In its first direct investment to reduce embodied carbon in property construction, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has committed $95 million on behalf of the Australian Government to create Perth’s most sustainable industrial estate.
The carbon neutral development aims to drive down emissions and energy costs by using low carbon concrete, solar PV and sector-leading sustainability measures to the 56-hectare Roe Highway Logistics Park (RHLP).
Developers will use low carbon construction materials across at least five new warehouses to be built in the next 18 months, with the project’s environmental initiatives are led by Hesperia in collaboration with its development partners, Fiveight and Gibb Group.
The development will include up to 2 MW of solar PV across new and existing warehouses, with grid-friendly technology such as smart inverters, smart metering, power factor correction and voltage control also added.
Energy investments are supported by a range of other sustainability initiatives including on-site water recycling and the latest storm water management systems, low energy lighting, the use of materials such as double glazing and specialist insulation to improve heating control and further reduce energy use, and strategic native tree planting across the estate.
The built environment accounts for about a quarter of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and buildings contribute about 39 per cent of global emissions.
Smart meters will be added.
CEFC chief executive Ian Learmonth said the built environment accounts for about a quarter of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and buildings contribute about 39 per cent of global emissions.
“The construction sector is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases and the lack of low carbon alternatives to traditional building material has so far made it difficult to abate. Exciting developments in low carbon construction materials are giving us the chance to accelerate decarbonisation, and success in this sector will help spur Australia’s transition to a low emissions economy,” he said.
“Importantly, the focus on low carbon construction materials at RHLP can play a critical role in influencing supply chains in the construction industry. This offers a new pathway to cut emissions from the supply chain, known as scope three emissions, and provides a world-leading example of low carbon options for the industry.”
“CEFC has now committed about $629 million to WA projects across the renewable energy, energy from waste, bioenergy, resources and property sectors. This is an important milestone that demonstrates the depth and breadth of our portfolio and the strength of our commitment to the important WA market.”
Hesperia managing director Ben Lisle said the investment was an important step in delivering an industrial estate to the highest sustainability standards.
“We want to be part of the solution in reducing carbon emissions in Australia and the best way to achieve our goal is by finding synergies between our developments and new green technologies and construction methods,” he said.
“We are pleased with the long-term support of the CEFC as it will help make the Roe Highway Logistics Park a showpiece that can inform other similar developments across Australia.”
Existing and future tenants at RHLP include national and global businesses operating across the logistics, freight, pallet, and oil and gas services.
