❓ Dr. Pettitt inquires about the energy efficiency and embodied carbon of state government buildings. The government acknowledges the importance of sustainability but lacks a central register and relies on individual agencies to implement guidelines.
AnsweredQoN 2233Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question on notice 2157, and noting that Ballajura Station, Ellenbrook Station and Bayswater Station are all on track to receive a 5 Star Green Star rating, I ask: (a) what is the average building efficiency of State Government-commissioned buildings built over the last four years; (b) what is the minimum building efficiency of any State Government-commissioned building built over the last four years; (c) please list each building, completed after January 2020, and its energy efficiency rating; (d) what is the average embodied carbon per square metre of any State Government-commissioned building built over the last four years; and (e) if the answer to (d) is not known, when does the Western Australian Government intend to measure this on State Government-commissioned buildings?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 November 2024
Responded by
Minister for Finance
Response time
9 days
(a)-(e)
All non-residential building projects delivered by the Department of Finance (Finance) are constructed in accordance with the standards set out in the National Construction Code. Finance is not involved in the construction of all public infrastructure. Given the wide ranging and devolved nature of public works in Western Australia, there is currently no central register for government building efficiency associated with sustainability. Individual works agencies and asset owners are responsible for pursuing appropriate sustainability initiatives within their respective portfolios to support the State’s climate change agenda, including the Sectoral Emissions Reduction Strategy.
In this regard, Finance has updated its Environmentally Sustainable Design Guideline for Non-Residential Government Buildings. The guideline is available on the WA Government website, and provides design and construction process enhancements for project design teams to promote sustainability in the built enviornment. This includes promoting “best-practice” standards for energy use, water efficiency, construction waste management and supporting the decarbonisation process. A copy of the Guideline is provided for the Member’s reference.
[See tabled paper No. ______]
With respect to embodied carbon, there is currently no requirement for agencies to report on Scope 3 emissions. However, Finance recognises life-cycle analysis as a well-established process for assessing the carbon content of building projects. Accordingly, Finance promotes its use through the application of the aforementioned technical guideline, which will continue to be refined over time.
All non-residential building projects delivered by the Department of Finance (Finance) are constructed in accordance with the standards set out in the National Construction Code. Finance is not involved in the construction of all public infrastructure. Given the wide ranging and devolved nature of public works in Western Australia, there is currently no central register for government building efficiency associated with sustainability. Individual works agencies and asset owners are responsible for pursuing appropriate sustainability initiatives within their respective portfolios to support the State’s climate change agenda, including the Sectoral Emissions Reduction Strategy.
In this regard, Finance has updated its Environmentally Sustainable Design Guideline for Non-Residential Government Buildings. The guideline is available on the WA Government website, and provides design and construction process enhancements for project design teams to promote sustainability in the built enviornment. This includes promoting “best-practice” standards for energy use, water efficiency, construction waste management and supporting the decarbonisation process. A copy of the Guideline is provided for the Member’s reference.
[See tabled paper No. ______]
With respect to embodied carbon, there is currently no requirement for agencies to report on Scope 3 emissions. However, Finance recognises life-cycle analysis as a well-established process for assessing the carbon content of building projects. Accordingly, Finance promotes its use through the application of the aforementioned technical guideline, which will continue to be refined over time.
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