Sydney firm breaks ground with zero emissions developments

Climate change has made us re-evaluate many choices, from how much water we use to wash the car to whether office buildings need lights on overnight.

The built form is another aspect that has been reconsidered as we try to look at greener construction options, including building design, materials, energy use and waste management. Zero Emissions Developments (ZED) are efficient and sustainable buildings, designed and built to be carbon neutral. ZED principles are considered for the complete project, from the way they are built and how they operate to how the occupants live and work.

Sydney firm VIM Sustainability Consulting is currently working on four ZED projects in Sydney and Canberra. Each of the four projects is worth between $35-$130 million.

VIM managing director John Brodie said there were currently around 20 ZED projects worldwide. Three of the four developments are a precinct including aged care services, retirement living, community centre with public access, shops, retail, respite centre, clubhouse and other assorted facilities.

“This development will be different to most as it will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Brodie said.

“It is a lifestyle community, or a mini suburb, that caters for people aged over 65 years.

“The whole development is sustainable. We are looking at the design and investing in analysis as much as we can,” he said.