Green Building Rating Tools & Schemes - updated
BlueScope's environmental and sustainability credentials are recognised by a number of national and international green building rating tools and schemes. These tools assess the sustainability of buildings, infrastructure, materials and building products.
Some of the main schemes in Australia include:
- Green Star™
- IS Rating Scheme
- Living Building Challenge.
Green Star
Launched by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) in 2003, Green Star is an internationally recognised rating system setting the standard for healthy, resilient, positive buildings and places. Developed for the Australian environment, Green Star has certified thousands of sustainable fitouts, buildings, homes, and communities across the country.
The Green Star rating tools assess the sustainability attributes of a project through impact categories. Each category groups a number of issues related to a certain sustainability impact; these are known as ‘credits’, for which varying numbers of points are awarded. Each credit defines a clear outcome that a project must meet. Once all credits are assessed, the total number of points achieved are tallied and a certified rating may be awarded.
There are various Green Star rating tools, including Buildings, Design & As Built, Communities, Homes, Interiors, Performance, and Railway Stations.
How can steel manufactured by BlueScope in Australia assist in gaining Green Star credits?
The inherent properties of steel - strong and durable - translate to a range of design possibilities that can help accrue points under Green Star credits.
Steel can be an ideal material for adding volume to existing buildings and can allow historic facades to be incorporated into new designs. The durability of steel also allows it to be successfully used in adaptive reuse and designs for disassembly.
The strength-to-weight ratio of steel also means that large spatial volumes can be enclosed in a single space which, along with other design factors, can translate to better levels of natural ventilation, light, heating, and cooling. This can help improve both energy efficiency and indoor environment quality.
COLORBOND® steel with Thermatech®1 solar reflectance technology may also help accrue points in the Heat Island Effect / Heat Resilience credits by helping to reflect the sun's energy away from the roof and the building, which could help to reduce the energy use associated with mechanical air conditioning.
- COLORBOND® steel for roofing and walling's (XRW) core colour range in the Classic and Matt finish (excluding Night Sky®) features our scientifically designed Thermatech® solar reflectance technology. Thermatech® technology may not be available in other colours, and is not included in COLORBOND® steel in a Metallic finish, COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel or COLORBOND® Intramax® steel. Further information is available in this article on STEEL SELECT®. Results will depend on roof colour, level and location of insulation, type and location of building shape and function.
Green Star - Responsible Products Framework
| Responsible Product Value (RPV) | Initiatives met by BlueScope products |
|---|---|
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Good Practice Products:
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All BlueScope products made from steel manufactured at the Port Kembla Steelworks in NSW come from a ResponsibleSteel™ certified site, meeting the responsible product value (RPV) for a "Good Practice" product. BlueScope products manufactured from steel produced at Port Kembla Steelworks include:
See ResponsibleSteel™ Site Certification for the Port Kemba Steelworks. |
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Best Practice Products:
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A number of BlueScope products have both Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) + GreenRate™ 'Level A' product certification, which in combination meet the responsible product value (RPV) for a "Best Practice" product. These products include:
See the full list of BlueScope's certifications and credentials. |
BlueScope is also a verified steel manufacturer under the Steel Sustainability Australia (SSA) certification program. A number of BlueScope products are verified as meeting best practice ESG standards (SSA Credit 4.1) in the manufacturing of semi-finished steel products, which can be of help to fabrication and downstream processing businesses seeking SSA certification.
SSA certification is recognised under the Responsible Products Framework. Products supplied by steel fabricators and downstream processors with SSA Level 3 certification are recognised as “Best Practice Products”, while those that achieve SSA Level A2 and Level 2B certifications are considered “Good Practice Products”.
Green Star - Buildings
| Green Star Credit | Applicable Requirements |
|---|---|
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Credit 5 – Responsible Procurement |
BlueScope's approach to responsible sourcing practices and conduct may help demonstrate compliance with responsible procurement practices, including human rights, labour practices, environment, etc. For more information on BlueScope's commitment to Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC) see our HSEC Policy, Code of Conduct and Sustainability Reporting. |
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Credit 6 – Responsible Structure |
Many of BlueScope's products can score points under the Responsible Products Framework through the following initiatives: Good Practice products:
See the ResponsibleSteel™ Site Certification for the Port Kemba Steelworks. Best Practice products:
See the Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) + GreenRate™ certificates for further information. |
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Credit 19 – Heat Resilience |
Select BlueScope roofing products, including COLORBOND® steel products, may comply with minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) requirements, typically light colours:
Visit our colours page for initial SRI values for the COLORBOND® steel core colour range. 3-year SRI values may be available upon request. |
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Credit 21 – Upfront Carbon Emissions |
BlueScope can provide product-specific 3rd party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to support claims of carbon in products, as required by the credit. |
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Credit 26 – Life Cycle Impacts |
This credit encourages the use of local data for LCAs, preferably from EPDs certified to the EN 15804 standard, which take precedence over generic or global data:
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Green Star - Design and As Built v1.3
| Green Star Credit | Applicable Requirements |
|---|---|
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Credit 19 - Life Cycle Impacts Credit 19B.2 - Life Cycle Impacts - Steel |
Various BlueScope steel products depending on strength grade and application can help:
Note: BlueScope products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) can also be used to represent the impact of BlueScope products in whole-of-building LCAs. |
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Credit 20.1 – Responsible Building Materials – Structural and Reinforcing Steel |
BlueScope meets the following "responsible steel maker" requirements:
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Credit 21 – Sustainable Products |
Depending on the product, BlueScope may be able to meet the requirements to comply with this credit through the following initiatives:
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Credit 25 – Heat Island Effect |
Select BlueScope roofing products, including COLORBOND® steel products, may comply with minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) requirements, typically light colours:
Visit our colours page for initial SRI values for the COLORBOND® steel core colour range. 3-year SRI values may be available upon request. |
Green Star - Homes
| Green Star Credit | Applicable requirements |
|---|---|
|
Heat Resilience |
Select BlueScope roofing products, including COLORBOND® steel products, may comply with minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) requirements, typically light colours:
Visit our colours page for initial SRI values for the COLORBOND® steel core colour range. 3-year SRI values may be available upon request. |
Green Star - Communities v1.1
| Green Star Credit | Applicable requirements |
|---|---|
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Credit 26 – Materials |
BlueScope meets the following "responsible steel maker" requirements:
Note: BlueScope products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) can be used to represent the impact of BlueScope products in whole-of-building LCAs to meet the requirements of 26A.1 LCA – Performance Pathway. |
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Credit 31 – Heat Island Effect |
Select BlueScope roofing products, including COLORBOND® steel products, may comply with minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) requirements, typically light colours
Visit our colours page for initial SRI values for the COLORBOND® steel core colour range. 3-year SRI values may be available upon request. |
Green Star - Interiors v1.3
| Green Star Credit | Applicable requirements |
|---|---|
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Credit 21 – Sustainable Products |
Depending on the product, BlueScope may be able to meet the requirements to comply with this credit through the following initiatives:
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Green Star - Performance v1.2
| Green Star Credit | Applicable requirements |
|---|---|
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Credit 21 – Procurement and Purchasing |
BlueScope's approach to responsible sourcing practices and conduct may help demonstrate compliance with the requirements of '21.1 Sustainable Procurement Framework' (incl. human rights, labour practices and environmental aspects). For more information on BlueScope's commitment to Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC) see our HSEC Policy, Code of Conduct and Sustainability Reporting. BlueScope can also help meet the "responsible steel maker" requirements of '21.3 Refurbishment Materials' criteria for steel:
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Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating Scheme
Developed by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC), the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating Scheme is a comprehensive rating system for evaluating sustainability across the planning, design, construction and operation of infrastructure programs, projects, networks, and assets.
The IS Rating scheme has a strong focus on governance issues, such as sustainable procurement, resilience, and innovation.
The IS Rating differs from other rating tools in that it is less prescriptive and allows more options for evidence to prove compliance. This evidence needs to pass the assessment of an appointed assessor.
How can steel manufactured by BlueScope in Australia assist in gaining IS Rating credits?
IS Rating v1.2
| IS Rating Credits | Applicable Requirements |
|---|---|
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Was-2 Diversion from landfill |
BlueScope products that have existing recycling/reuse options can help achieve this credit by supporting higher landfill diversion rates.
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Was-3 Deconstruction/Disassembly/ Adaptability |
The selection of materials that considers future impacts and that are of high quality, will retain value, and/or can be more easily re-used or recycled, can help achieve this credit.
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Mat-1 – Materials life cycle impact measurement and reduction |
The use of BlueScope's steel products with EPDs can help demonstrate the environmental impacts/carbon emissions reduction of the project vs a reference building using LCA or the IS Materials Calculator
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Mat-2 – Environmentally labelled products and supply chains |
Depending on the product, BlueScope may be able to meet environmental labelling requirements through the following initiatives: |
IS Rating v2.0
| IS Rating Credits | Applicable Requirements |
|---|---|
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Rso-4 Resource Recovery |
Products with existing recycling/reuse options can help achieve this credit by supporting higher landfill diversion rates.
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Rso-5 – Adaptability |
The selection of adaptable materials that consider future impacts and that are of high quality, will retain value, and/or can be more easily re-used or recycled, can help achieve this credit.
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Rso-6 – Materials life cycle impact measurement and reduction |
The use of BlueScope's steel products with EPDs can help demonstrate the environmental impacts/carbon emissions reduction of the project vs a reference building using LCA or the IS Materials Calculator
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Rso-7 – Sustainability labelled products and supply chains |
Depending on the product, BlueScope may be able to meet sustainability labelling requirements through the following initiatives: |
Living Building Challenge
The Living Building Challenge (LBC), is one of the most rigorous benchmarks of sustainability in the built environment. It assesses living buildings that are:
- Regenerative buildings that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community.
- Self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their site.
- Create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them.
The LBC consists of seven performance categories, or ‘Petals’: Place, Water, Energy, Health + Happiness, Materials, Equity and Beauty. Each Petal is subdivided into Imperatives, for a total of 20 Imperatives, each of which focuses on a specific sphere of influence.
How can steel manufactured by BlueScope in Australia assist in achieving LBC Imperatives?
| LBC Imperative | Applicable requirements |
|---|---|
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Core Imperative 07 – Energy + Carbon Reduction |
BlueScope's products with EPDs, such as COLORBOND® steel1 for roofing and walling, COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel2, XLERPLATE® steel, and Welded beams and columns, can help new and existing projects must demonstrate a 20% reduction in the embodied carbon of primary materials compared to an equivalent baseline. The LBC requires that product data for the embodied carbon assessment should be as accurate as possible, prioritising product-specific and geographically relevant data. Please refer to BlueScope's Environmental Product Declarations for further information about our EPDs. |
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Imperative 13 – Red List |
Compliant products must not contain products listed in the 'Red List' chemical classes:
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BMTs available: 0.30mm, 0.35mm, 0.40mm, 0.42mm, 0.45mm, 0.48mm, 0.55mm, 0.60mm, 0.70mm, 0.75mm and 1.00mm.
BMTs available: 0.42mm, 0.48mm, and 0.55mm.
To find out more about how BlueScope steel products may enable accreditation in any of these schemes or others, contact your BlueScope Steel representative or call Steel Direct on 1800 800 789.