Through the use of data analytics technology, Airmaster is helping ensure Australia’s first government backed 6-star energy rating is maintained.
Sirius House at 23 Furzer Street, Canberra is an A-grade building comprising 10 commercial floors and two levels of basement parking across a total of 46,167 square metres. Owned by Mirvac, the campus-style office building was purpose built in 2009 for the Department of Health and Ageing and their 3,000 staff.
The National Australian Built Energy Rating System (NABERS) provides a star rating for the environmental performance of offices, shopping centres, hotels and homes.
Mirvac is the first to rate 6-stars for a major office building. Sirius House emits 50% less greenhouse gases than a 5-star rated building. Owners and tenants drive NABERS assessments.
The rating is extrapolated from 12 months of measured data from water and power usage along with a waste audit. Using algorithms, NABERS, which is managed by the NSW Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage for the Federal, state and territory governments, compares one property with similar buildings in the same location.
Maintaining the 6-star rating
Mirvac is committed to providing all stakeholders with credible, transparent and timely information on the energy and sustainability performance of the building.
Airmaster were engaged to develop a solution that ensures the 6-star rating is maintained, whilst also providing a means whereby tenants are provided with information on the ongoing energy performance of the building.
Working closely with the Mirvac team, the solution included the utilisation of a building analytics platform, a cost-effective means of identifying faults and anomalies within the building systems that in-turn reduce energy maintenance costs.
By working closely with Mirvac’s skilled in-house sustainability team, this highly scalable tuning and monitoring approach ensures the high NABERS rating is maintained.
During early discussions, Airmaster and Mirvac were able to identify commonality between our organisations environmental objectives and through collaborative workshops, we were able to develop the technology and solution for this site to educate our clients and their tenants. The interactive workshops ensured that all expectations were met with relation to the dashboards and their content.
The data generated from the building analytics platform is then displayed on dashboards, showing custom screens and terminology in line with Mirvac’s energy efficiency programs. The dashboards are shown on large LED screen displays in the building’s main foyer and in each lift lobby. This helps educate and engage tenants regarding the energy reduction and reduced carbon footprint of the building.
The dashboard system also integrates the building’s tenant directory, and has the ability for tenants to upload their own information through social media.
This data analytics technology solution plays an integral part in ensuring the building’s 6-star rating is maintained through the timely directing of service and maintenance activities, in-turn ensuring that the HVAC plant and equipment is running optimally at all times through limiting abnormal usage and wasted energy.
About Sirius House
Sirius’ two contiguous office towers offer maximum space on each floor – much of which is column-free. The building’s extensive shading and high performance glass façade is designed for the variable climate of the ACT, minimising direct solar gain while capitalising on natural light for high levels of energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
The building also features an efficient low temperature VAV HVAC system, grey water and rainwater recycling systems, and has undergone full commissioning and comprehensive post-occupancy tuning.
The building comprises of 46,167 square metres of office accommodation in two contiguous office towers facing Furzer and Worgan Streets centred on Scarborough House located in Phillip, ACT.