Two local projects, the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre and Baptcare’s PassivHaus social housing project in Sunshine, have been named as finalists in the 2023 Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
Now in its 21st year, the annual sustainability awards program acknowledges the businesses, local governments and communities leading the way in sustainability and celebrates their achievements.
The Premier’s Sustainability Awards has six categories, aligned with the United Nations sustainable development goals; the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, with two winners in each category.
The Community Champion Award celebrates individuals, small organisations and local government while the Industry Leader Award recognises medium and large organisations driving a sustainable future.
Brimbank council has been shortlisted as a Community Champion in the Sustainable Places category for the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre, a 100 per cent renewable energy powered, zero greenhouse gas emissions aquatic centre.
The centre uses an integrated four-pipe heat pump for simultaneous use in pool, domestic water, space heating and cooling. This is combined with a heat recovery system, 500kW onsite rooftop solar PV and a thermal energy storage system with a capacity of 88,000L.
Compared to a conventional gas-powered design, the all-electric and renewable energy powered centre is 76 per cent more energy efficient overall and is modelled to avoid 1,192 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year: approximately 17 per cent reduction of the council’s overall annual greenhouse emissions.
Baptcare Affordable Housing has been selected as an Industry Leader finalist in the Future Energy category for its ground-breaking affordable housing project.
In delivering the first PassivHaus-designed social housing in Australia, Baptcare Affordable Housing’s primary objective was to alleviate the financial hardship currently prevalent across social and affordable housing tenants.
‘PassivHaus’ is an innovative design standard with the intent to dramatically minimise a building’s energy requirement whilst taking advantage of natural factors for heating and cooling to achieve thermal comfort.
Sustainability Victoria’s interim chief executive Matt Genever, said he was inspired by the work being done in Melbourne’s west to improve sustainability.
“These organisations are showing tremendous leadership and are making significant contributions to society and a net zero-emission future for Victoria,” he said.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday, November 23.
