Green Building Rating Tools & Schemes - Green Star™

Arts West building Melbourne University

BlueScope's environmental and sustainability credentials are recognised by a number of national and international green building rating tools and schemes, including Green Star™. These tools assess the sustainability of buildings, infrastructure, materials and building products.

Launched by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) in 2003, Green Star is an internationally recognised rating system setting the standard for healthy, resilient, positive buildings and places. Developed for the Australian environment, Green Star has certified thousands of sustainable fitouts, buildings, homes, and communities across the country.

The Green Star rating tools assess the sustainability attributes of a project through impact categories. Each category groups a number of issues related to a certain sustainability impact; these are known as ‘credits’, for which varying numbers of points are awarded. Each credit defines a clear outcome that a project must meet. Once all credits are assessed, the total number of points achieved is tallied and a certified rating may be awarded.

There are various Green Star rating tools, including Buildings, Design & As Built, Communities, Homes, Interiors, Performance, and Railway Stations.

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How can steel manufactured by BlueScope in Australia assist in gaining Green Star credits?

The inherent properties of steel - strong and durable - translate to a range of design possibilities that can help accrue points under Green Star credits.

Steel can be an ideal material for adding volume to existing buildings and can allow historic facades to be incorporated into new designs. The durability of steel also allows it to be successfully used in adaptive reuse and designs for disassembly. 

The strength-to-weight ratio of steel also means that large spatial volumes can be enclosed in a single space which, along with other design factors, can translate to better levels of natural ventilation, light, heating, and cooling. This can help improve both energy efficiency and indoor environment quality.

COLORBOND® steel with Thermatech®1  solar reflectance technology may also help accrue points in the Heat Island Effect / Heat Resilience credits by helping to reflect the sun’s energy away from the roof and the building, which could help to reduce the energy use associated with mechanical air conditioning.

Notes:
  1. COLORBOND® steel for roofing and walling's (XRW) core colour range in the Classic and Matt finish (excluding Night Sky®) features our scientifically designed Thermatech® solar reflectance technology. Thermatech® technology may not be available in other colours, and is not included in COLORBOND® steel Metallic, COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel, COLORBOND® Intramax® steel or SUPERDURA® Stainless steel. Further information is available in this article on STEEL SELECT®. Results will depend on roof colour, level and location of insulation, type and location of building shape and function.

Green Star - Responsible Products Framework

A number of BlueScope products have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and GreenRate™ Level A certification, and all are made from steel manufactured at Port Kembla Steelworks, a ResponsibleSteel™ certified site. All of these are recognised initiatives within the Green Star rating tools and may contribute to a project’s Green Star rating through the Responsible Products credits, provided proof of certification is included in the Green Star submission.

More information on initiatives and how products can contribute to a Green Star rating can be found at Responsible Products Framework | Green Building Council of Australia (gbca.org.au)

Responsible Product Value (RPV) Initiatives met by BlueScope products

Best Practice Products:

  • Responsible Structure (RPV ≥ 15)
  • Responsible Envelope (RPV ≥ 15)
  • Responsible Systems (RPV ≥ 11)
  • Responsible Finishes (RPV ≥ 12)

A number of BlueScope products have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and GreenRate™ Level A certification, and all are made from steel manufactured at Port Kembla Steelworks, a ResponsibleSteel™ certified site. A combination of these initiatives can help in meeting the responsible product value (RPV) for a "Best Practice" product.

  • EPD + GreenRate™ Level A + ResponsibleSteel™ v1.1 = RPV 21:
    • COLORBOND® steel for roofing and walling
    • XLERPLATE® steel
    • Welded beams and columns
  • EPD + ResponsibleSteel™ v1.1 = RPV 15: 
    • COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel
    • COLORBOND® Intramax® steel
    • COLORBOND® steel for insulated panels
    • COLORBOND® steel for roofing and walling
    • COLORBOND® steel Metallic
    • COLORBOND® Ultra steel
    • DECKFORM® steel
    • GALVABOND® steel
    • GALVASPAN® steel
    • Hot Rolled Coil
    • TRUECORE® steel
    • Welded beams and columns
    • XLERPLATE® steel
    • ZINCALUME® steel 

See the Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and GreenRate™ certificates for further information.

See ResponsibleSteel™ Site Certification for the Port Kemba Steelworks.

See the full list of BlueScope's certifications and credentials

Good Practice Products:

  • Responsible Structure (RPV ≥ 10)
  • Responsible Envelope (RPV ≥ 10)
  • Responsible Systems (RPV ≥ 6)
  • Responsible Finishes (RPV ≥ 7)

All BlueScope products made from steel manufactured at the Port Kembla Steelworks in NSW come from a ResponsibleSteel™ certified site, meeting the responsible product value (RPV) for a "Good Practice" product. 

  • ResponsibleSteel™ v1.1 = RPV 10:
    • AQUAPLATE® steel
    • Cold Rolled Coil
    • COLORBOND® steel for fencing
    • COLORBOND® steel for garage doors
    • COLORBOND® steel for patios and pergolas
    • DRUMSTOCK® prepainted steel
    • DRUMSTOCK® steel
    • EMBAR® steel
    • REDCOR® weathering steel
    • TRU-SPEC® steel
    • TUBEFORM® steel
    • ZINC HI-TEN® steel
    • ZINCANNEAL® steel
    • ZINCFORM® steel

See ResponsibleSteel™ Site Certification for the Port Kemba Steelworks.

BlueScope is also a verified steel manufacturer under the Steel Sustainability Australia (SSA) certification program. A number of BlueScope products are verified as meeting best practice ESG standards (SSA Credit 4.1) in the manufacturing of semi-finished steel products, which can be of help to fabrication and downstream processing businesses seeking SSA certification.

SSA certification is recognised under the Responsible Products Framework. Products supplied by steel fabricators and downstream processors with SSA Level 3 certification are recognised as “Best Practice Products”, while those that achieve SSA Level A2 and Level 2B certifications are considered “Good Practice Products”.


Green Star - Buildings

Green Star Credit Applicable Requirements

Credit 5 – Responsible Procurement

BlueScope's approach to responsible sourcing practices and conduct may help demonstrate compliance with responsible procurement practices, including human rights, labour practices, environment, etc.

For more information on BlueScope's commitment to Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC) see our HSEC Policy, Code of Conduct and Sustainability Reporting.

Credit 6 – Responsible Structure
Credit 7 – Responsible Envelope
Credit 8 – Responsible Systems
Credit 9 – Responsible Finishes

Many of BlueScope's products can score points under the Responsible Products Framework through the following initiatives:

Best Practice products:

A number of BlueScope products have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and GreenRate™ Level A certification, and all are made from steel manufactured at Port Kembla Steelworks, a ResponsibleSteel™ certified site. A combination of these initiatives can help in meeting the responsible product value (RPV) for a "Best Practice" product.

  • EPD + GreenRate™ Level A + ResponsibleSteel™ v1.1 = RPV 21:
    • COLORBOND® steel for roofing and walling
    • XLERPLATE® steel
    • Welded beams and columns
  • EPD + ResponsibleSteel™ v1.1 = RPV 15:
    • COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel
    • COLORBOND® Intramax® steel
    • COLORBOND® steel for insulated panels
    • COLORBOND® steel for roofing and walling
    • COLORBOND® steel Metallic
    • COLORBOND® Ultra steel
    • DECKFORM® steel
    • GALVABOND® steel
    • GALVASPAN® steel
    • Hot Rolled Coil
    • TRUECORE® steel
    • Welded beams and columns
    • XLERPLATE® steel
    • ZINCALUME® steel 

See the Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and GreenRate™ certificates for further information.

See ResponsibleSteel™ Site Certification for the Port Kemba Steelworks.

Good Practice products:

All BlueScope products made from steel manufactured at the Port Kembla Steelworks in NSW come from a ResponsibleSteel™ certified site, meeting the responsible product value (RPV) for a "Good Practice" product.

  • ResponsibleSteel™ v1.1 = RPV 10:
    • AQUAPLATE® steel
    • Cold Rolled Coil
    • COLORBOND® steel for fencing
    • COLORBOND® steel for garage doors
    • COLORBOND® steel for patios and pergolas
    • DRUMSTOCK® prepainted steel
    • DRUMSTOCK® steel
    • EMBAR® steel
    • REDCOR® weathering steel
    • TRU-SPEC® steel
    • TUBEFORM® steel
    • ZINC HI-TEN® steel
    • ZINCANNEAL® steel
    • ZINCFORM® steel

See the ResponsibleSteel™ Site Certification for the Port Kemba Steelworks.

See the full list of BlueScope's certifications and credentials.

Credit 19 – Heat Resilience

Select BlueScope roofing products, including COLORBOND® steel products, may comply with minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) requirements, typically light colours:

  • Roof pitched <15°: 3-year SRI ≥64 or initial SRI ≥82
  • Roof pitched >15°: 3-year SRI ≥34 or initial SRI ≥39

Visit our colours page for initial SRI values for the COLORBOND® steel core colour range. 3-year SRI values may be available upon request.

For more information contact BlueScope Steel Direct on 1800 800 789 or email steeldirect@bluescopesteel.com.

Credit 21 – Upfront Carbon Emissions

BlueScope can provide product-specific 3rd party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to support claims of carbon in products, as required by the credit.

Credit 26 – Life Cycle Impacts

This credit encourages the use of local data for LCAs, preferably from EPDs certified to the EN 15804 standard, which take precedence over generic or global data:

  • BlueScope's EPDs are product-specific, third party verified and compliant with the EN 15804 standard; and
  • BlueScope's EPDs can be used to accurately represent the impact of BlueScope products in whole-of-building LCAs.
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Green Star - Design and As Built v1.3

Green Star Credit Applicable Requirements

Credit 19 - Life Cycle Impacts

Credit 19B.2 - Life Cycle Impacts - Steel

Various BlueScope steel products depending on strength grade and application can help:

  • Demonstrate the environmental impacts/carbon emissions reduction of the project vs a reference building using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); and/or
  • Demonstrate a reduction in the mass of steel framing compared to standard practice through the use of 'high strength steel' or a '5% mass reduction compared to a suitable reference building'. Minimum strength grades required for steel products:
    • 550 MPa Roof and wall sheeting
    • 550 MPa Profiled steel decking
    • 450 MPa Purlins, girts and light steel framing systems
    • 450 MPa Cold-formed sections
    • 400 MPa Welded sections
    • 350 MPa Hot-rolled structural steel sections and plate

Note: BlueScope products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) can also be used to represent the impact of BlueScope products in whole-of-building LCAs.

Credit 20.1 – Responsible Building Materials – Structural and Reinforcing Steel

BlueScope meets the following "responsible steel maker" requirements:

Credit 21 – Sustainable Products

Depending on the product, BlueScope may be able to meet the requirements to comply with this credit through the following initiatives:

Credit 25 – Heat Island Effect 

Select BlueScope roofing products, including COLORBOND® steel products, may comply with minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) requirements, typically light colours:

  • Roof pitched <15°: 3-year SRI ≥64 or initial SRI ≥82
  • Roof pitched >15°: 3-year SRI ≥34 or initial SRI ≥39

See our colours page for initial SRI values for the COLORBOND® steel core colour range. 3-year SRI values may be available upon request.

For more information contact BlueScope Steel Direct on 1800 800 789 or email steeldirect@bluescopesteel.com.

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Green Star - Homes

Green Star Credit Applicable requirements

Heat Resilience

Select BlueScope roofing products, including COLORBOND® steel products, may comply with minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) requirements, typically light colours:

  • Roof pitched <15°: 3-year SRI ≥64 or initial SRI ≥82
  • Roof pitched >15°: 3-year SRI ≥34 or initial SRI ≥39

See our colours page for initial SRI values for the COLORBOND® steel core colour range. 3-year SRI values may be available upon request.

For more information contact BlueScope Steel Direct on 1800 800 789 or email steeldirect@bluescopesteel.com.

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Green Star - Communities v1.1

Green Star Credit Applicable requirements

Credit 26 – Materials

BlueScope meets the following "responsible steel maker" requirements:

Note: BlueScope products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) can be used to represent the impact of BlueScope products in whole-of-building LCAs to meet the requirements of 26A.1 LCA – Performance Pathway.

Credit 31 – Heat Island Effect

Select BlueScope roofing products, including COLORBOND® steel products, may comply with minimum Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) requirements, typically light colours

  • Roof pitched <15°: 3-year SRI ≥64 or initial SRI ≥82 
  • Roof pitched >15°: 3-year SRI ≥34 or initial SRI ≥39

See our colours page for initial SRI values for the COLORBOND® steel core colour range. 3-year SRI values may be available upon request.

For more information contact BlueScope Steel Direct on 1800 800 789 or email steeldirect@bluescopesteel.com

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Green Star - Interiors v1.3

Green Star Credit Applicable requirements

Credit 21 – Sustainable Products

Depending on the product, BlueScope may be able to meet the requirements to comply with this credit through the following initiatives:

Table

Green Star - Performance v1.2

Green Star Credit Applicable requirements

Credit 21 – Procurement and Purchasing

BlueScope's approach to responsible sourcing practices and conduct may help demonstrate compliance with the requirements of '21.1 Sustainable Procurement Framework' (incl. human rights, labour practices and environmental aspects).

For more information on BlueScope's commitment to Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC) see our HSEC Policy, Code of Conduct and Sustainability Reporting.

BlueScope can also help meet the "responsible steel maker" requirements of '21.3 Refurbishment Materials' criteria for steel:


Further information:

To find out more about how BlueScope steel products may enable certification for Green Star™ or other green building rating tools or schemes, please contact your BlueScope Steel representative or call Steel Direct on 1800 800 789.

Download PDF: The Green Star Responsible Products Framework - BlueScope Products

You can also visit the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) website.

Further information is also available in the following articles:

Read about other Green Building rating tools and schemes:

Acknowledgements

Source
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BlueScope - Updated January 2024

Trademark Acknowledgements
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AQUAPLATE®, COLORBOND®, Coolmax®, DECKFORM®, DRUMSTOCK®, EMBAR®, GALVABOND®, GALVASPAN®, Intramax®, REDCOR®, STEEL SELECT®, TRUECORE®, TRU-SPEC®, TUBEFORM®, ZINCALUME®, ZINCANNEAL®, ZINCFORM®, ZINC HI-TEN®, XLERPLATE®, BlueScope® and ® colour names are registered trademarks of BlueScope Steel Limited, ABN 16 000 011 058.

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Arts West, University of Melbourne