Zero Carbon (S1-01) | City of Greater Geelong

Armstrong Creek Town Centre Precinct Sustainable Management Plan

Zero Carbon (S1-01)

A Zero Carbon Armstrong Creek town centre means low energy bills, new local industry, comfortable homes and clean air.

Vision

A Zero Carbon Armstrong Creek town centre means low energy bills new local industry comfortable homes and clean air.

Achieving zero carbon emissions can’t happen immediately but big improvements can be made with little changes.

Practical steps to reduce emissions include reducing energy demands for heating cooling ventilation lighting and small power and generating energy from low carbon or renewable sources on or near site. Taking advantage of these opportunities provides value to all involved.

Zero Carbon means lower running costs and clean air…

Benefits

The developer	Community / Residents / Commercial tenant	Environment
Smoother approvals process by ensuring that the application addresses the objectives and guidelines of the Precinct Structure Plan Product differentiation aiding increased rates of sale and increased sales values A development that meets best practice standards and community expectations.	Low running costs for residents Potential health benefits Future proofed building assets.	Reduced emissions Potentially increased planting /biodiversity – linked to reducing Urban Heat Island.

Guidelines

All development in Armstrong Creek Town Centre should:

S1-01.G1 Achieve a base target of National Construction Code(NCC) plus one star for residential development

S1-01.G2 Achieve a minimum of ½ star increase on average NABERS rating for new commercial developments or equivalent at the time of application

S1-01.G3 Include energy efficient street and public space lighting

S1-01.G4 Encourage low carbon on-site energy generation

S1-01.G5 Reduce urban heat island effects of car parks and buildings through design landscaping materials and colours

S1-01.G6 Ensure staging of development and infrastructure provision considers onsite energy generation capacity andassociated energy distribution networks to allow for staged expansion where necessary

S1-01.G7 Ensure development does not restrict solar access to energy systems of adjoining buildings or sites

Case Study - Cape Paterson

Cape Paterson Ecovillage currently being developed in South Gippsland Victoria will be one of Australia’s leading examples of low carbon development. All homes built will achieve a minimum 7.5 star energy efficiency rating and have a 2.5 kW solar PV system.

Specific steps taken to reduce energy demands included careful subdivision design to optimise lot orientation careful building orientation to maximise passive solar performance and use of eaves and shading devices Modelling by an expert advisory group indicates that if the energy and water cost savings of these homes is used to pay off the mortgage faster owners could reduce a 25 year mortgage by up to 5.5 years.

What do the ‘zero carbon’ guidelines mean in practice?

	Residential	Commercial
Thermal Performance Reduce home running costs by up to$300 per annum with no additional upfront cost	considering building orientation window size and placement increased insulation in walls roof and floor improved glazing specification or adding fixed shading devices).	careful siting and orientation efficient base building – careful consideration of construction approach and insulation thermal mass glazing ratios and glazing type
Energy Efficiency An energy efficient shop fit-out may cost slightly more upfront however is likely to pay for itself within the first 2-3 years of operation.	While thermal efficiency is important up to 60% of household energy use is related to appliances lighting and other active systems such as water pumps. To reduce energy usage and the operational costs associated with these aspects of the home developers should consider: energy efficient lighting variable speed drive pumps efficient appliances (where provided)	efficient heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems energy efficient lighting and appliances
Renewable Energy Solar PV can be installed for around $2 - $2.50 per watt. The payback years for this can be as little as 5-6 years.	Renewable energy is an important opportunity to decarbonise energy and save money. Developers should install solar PV and solar hot water panels wherever possible. Where there is a genuine reason for a system not being installed upfront space should be safeguarded and any structural requirements should be considered upfront to allow future installation.	Commercial buildings with large roof areas represent a great opportunity for solar PV. This could be for exclusive use on-site or to feed back into the grid. A feasibility study including the energy profile of the building and the costs and benefits of different system designs would determine the most logical approach.

The table above summarises some of the practical initiatives that can significantly improve the sustainability of different development types and an indication of the costs and benefits. Further guidance on how to respond to all the guidelines is provided in the Reference Matrix.