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Smaller travel footprint next step to sustainability
The owner and developer of Australia’s first 6 Star Green Star office building retrofit, the Szencorp Building in Melbourne, says he will introduce an education program to the building’s tenants in a bid to reduce ‘off site’ emissions associated with commuting.
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A green building owner is attempting to change the commuting habits of tenants. Credit: iStockphoto/Jon Patton
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Szencorp recently completed its second workplace satisfaction study, which evaluated transport to work, perceived productivity and healthiness, and tenant satisfaction with heating, lighting and cooling.
Despite the building’s central location, proximity to public transport and bicycle lock-up and shower facilities, the study found 61 per cent of tenants still travelled to work by car (down from 77 per cent in 2006), 11 per cent cycled (up from 5 per cent), 11 per cent took public transport and 3 per cent walked.
Building owner and developer, Peter Szental, said while the results showed that more staff were opting for lower emissions transport since 2006, behaviour change programs were required to help sustainable buildings perform effectively.
‘We are now investigating The Green Training Company’s online educational program to enhance our staff’s understanding of environmental issues and why we all need to make changes to our behaviour in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.’
In 2008, Szencorp worked with University of Sydney researchers to develop Australia’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that is available for staff use during work hours.
According to TravelSmart Australia, cars contribute 8 per cent of national greenhouse gas emissions. Fuel use by Australian drivers increased by 19 per cent from 1990 to 2003, while associated emissions increased by 25 per cent in the same period.
