NT building gets ‘Green Star’ of approval

Charles Darwin University has been recognised for championing sustainable building practices in the Northern Territory.

The university received a nationally recognised Green Star rating for the iconic Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Education (ACIKE) facility on Casuarina campus.

The sophisticated facility received a 4 Green Star - Education Design v1 certified rating from the Green Building Council of Australia for its environmentally sustainable building practices.

CDU Major Projects senior manager Ken Suter said the rating was a significant achievement because few buildings in the NT were Green Star certified.

“It is difficult to receive Green Star ratings in the Northern Territory because the rating system is designed to be used in the southern states,” Mr Suter said.

He said the ACIKE building’s design featured superior sustainable technologies, such as set-point air-conditioning and motion triggered, low energy lighting.

Water captured from the building’s air-conditioning system is reused in the outdoor ponds, waterfall and garden, and recycled rainwater is reused in the building’s toilet facility and garden.

The building’s physical placement takes advantage of the surrounding environment and shields it from western sun. Bamboo flooring, environmentally friendly paint, sustainable furniture and carpet are used throughout the facility.

The ACIKE building was designed by DKJ projects.architecture and received a commendation in last year’s Northern Territory Architecture Awards.

Mr Suter said the Casuarina campus Trade Training Centre, which is under construction, would also feature sustainable technologies, such as solar generation and water harvesting.