Another sustainability milestone has been reached in Western Australia, with the Workzone East building in Perth achieving a 6 Star NABERS Energy rating with Carbon Neutral certification.

The achievement for the commercial office building at 1 Nash Street was reached via a partnership between the building owner RF CorVal, and Knight Frank, which manages the facility.

Workzone East is the second carbon neutral office building in Perth that has achieved a 6 Star NABERS Energy. The first building was Workzone West, which was also managed by Knight Frank.

Workzone East accommodates seven levels of office space with a total net lettable area of 12,361sq m. It has a roof-level plant area and car parking provided within the basement for 83 car bays including electric chargers.

It was built in 2013 and designed as a 5 Star Green Star building. It became the first carbon-neutral commercial building in West Australia in 2021.

The NABERS Energy rating for the building increased from 4.5 Star to 6 Star by implementing numerous energy-saving initiatives which has reduced energy intensity by 57% over past five years.

Upgrades to LED lighting, implementation of the GEMS data analytic system, fine-tuning the AHUs and changing the control strategy for pumps and chillers has reduced energy consumption in the base building. The building consistently recycles around 70% of waste output with the ongoing support from tenants and contractors.

As part of a goal to reach a net zero target in 2025, Workzone replaced the gas boilers with an energy efficient heat pump system for the end-of-trip facilities which saves around 70% of energy consumption. 99kW PV solar panels commissioned in 2023 on the roof space generated renewable energy for the base building system.

The Carbon Neutral certification for Workzone East was provided by NABERS using the Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard for Buildings for the period ranging from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. When choosing carbon offsets for the asset, carbon credits from a renewable energy project approved by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change were purchased.

RF CorVal, Head of Asset Management, Con Tsioulos said building owners played an integral role in improving the sustainability of property and making a positive contribution to the environment by implementing energy efficient initiatives.

“We have also committed to the electrification of the property over the next 10 years, and we will replace all-natural gas uses,” he said.

“We are thrilled that Workzone East has achieved another sustainability milestone in Perth, and we look forward to continuing to implement energy efficient initiatives across our portfolio.

Knight Frank Senior Facilities Manager Janitha Kaushal said nearly 40% of global carbon emissions come from the real estate sector.

“Of these emissions, approximately 70% are produced by building operations, and seeking ways to reduce carbon emissions now forms an essential part of the role played by building management,” he said.

Knight Frank Director, Asset Management Services Naomi Worrall, said Knight Frank’s management team was continuously looking to implement energy efficiency initiatives above and beyond their client’s expectations to improve building performance.

“We are staying at the forefront of changes in the industry, including implementing new technology when it becomes available,” she said.

“This building in particular has set a standard in Perth for sustainability.”