Ecological footprint calculator

Launching the calculator, Minister for Environment John Thwaites said it would help developers and retailers assess different design options for shops and fittings and make choices that reduced environmental impacts and costs.

“The Calculator is important because by considering the principles of the ecological footprint in building design and fit-out, we can substantially reduce the environmental impact of our built environment,” Thwaites says

The calculator has been developed by EPA Victoria, one of Australia’s biggest property groups The GPT Group, Lend Lease Retail, and the Global Footprint Network.

The GPT Group, which is the first organisation to have trialled the calculator, has identified potential for a 20 per cent reduction in the ‘footprint’ of its base building, and between 20 and 40 per cent for its tenants.

“The GPT Group is applying the ecological footprint to all its assets as a way of quantifying the benefit of its abatement actions, and is now expanding this purpose built tool to bring tenants along for the journey,” Thwaites says.

Tenants will be encouraged to use the calculator, as their shops are being designed and constructed.

The calculator result gives information about the impact of their fittings, finishes, staff travel, water and energy consumption.

A generic version of the calculator for retailers is available at www.epa.vic.gov.au

Users answer simple questions to assess their choices and make decisions that will reduce the environmental impact and ongoing operational costs of shopping centres.

The ecological footprint concept was developed by the American-based sustainability expert, Dr Mathis Wackernagel, to calculate the area of land required to sustain our resource consumption and manage the waste we produce.

Dr Mathis Wackernagel is currently in Australia sharing his expertise with business and government in Melbourne and Sydney.