The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has unveiled Green Star Buildings v1.1, an evolution of its flagship tool that aims to keep Australia’s built environment ahead of the curve.

Launched at the Green Building Forum in Brisbane, the updated tool for new buildings and major refurbishments, builds on the success of Green Star Buildings v1 and integrates new pathways for climate action, biodiversity, and circular design. Already in use at hundreds of projects across commercial, residential, health, education and public infrastructure sectors, the upgrade incorporates inputs from over 700 project teams and aligns with global best practice, ensuring Australian buildings continue to meet evolving investor, government and market expectations.

“Green Star Buildings v1.1,” says Jorge Chapa, Chief Impact Officer at GBCA, “builds on the strong carbon outcomes of v1 and brings nature and circularity to the forefront – making it easier for teams to deliver buildings that are low-carbon, nature-positive and future-ready.”

Key updates include a Climate Positive Pathway that closes emissions gaps, setting projects on a clearer path to decarbonisation; and a Nature Positive Pathway requiring projects to report nature-related metrics in line with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and, from 2028 for 6 Star ratings, achieve a 10% net gain in biodiversity, or no net loss where sites are greenfield. A new Design for Circularity credit promotes smarter material choices, reuse, adaptability, and waste reduction to meet emerging circular economy rules.

To improve usability, v1.1 introduces more than 100 refinements, simplifying technical language, reducing interpretation risk, and improving clarity. All v1.1 rated buildings are aligned with the climate mitigation new construction criteria in the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, simplifying access to green finance.

The updated tool keeps the focus firmly on the areas that matter most, from cutting carbon and restoring nature to embedding circular design, says Samantha Peart, Chair of the Technical Advisory Group Global and Head of Sustainability, Hassell.

“It gives project teams the tools to meet investor expectations, respond to policy shifts, and create places that are resilient, low-carbon and future-ready.”

Aligned with upcoming policies on carbon disclosure, circular economy, nature reporting frameworks and NCC updates on energy, Green Star Buildings v1.1 also integrates with NABERS tools for consistency across public and private sectors.

“It reflects the real-world shifts we’re seeing in investment, policy, and procurement,” says Patrick Campbell, Chair, Sustainable Buildings Expert Reference Panel. “The updates will help projects stay ahead of regulatory change, while aligning with frameworks like NABERS and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosure (TNFD).”

GBCA is providing a full suite of updated resources to support project teams during the transition including updated submission guidelines, calculators and tools, and a refreshed training program.

Registration for Green Star Buildings v1.1 is now open, with all new projects required to register under the updated tool from 1 May 2026. Projects already registered under v1 may voluntarily upgrade to v1.1.

Image: Supplied

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