Environmental Sustainability

ASIO’s New Central Office project has provided the Commonwealth with the opportunity to incorporate environmentally sustainable development and design options. The building design will achieve a 5 star NABERS (Energy) rating for the base building. Achievement of this rating will involve a range of renewable energy sources and a variety of energy efficient fittings and finishes.

Environmental initiatives include:

• Incorporating solar panels onto the roof to generate electricity;
• Providing air conditioning via an underfloor displacement system which will provide 100% fresh air to each floor for a healthier work environment;
• Harvesting storm water from the roof to in-ground tanks that will be used for landscaping irrigation;
• Providing a dual glass façade to the western side of the building that incorporates an active ventilation system with roof level cavity venting. The vented cavity will remain open in summer to allow the heat to escape and be closed in winter to trap the heat providing insulation to the building; and
• Provision of a glass façade incorporating automated blinds which will reduce solar/heat gain and glare to the work areas.