guide ‘Green Star Online - Introduction to the platform’ can be found in Green Star resources.
Rating tool applicability
Calculators in the Green Star Online platform are only available for the following rating tools:
A number of Calculator Guides have been developed to assist project teams in understanding how to use the Green Star Calculators. All Calculator Guides can be found in the Green Star resources
Categories are sections with the rating tool that address a holistic range of sustainability impacts. Each category groups a number of issues related to a certain sustainability impact; these are known as ‘credits’.
A credit addresses an initiative that improves or has the potential to improve a project’s sustainability performance; each of these initiatives is a criterion. Credits are weighted in relation with each other by varying the number of points available. Each credit defines a clear outcome that a project must meet. Where the outcome is verified to have been met, a project will be rewarded with the relevant available points.
Once all credits are assessed, the total number of points achieved is compared against the available points in the rating tool and a certified rating is awarded. The rating describes the sustainability attributes of the project in terms that are widely understood and accepted.
For more information on credits, refer to the Introduction section of the Green Star Submission Guidelines.
A Certified Assessor is a person or persons, independent of GBCA, nominated by GBCA, knowledgeable and with experience in the green building industry, who has passed the “Green Star Accredited Professional” examination, and having undertaken appropriate and ongoing education. An Assessment Panel consists of Certified Assessor(s) and a GBCA representative. The Certified Assessor(s) will review the entire submission in their own time and meet to discuss the results of their review. A GBCA representative will also be present during each assessment meeting to record the results.
If, once you receive the results of the assessment, you are unclear as to what to submit for the next round of assessment, you can request clarification of the assessment comments. Projects are able to submit one (1) full round of clarification of assessment comments per round of assessment, meaning that all clarifications are to be provided in the one request
Download and complete the most recent version of the Clarification of assessment comments spreadsheet from Green Star resources with the credits that you require clarification on. Note: If you do not need to clarify a comment, do not include this in the spreadsheet. Ensure that you follow the instructions provided in the spreadsheet when compiling your clarifications
Note: if you do not need to clarify a comment, do not include this in the spreadsheet.
At the end of the process, you will be issued with updated results which clarify the assessment comments.
One (1) round of clarification of assessment comments per round of assessment is included in the Green Star certification fee. If an additional round of clarification of assessment comments is requested, a charge may be incurred, dependent upon the number of clarifications.
Log in to the Green Star Project Manager, and click on “New Request”, select “Ask a question” and follow the prompts. Ensure that you attach the Clarification of assessment comments spreadsheet to the request. If a project is seeking an additional round of clarification of assessment comments, please contact your GBCA coordinator to discuss prior to submitting.
Please note: a Clarification of assessment comment must be submitted within 90 days of received assessment results.
The Credit-by-Credit Assessment option was added to the Green Star certification process, to allow project teams more flexibility. A Credit-by-Credit Assessment is an optional, fee for service, step that project teams can take in order to achieve more certainty about the likely results of their assessment at any point in the assessment process*.
*Time limits may apply.
The Credit-by-Credit Assessment option is designed to make the certification process more efficient and cost-effective by helping project teams to achieve better certification results. This service will reduce the necessity of project teams to pursue expensive “buffer credits” by giving them a better indication of the likely outcome of a credit claim, prior to the regular rounds of assessment.
Undertaking this optional assessment allows project teams to submit documentation for one or more credits that they intend to claim as part of their Green Star Assessment. Any credit can be submitted however if submitting an Innovation credit for assessment, please consult your Green Star contact as Credit-by-Credit assessment is not appropriate in some situations for the Innovation Category. Individual credits can be submitted at any time throughout the certification process. The outcome of a Credit-by-Credit Assessment will be either:
*It is important to note that whilst points are conditionally awarded, the eventual allocation of credit points will be subject to a consistency review, undertaken by the Assessment Panel during the standard rounds of Assessment (Round 1 and/or Round 2).
Credit-by-Credit Assessments are subject to administration fees which are in addition to the certification fee. The cost of a Credit-by-Credit Assessment ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 per credit depending on the complexity of the credit to be reviewed.
The following rules and conditions apply to the CBCA submission submitted after Round 2:
The results of the CBCA submission automatically amend the results of the Round 2 assessment and are final.
The CBCA submission will be reviewed by third party Certified Assessor (see Certified Assessor definition), and may not be reviewed by the same Certified Assessors that reviewed the original Round 1 or Round 2 submissions.
More information will be provided to projects as needed. For more information, or to discuss how a Credit-by-Credit Assessment may help you achieve a better certification outcome for your project, or an indicative quote, please contact your Green Star contact.
An optional assessment offered as an interim step towards certification. The Designed Assessment is aimed at projects early in the design development phase where detailed information and documentation may not be available as yet.
The purpose of the Designed Assessment is to have an Assessor guide project on the likely outcome of your future Certified submission allowing projects to communicate to clients and their stakeholders that the project is on the right track (Note: the Designed Assessment is not a rating).
While the Designed assessment process is a valuable tool to ensure progress in the right direction, it does not guarantee a Certified rating. There is no requirement for a minimum number of credits for submission, however if a project would like to promote the Green Star Designed assessment result they must meet all Minimum Expectations and the minimum 15 points to achieve the Designed Assessment.
“It is noted that a simple statement of commitment will not suffice. Rather, information must be provided showing that the broad strategies and processes to deliver a certain outcome have been agreed to". (Green Star Buildings submission guidelines pg. 26)
The Designed Assessment is valid until the project achieves a Certified Rating or until 24 months after the date of practical completion occurs, whichever occurs first.
Please refer to the Submission Guidelines and our supplementary “Guidance – Submitting for Design Review” which can be downloaded from the Green Star Manager – Resources Portal.
The Design Assessment or Review is included in the Green Star certification fee. Once your project is registered with the certification fee paid, there is no additional cost for this service.
This is only available for the following rating tools:
An optional assessment offered as an interim step towards certification. The Design Review rating is aimed at projects early in the design development phase where detailed information and documentation may not be available as yet. The Design review assessment is an independent assessment by a Certified Assessor of the project prior to its practical completion against criteria contained in the Submission Guidelines which may result in the award of a Design Review Rating. There is no requirement for a minimum number of credits for submission, however if a project would like to promote the Green Star Design Review Rating they must achieve the conditional requirements and minimum 45 points in order to achieve a Design Review Rating.
“It is noted that a simple commitment will not suffice. Rather, information must be provided showing that the broad strategies and processes to deliver a certain outcome have been agreed to". (Green Star – Design & As Built v1.3 submission guidelines pg. 24)
The Design Review rating is valid until the project achieves an As Built Certified Rating or until 24 months after the date of practical completion occurs, whichever occurs first.
Please refer to the Submission Guidelines and our supplementary “Guidance – Submitting for Design Review” which can be downloaded from the Green Star Resources portal.
The Design Review is included in the Green Star certification fee. Once your project is registered with the Certification Agreement executed and the certification fee paid, there is no additional cost for this service.
This is only available for the following rating tools:
An Eligibility Query is a query that is submitted to the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) when a project team wishes to clarify whether a project meets any of the Green Star Eligibility Criteria.
Your request will be approved, with or without additional conditions, or declined. Conditions may include either additional documents at the submission stage, or making sure the alternative request is reflected in other credits. The response to declined queries will outline the reasons why the proposal was not accepted and where possible, options going forward. If your project is deemed ineligible you can appeal, click here for more information on the appeal process.
Eligibility Queries are free of charge.
Log in to the Green Star Project Manager, and click on “New Request”, select “Ask a question” and follow the prompts.
In line with our aim to streamline Green Star Certification, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) database is available on the our website. FAQs are based on common questions asked by Green Star users, and provide additional technical assistance when working through the Submission Guidelines.
FAQs apply to Green Star Buildings, Green Star - Design & As Built, Green Star - Communities, Green Star - Interiors, and Green Star - Performance rating tools.
They are completely free to use. Project teams have the option of including FAQ in their submission should the outcome support their project. When applying FAQs on projects, project teams need to refer to the FAQ in the Submission Template and include the FAQ in the submission supporting documents.
The 'Guidance' section of each credit in the Submission Guidelines for Green Star - Design & As Built v1.2, Green Star - Interiors v1.2, and Green Star Performance v1.2 contain direct links to FAQs.
This request is for updates to a calculator or scorecard, where there is an error or where project teams require a calculator or scorecard that responds specifically to the needs of their project.
At the end of the process, you will be issued with an approved calculator or scorecard for use on your project(s).
Modification requests may incur a charge dependent upon the scale of the change.
Before submitting, review the Resources page for the latest calculators and scorecards
Talk to your Technical Coordinator first to determine if a separate Technical Question should be submitted.
Log in to the Green Star Project Manager, and click on “New Request”, select “Fix or modify a calculator/scorecard” and follow the prompts.
This request type is only available for the following rating tools:
A GBCA representative from the Green Star team, who assists throughout the certification process of the project. There is one or two contacts allocated specifically to each registered project. They are the main point of call to the Applicant Contact and Project Contacts. If the allocated Green Star contacts are not available, please contact anyone in the Green Star team is available in respect to project certification.
Representatives that assist the project team compiling submissions and supporting evidence in relation to achieving Green Star Certification.
Each project is confidential and the Applicant Contact and Green Star Leads are the only representatives whom GBCA can communicate with in relation to the project.
Please note: there is no limit for contributors.
Representative(s) from the project team who are authorised by the Applicant Company (either through the Applicant Contact or otherwise) to instruct GBCA on matters relating to the project, such as:
Each project is confidential and the Applicant Contact and Green Star Leads are the only representatives whom GBCA can communicate with in relation to the project.
Please note: there is a limit of three (3) Green Star Leads.
The new submission and assessment platform for all Green Star rating tools released from October 2020 onwards. The platform replaces both the word Submission Templates, excel Scorecard and excel Calculators to create a one-stop for Green Star users submissions.
The Project Overview template and Building Information tab from the scorecard has been replaced by the General Information form. This information is required to be completed at the time of submission to ensure there are no delays to the assessment process. For information on how to interact with Green Star Online, the following guide ‘Green Star Online - Introduction to the platform’ can be found in Green Star resources.
Rating Tool Applicability
This platform is only available for the following rating tools:
All other rating tools use a separate submission portal. Please contact your GBCA Coordinator if you’re unsure which platform to use.
If projects are experiencing issues (e.g. Submission Forms not loading, Calculator errors) with the Green Star Online submission portal, this can be reported directly to the GBCA Digital and IT teams. Simply hover over the waffle menu and select ‘Report Issue’. Project teams can also check the status of known issues, simply be heading to the Green Star Online Submission Portal Status page.
Rating tool applicability
This platform is only available for the following rating tools:
A set of minimum expectations that must be targeted by all projects looking to achieve a Green Star rating. Minimum Expectations are not awarded points, therefore, to achieve a rating the project must accumulate points in addition to the Minimum Expectations.
Minimum Expectations can be found in the Introduction of the applicable Rating Tool.
Minimum Expectations apply to the following rating tools:
Note: for Legacy rating tools, this is referred to as 'Conditional Requirements'.
This is an option for certifying multiple buildings under a single certification. This option may be available where there is more than one building as part of the same development e.g., a new school or university with more than one building. Special conditions apply.
The staged assessment process applies to all projects seeking a Green Star Certified rating. This is the process in which the assessment of credits is undertaken. We’ve simplified and improved the assessment process for New Generation Rating Tools to make it more efficient, more effective and to help achieve better outcomes.
There are two methods of assessment used in the certification process:
Core assessment: Information provided in the Submission Template is reviewed for compliance.
Comprehensive assessment: Information provided in the Submission Template as well as supporting documentation is assessed for compliance.
Once assessed, Criteria claimed will either be:
Green Star – Performance is designed to work with building portfolios and those managed centrally on a campus. The portfolio certification service is a cost-effective method to achieve reporting requirements and includes:
For more information on Green Star – Performance Portfolio Certification, download the Portfolio Certification Process Guide[EB1] [EB2] or contact a member of the Green Star team on 02 8239 6200 for more details.
A Pre-Assessment Review (PAR) is an optional service. Projects will proceed straight to assessment once submitted unless the Submitter requests a PAR to be completed by the GBCA when they submit for assessment. The scope of GBCA's PAR is outlined with the Pre-Assessment checklist. To help ensure your submission has been completed appropriately prior to submission, we encourage you to do a self check based on the:
$220 + GST.
Please note this fee, and any outstanding fees, must be paid prior to results being issued.
The Pre-Assessment Review (PAR) service is only available for the following rating tools:
The project contract value is defined as the dollar value required to complete the works for the entire project, including site works. The following may be excluded when determining total contract value:
Where a number of amenities or services are shared between stages in a larger development, GBCA expects that the cost apportioned to the rated stage is equivalent to the use that the stage will have of these facilities.
Projects may elect to have a workshop with GBCA.
At the end of the process, you should expect to be provided with the next steps for the project at the conclusion of the workshop.
An early 'on boarding' workshop to introduce project teams to the process, on request is included in the Certification Fee. For additional workshops a fee of $220 (excl. GST) per request may be incurred.
Before submitting, review the Green Star FAQs and Green Star Resources page for the latest guidance documents
Talk to your GBCA Contact first to determine if a separate Technical Question should be submitted.
Log in to the Green Star Project Manager, and click on “New Request”, select “Have a project workshop / meeting with the GBCA” and follow the prompts.
Rating Expectations are a set of criteria that must be met to be awarded distinct star ratings, in addition the number of points that must be achieved.
Rating Expectations apply to individual assets only and not to Portfolio star ratings. Rating Expectations can be found in the Introduction of the applicable Rating Tool.
Rating Expectations apply to the following rating tools:
Recertification must be achieved within five years of the initial certification and every five years thereafter until the project is fully built-out.
Where successful recertification is achieved, your project will again be provided with a licence to use the Green Star - Communities certification trademark for up to five years.
Throughout your building’s three year certification period, your team will monitor your building’s performance and where necessary implement improvements to operational procedures. As your certification period comes to an end, your team can resubmit data for all credits as part of a new certification process and achieve a new Green Star – Performance rating. Your building’s Green Star rating may increase, decrease, or stay the same, depending on any operational improvement initiatives or works you may have undertaken since your last rating was achieved.
For more information refer to your projects certification agreement, or contact the Market Engagment team on 02 8239 6200 or email.
GBCA has developed a Resources page as your one stop place to access all Green Star rating tool specific information, such as Scorecards, Submission Templates, calculators, and more! click on this link to access these files: https://www.gbca.org.au/greenstar-manager/resources/
Green Star rating tools reward sustainability outcomes and encourage moving beyond standard practice.
Projects registered under Green Star – Design & As Built, Green Star – Interiors and Green Star – Communities v1 can achieve a Green Star certified rating of 4 to 6 Star Green Star. To achieve a 4 Star Green Star rating, projects must achieve the minimum 45 points.
Projects assessed using the Green Star – Performance v1 rating tool can achieve a Green Star rating from 1 - 6 Star Green Star. To achieve a 1 Star Green Star rating, projects must achieve the minimum 10 points.
Projects registered under Green Star Buildings can achieve a Green Star certified rating of 4 to 6 Star Green Star. Projects must meet all Minimum Expectation criteria to achieve a star rating, in addition to meeting the Minimum Expectation criteria projects must achieve the minimum 15 points to achieve a 4 Star Green Star rating.
Projects assessed using the Green Star Performance v2 rating tool can achieve a Green star rating from 1 – 6 Star Green Star. To achieve a 1 Star Green Star rating, projects must achieve the minimum 1 point. In addition to the point requirements, each Star rating also has a set of Rating Expectations that projects must achieve in order to targeted Star rating.
Projects that are registered under the Green Star Homes standard do not achieve a Star rating. In order to achieve a Green Star Certified rating, all requirements from the Green Star Homes standard must be met.
This is an option where there is more than one building across a site that have similar features e.g., common systems or transport facilities. An approach like the volume certification pathway may be applied.
Log in to the Green Star Project Manager, and click on “New Request”, select “Ask a Question”, follow the prompts and select “Eligibility Query”
This certification approach is available for:
See "New Generation assessment process" definition.
A building, fitout or community is registered and submitted individually. Most projects use this certification pathway.
The Submission Portal is one method project teams can use to upload information for assessment. For ease of use, GBCA has developed instructions on how to upload your submission to the Submission Portal.
The Submission Portal is only available for the following rating tools:
For all credits, the project team must submit a Submission Template summarising the steps taken to ensure compliance with the credit criteria. The Submission Template is the principal method by which the project team communicates with the Certified Assessors. It prompts project teams for the information and narrative required to confirm that the project complies with the Credit Criteria. The Submission
Template will ask project teams to justify their claims with evidence that must be included in their submission. For more information on the Submission Templates refer to the introduction section of the Submission Guidelines, and view the Submission Template on the GBCA website.
Submission Templates are available in the Green star resources for the following rating tools:
For all rating tools, there are a set of timing requirements to be considered when preparing to submit documentation for assessment. These requirements are outlined in the Certification Agreement and can also be found in the relevant Submission Guidelines of the rating tool that your project has registered for.
If the occasion arises where a project is unable to meet the submission timing requirements, contact the projects GBCA contact to discuss your options and submit an Eligibility Query for GBCA review. Please note that the submission timing requirements, do not supersede the important deadlines.
Technical questions are submitted when you require further clarification on an item within a credit, or if you would simply like to confirm that your interpretation is correct, or you're proposing an alternative solution to the credit requirements. Technical Clarifications and Credit Interpretation Requests, terms included in the certification agreement, are technical questions.
Responses typically include:
Technical questions are $220 (excl. GST) each.
Log in to the Green Star Project Manager, and click on “New Request”, select “Ask a question” and follow the prompts.
This is an option where there are projects with common characteristics. The approach is to identify “common credits” across projects. The credits are assessed against documentation pertaining to one project with the results applied to other projects deemed to share the same features. A quality assurance check is applied to each project to ensure compliance with the awarded common credit.
This may be applied, for example, where retail fitouts are almost identical, or two or more buildings or precincts share many common characteristics. Green Star Homes is designed for a volume approach.
In order to maintain your building’s Green Star – Performance certified rating, the project team must submit greenhouse gas and potable water performance data at 12 and 24 months intervals following the end of the certified building’s Performance Period.
A 12 month ‘Performance Period’ is the period of time for which your project team gathers and collates auditable data about the operational performance of your building and for the period for which your building is assessed.
Once your building’s performance period is complete, your team has 90 days to submit your documentation. Like other Green Star rating tools, there are two rounds of assessment available to help you demonstrate your building’s performance.Where a second round of assessment occurs, your team must submit your building’s Round 2 documentation no more than 90 days following receipt of your Round 1 assessment results.
A Green Star – Performance Rating is valid for a period of three years upon Certification and may change due to the ongoing performance of the building.
In order to maintain your building’s Green Star – Performance certified rating, the project team must submit greenhouse gas and potable water performance data at 12 and 24 months intervals following the end of the certified building’s performance period.
These simple checks are submitted to GBCA and help to demonstrate that the building is operating at the level at which it was certified, and that the applicant is undertaking appropriate monitoring for key performance indicators and impact categories.