Green buildings
Canberra Airport is leading the way in the performance of the built environment.
Brindabella Business Park, located within the Canberra Airport precinct, is a leading sustainable business park in Australia.
In 2003, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) awarded 8 Brindabella Circuit the first 5 Star Green Star rating for an office building constructed in Australia.
Since that time, Canberra Airport has determined that all new buildings will be at least GBCA 5 Star Green Star and 5 Star NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System), and will incorporate the WELL Gold principles. All new buildings will have an electrical plant which is fed from the ACT's 100% renewable electricity-supplied network. All new buildings will be carbon neutral with regard to Type 1 and 2 emissions.
Canberra Airport is also retrofitting all new and existing buildings with onsite renewable generation via solar, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These are the airport’s ‘as standard’ building requirements, ensuring that the buildings are not only good for the environment, but for the people working in them for years to come.
Canberra Airport is a founding member of the GBCA and is proud to instil the GBCA building design principles and practices in all buildings constructed on airport, incorporating initiatives that include, but are not limited to:
- Recycling building materials.
- Minimising the use of products containing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
- Reducing noise levels.
- Reducing water consumption.
- Waste management initiatives.
- Strict control of ventilation and day lighting.
- Facilities to support alternative transport methods including active travel, both within the buildings and surrounding infrastructure, including close by public transport links and cycle and shower facilities.
- Solar hot water.
- Car parking for small cars.
- Non-potable water irrigation.
- Waterless urinals.
- Electric Vehicle (EV) charging.
The airport also continues to work to modify, invest in updates and adapt building plant, equipment and controls as required to achieve best practice environmental performance.
Canberra Airport has been driving on-site renewable electricity production with the use of solar installations with every new building constructed as well as progressively rolling out solar installations on existing buildings throughout the airport precincts. As of May 2023, approximately 2.4 megawatts of solar has been installed across the airport’s buildings and this level of solar generation positions Canberra Airport as one of Canberra’s largest solar farms.
In addition to solar panel installations, electric vehicle (EV) supercharging stations have been installed at Brindabella and Majura business parks, with additional locations planned in the future.
