WA's Green Designed Cirque Apartments Gets 5 Stars

Cirque Apartments is the first residential development in Western Australia to achieve a 5 Star Green Star rating, after being recognised by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

The riverside development uses a combination of innovative, sustainable design strategies to reduce energy consumption by 35 per cent, water by 25 per cent less and carbon dioxide by 44 per cent when compared with a typical Australian development.

“Cirque’s sustainable design will mean lower day-to-day running costs for residents, a healthier living environment, enhanced marketability and a future-proofed asset," Stirling Capital Managing Director Luke Reinecke said.

"These are features that you won’t get from a standard off-the-plan apartment.”

GBCA Chief Executive Officer Romilly Madew applauded the achievement, which she says will encourage more sustainable residential development in Western Australia.

“Thirty per cent of Australia’s commercial office developments are Green Star-rated, yet the multi-residential building sector has been far slower to embrace sustainability,” Ms Madew said.

“As the first 5 Star residential building in Perth, Cirque Apartments sets a benchmark for the sector and shows that it is possible to achieve affordable, high quality, sustainable design on the west coast.”

Key sustainability features of Cirque Apartments include:

• Highly-efficient solar-powered central gas hot water plant

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions during and post construction

• Reduction in energy use via high efficiency air conditioning, high performance glazing and good natural ventilation

• Roof-mounted solar panels generating renewable energy to reduce the building's ongoing and peak power demand

• Emphasis on local, low-carbon materials, low (VOC) paints, adhesives anD carpets, low formaldehyde engineered wood products, recyclable materials including locally-made concrete, granite, and bricks

• Home energy and water metering systems that will allow occupants to track water and energy use

• Orientation to minimise summer solar gain and maximise natural cross ventilation

• Façade designed to maximise daylight and views while managing glare

• High efficiency LED lighting

• High efficiency sanitation fittings and dishwashers to reduce water usage

• Provision of bike racks, scooter bays and end of trip facilities for residents and community

• Designing the building with future climatic conditions taken into account

• Appointing independent commissioning agents at project completion to ensure all of the building plant is correctly commissioned and running at optimum performance

• Ensuring that all spaces conform to GBCA’s requirements of indoor air quality, lighting, acoustic and thermal comfort to increase the residents’ amenity

• Location and access to extensive public transport routes and amenities

• Treatment and retention of all site stormwater.