Australias first Green Star home now on market at Stockland Waterlea

Stockland has put the first Green Star home to be certified by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) on the market at Stockland Waterlea, its masterplanned community in Rowville in south-east Melbourne.

Launched by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) in August 2021, Green Star Homes is a new national standard to certify homes that meet healthy, resilient and climate positive criteria. Green Star Homes are designed to be highly energy efficient, more comfortable to live in, and powered by renewables.

The Green Star Home, which will be finished around mid-2022, is a contemporary, architect-designed double-storey townhome with a commitment to sustainable features and connection to the surrounding environment at the Waterlea community.

Ben Cantwell, National General Manager, Development Communities – Built Form, said it is fitting that the first ‘Designed As’ Green Star certified home is at Stockland Waterlea, which is one of the most sustainable residential developments in Australia having achieved a 6 Star Green Star Community rating in 2017.

“As a creator of masterplanned communities, we are in a unique position to help Australians live more sustainably and affordably in our communities.

“Homes at Waterlea incorporate the very latest innovative design and sustainability features, chiefly renewable energy generation and thermal efficiency measures to ensure all residents can reduce the cost of owning and running their own home.

“Designed to achieve a 8.2 Star NatHERS rating, the all-electric Green Star Home will take this a step further, maintaining comfortable temperatures year round with even less reliance on heating and air conditioning to dramatically reduce the residents’ cost of living and environmental footprint,” said Mr Cantwell.

Many of the Green Star Home’s innovations will be highly visible, like the uPVC double-glazed windows, which will insulate the home by keeping air tightly sealed within the household system. Other built-in innovations less so, such as the slab-edge insulation, a rigid foam insulation surrounding the home’s concrete slab which prevents both heat loss and internal condensation that could lead to mould. The home is also designed to be draught-proof, while a Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system will provide the house with filtered air.

Davina Rooney, CEO of the GBCA, said we congratulate Stockland for adopting the GBCA’s Green Star Homes Standard, and taking the all-important step of bringing this first home of its kind to market.

“Stockland Waterlea is a really important community, showing that you can create beautiful designs and achieve more out of a sustainable home. For Australians, your home is probably the most important purchase you’ll ever make, that’s why it’s so critical to choose a healthy home that’s right for your family, and for the future.

“If you choose a Green Star certified home, like Stockland Waterlea’s, it will reduce a household’s energy costs by over 75 per cent, through things like solar panels, better insulation, smarter air conditioning, LED lights and electric appliances,” said Ms Rooney.

Stockland will assess the house’s performance for two years, providing the industry with the opportunity to review the energy savings and liveability benefits in comparison to a standard home at Waterlea.

“Stockland has partnered with the GBCA over many years and is proud of its role as principal partner of the Future Homes program. Piloting the Green Star Home at Waterlea was an obvious choice, and we will continue to collaborate with the GBCA by providing feedback for wider industry adoption.

“The Green Star Home will appeal to a homebuyer who is not only attracted to Waterlea’s beautiful natural setting and community features, but is environmentally-conscious and willing to share their insights about living in a house that is truly special,” said Mr Cantwell.

To find out more, or register your interest for Lot 163 online by Wednesday 1 December, visit www.stockland.com.au/waterlea. The successful purchaser will be notified on Saturday 4 December 2021.

At a glance: Green Star Home’s features

• Minimum 7.5 Star NatHERS rating
• Double-glazed windows
• Draught proofing with increased air tightness
• Heat pump hot water system
• Energy efficient appliances (not gas)
• Refrigerant in the air conditioning that has a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP)Solar panels
• A Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system with removable filters
• Slab-edge insulation
• High-quality LED lighting
• Use of low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials, such as paints, carpets and adhesives
• A rainwater tank
• Highly efficient water fixtures
• Roof colours with high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)