The Green Building Council of Australia has now released the Green Star - Office Interiors tool which will promote office fitouts that provide healthier, more productive workplaces and which will have less impact on the environment.
A Green Star fitout would ensure plenty of natural light and task lighting on work stations; low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) natural or water-based varnishes, paints and finishes;low emission and recycled content fabric for furnishings and offices that avoid wood panel products such as E1 MDF and laminates.
Green Star - Office Interiors rating tool was developed in conjunction with the Queensland Government Department of Public Works which incorporated their Sustainable Development Office Fitout design guidelines. It is also based on national and international guidelines, inclugin the US LEED Green Building rating system for commercial interiors, Melbourne Dockland ESD guide and Sydney Olympic Park Authority’s environmental guidelines 1993.
For use by designers and tenants in scoping and rating their office fitouts, the Green Star - Office Interiors rating tool is the third in a suite of rating tools for office buildings under the Green Star environmental rating system for buildings, complementing existing rating tools for building design and new office buildings post construction.
Source: Building Products News.