The launch of the property and construction industry’s landmark Carbon Positive Roadmap will slam the accelerator on Australia’s smart cities market, according to the Smart Cities Council Australia/New Zealand.
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), which represents 650-plus members across the spectrum of the property and construction industry, has today launched its draft Carbon Positive Roadmap. It outlines an ambitious set of targets and actions which will support the built environment’s transition to net zero emissions by 2050.
Smart Cities Council ANZ executive director, Adam Beck, said the roadmap represents an “unmissable opportunity” for technology and data solution suppliers and advisors in the emerging smart cities marketplace.
“This announcement today by the Green Building Council of Australia also provides an important driver for the greater digitalisation of the design, construction and operational performance of our built environment assets through the use of intelligent building information modelling tools,” Beck said.
“The GBCA's roadmap is backed by some of the biggest developers and property owners in the country. Many of these companies have already committed to meet net zero emissions. But they won’t meet those targets without the help of smart technology and data solutions.”
Among the key commitments outlined in the Carbon Positive Roadmap, all new buildings and fitouts will be emissions-neutral in operations by 2030, with existing buildings to follow by 2050.
“This means the property and construction industry will be incentivised to select products and services that drive down emissions,” he said.
“This will stimulate unprecedented demand for smart meters, Internet of Things devices, renewable energy solutions, battery storage systems and other technologies that promote grid decarbonisation, as well as energy efficient systems and electric vehicles.”
Beck said any technology companies in doubt of the Carbon Positive Roadmap’s potential should look to the Green Star rating system, which has influenced the design and construction of nearly 40 per cent of Australia’s commercial office space.
“Many of the property industry leaders, such as our partner organisation Lendlease, seized the sustainability agenda to gain market advantage, manage risk and attract investors. These same property leaders will lead the investment in smart buildings technologies and data solutions over the coming decade," Beck said.
In anticipation of this next wave of technology investment to enhance property asset performance in the region, the Smart Cities Council ANZ and GBCA are working on a new initiative – the Smart Buildings Centre of Excellence – to help build one of the world’s leading smart buildings marketplaces.
Information about the Smart Buildings Centre of Excellence will be revealed at Smart Cities Week in Sydney, October 29-31, where government and industry will gather for the premier smart cities event of the year.