GREEN INITATIVES
caring for the environment
The Darwin Convention Centre is working towards becoming a world leading sustainable event facility. The aim is to achieve accreditation in the following environmental best practices:
- 5 star Green Star rating from the Australian Building Council
- Green Globe 21 accreditation as part of our ongoing commitment to improve our environmental performance.
Green Globe is the global benchmarking, certification and improvement system for sustainable travel and tourism, established by the World Travel and Tourism Council in 1993. Its rigorous benchmarking program ranks businesses across a range of areas including energy and water consumption, use of paper and chemical products, waste sent to landfill, waste recycling and sustainability policies.
Building Design Features
The Darwin Convention Centre has won a variety of design and construction awards including:
- 2008 National Master Builders Association Awards - Public Buildings over $50 million
- 2008 Territory Construction Awards, President's Award
- 2008 Engineering Australia Awards (Northern Division), Engineering Excellence Award
- Australian Institute of Architects 2009 Northern Territory Architectural Awards
- The Tracy Memorial Award
- The Reverend John Flynn Award for Public Architecture
- Colourbond Award for Steel Architecture
Appliances
Cooking equipment burner designs to maximize energy utilisation versus kilowatt input. Heat sources are surrounded by baffles which direct the energy to the cooking appliance.
Cyclonic filters installed that require smaller fans and ducts to reduce energy consumption and lower noise generation. Clean air is discharged after being passed through these filters and ultraviolet light system.
Architecture
The Darwin Convention Centre was designed to be the most energy efficient building possible with careful consideration to the orientation and shape and integrative design to minimise overall energy consumption for the lifetime of the building.
Other design elements include:
- Large eaves and overhangs represent a 15% saving on air-conditioning consumption.
- Direction of building minimizes solar radiation from entering the building to reduce cooling costs.
Building Fabric and Materials
Careful consideration of sustainability issues was adhered to in the selection of all internal materials such as floor and wall coverings, furniture, fixtures and fittings.
The selection criteria incorporated:
- PVC minimisation and use of PVC alternatives in conduits and piping
- Use of low volatile organic compounds [VOC] paints, adhesives and glues
- Plantation timbers
- Embodied energy
- Energy efficient star rating appliances
- Provision for recycling material including glass and paper
Selection of construction materials were based on the following criteria:
- Recyclability
- Sustainable sourcing
- Low embodied energy
- Low pollution from manufacturing
- Minimal environmental impact
- Durability and minimal maintenance
- Non-hazardous and eco-labeling and certification
Electrical Services
Building Management System to monitor and control power usage along with preventative maintenance programs. The use of an integrated digital based lighting system for automated lighting, stepped dimming control and energy efficient timers.
Hot Water Generation
Reduced greenhouse emissions with the installation of a high efficiency gas boosted hot water generation plant.
Pipework
Over 70% of drainage pipework constructed from recyclable material in lieu of PVC. Recycled material is significantly stronger meaning lower risk of breakages and hence lower chances of soil contamination.
Recycling
The Darwin Convention Centre is committed to the recycling of all waste. Significant waste storage has been installed with the ability to separate all recyclable material. Contractors are in place to service these recycling initiatives.
Water
Siphonic Roof Drainage system has been designed with HHPE pipe work and fittings. 50% of the roof drainage will discharge directly to the lagoon to assist with flushing process.
25% water usage reduction with installation of reduced capacity size dual flush cisterns, urinals and flow control taps.
