Green Star FAQs

Yes, projects may use shorter contract terms to target the Accredited GreenPower®/Off-site Renewables criteria within the Greenhouse Gas Emissions credit or the Renewable Electricity and Renewable Energy criteria under the Energy Source credit, on the condition that the shortest contract length must either be: Three (3) years, or  One (1) year, where...

Yes. For projects targeting the Reference Building/Fitout Pathway, where the percentage of off-site renewable energy is procured in stages over the length of the supply contract, the effective percentage of the supply contract can be applied. This is done by multiplying the percentage of off-site supply by the percentage of the...

The GBCA has no specific requirement as to when registered projects should submit for a Designed Assessment. Below is some guidance to help establish the best timing for your project. This supplements information provided in the rating tool Submission Guidelines.  Purpose A Designed Assessment (or Design Review under the Legacy rating tools)...

The GBCA recommends that, when a contractor, sub-contractor, consultant, or other party involved in a Green Star registered project is unable to complete project works or provide documentation for the Green Star submission due to insolvency or another unforeseen event, the project team should contact the GBCA as soon as...

Technical questions related to Innovation were previously marked as free of charge. However moving forward Innovation related technical questions will be charged the standard fees of $220 (excl. of GST) as per a technical question. The following is a list of all places in the rating tool where a technical...

Yes. Projects may target 2 points under 15B.2.3 Domestic Hot Water from Green Star - Design & As Built by using an electric heat pump with a minimum COP of 3.5 on the condition that the heat pump will be powered by 100% renewable energy (on-site or off-site).       

Yes, large-scale generation certificates (LGCs) are accepted in Green Star in the following scenarios; On Site Renewables Electricity from on-site systems where LGCs or STCs are generated. Off Site Renewables  Renewable electricity purchased directly from a generator / retailer through a PPA or contract where LGC’s are provided to user and the LGCs are...

Yes, buildings that are designed to be fully electric may use an all-electric reference case when targeting 15E Greenhouse gas emissions - Reference Building Pathway from Green Star - Design & As Built v1.2 and Green Star - Design & As Built v1.3. For projects located where the published grid carbon...

We’ve developed a short guidance document for project teams on what level of documentation is acceptable for Design Review – Green Star Design & As Built and Green Star – Interiors. This Design Review Guidance provides answers to common questions asked by project teams. The Guidance - Submitting for Design Review document is...

Yes. Project teams using a Market-Based Method approach in line with the 'GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance' amendment of the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard to account for the purchase of 100% off-site renewable energy may claim 100% off-site renewables in the Greenhouse Gas Emissions credit in Green Star - Design &...

For the purposes of the 'Greenhouse Gas Emissions' credit in Green Star - Design & As-Built and Green Star - Interiors, where Appliances and IT equipment's used on the project, do not have a MEPS ratings, the project team may team use the alternative approach to demonstrate compliance with the...

Yes, project teams targeting the 'Greenhouse Gas Emission' credit using the Reference building/Fitout pathway can use updated Greenhouse Gas Emissions Factors within the Green Star - Design & As Built: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator on the following conditions:   The updated emissions factors must be current at the time of either...

Yes, conditionally.  At As Built, the same energy modelling report may be submitted for 15E Reference Building Pathway, if it was submitted and awarded at Design Review and no changes have been made to the design, on the following conditions:  The energy modelling report is to be accompanied by a confirmation letter...

Class 2 multi-unit residential projects may use a Class 2 NCC just-compliant NatHERs building fabric/envelope load as the reference case for the purposes of credit 15E - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction - Reference Building Pathway. The project team may scale (increase) the annual hourly heating and cooling loads obtained from...

Yes. Projects targeting the NatHERS pathway may target one (1) point under credit 16B 'Modelled Performance Pathway: Reference Building' by demonstrating that the building has an average NatHERS rating of 7.5 stars, and no individual dwelling has a rating of less than 7 stars.    An average NatHERS rating of 7.5 stars...

Yes. The GBCA requires evidence that the drawings supplied are as constructed, whether they have an ‘As Built’ stamp or not. 'For Construction' drawings are acceptable provided they are accompanied by formal confirmation from the head contractor or other relevant professional(s) that the For Construction drawings depict the site as-built...

Before achieving certification you can promote your Green Star registered project in writing, but cannot use the Green Star logo or Green Star certification trade mark. The Green Star certification trade mark can only be used once the project is certified. The Marketing and Style Guide explains how Green Star certified projects can...

No. All supported documentation listed for each credit in the Submission Guidelines are suggestions only, unless specified otherwise. Alternate documentation to those listed can be used by project teams to demonstrate credit compliance if it adequately supports the claims made within the Submission Templates.

Documents can be referenced, rather than duplicated in credits, as long as the Submission Templates include both: hyperlinks to the relevant document(s); and references to specific page numbers within the document(s) which demonstrate compliance with the specific credit. Page numbers are likely to change for each credit submission, as appropriate to the credit compliance being demonstrated. Please note...

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) does not normally certify Green Star projects outside of Australia. If you believe your project should be considered as an exception circumstance, please complete an Eligibility query and provide details of your project and why this should be considered for Green Star certification. Alternatively, we...