Easy being green at ACE
25 February 2010
Kangan Institute's Automotive Centre of Excellence played host to more than 70 visitors and industry representatives this week as part of the Green Cities 2010 conference, hosted by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
Guests were treated to a tour of the facility and a presentation on the ACE's environmentally-sustainable design principles.
ACE project director John Nicholas said that the site tours were a great way to wrap up the three-day conference.
"The event was attended by hundreds of international and Australian property and environment experts, representing a really good opportunity for us to showcase the facility," he said.
"By its very nature, the ACE is a collaborative, inclusive project, so we're always open to sharing knowledge about what makes this building such a good example of environmentally sustainable design."
Kangan Institute has a written agreement with the GBCA to work together to promote sustainable building design initiatives.
The ACE stage two is currently under construction, with a completion date of mid-2011. When the stage is completed, the ACE will more than triple its current capacity to deliver automotive training for the retail, repair and service sector. It will also increase opportunities for industry and education to better link and prepare the sector for the years ahead.
John said the ACE's 5-Star Green Star rating is a key drawcard for many visitors from Australia and overseas.
"Not only does the facility cut a striking picture on the landscape, it is also highly regarded for its innovative and sustainable environmental design principles and practices," he said.
"Some of the sustainable elements included in this design are energy efficient lighting throughout the building, rainwater harvesting with water used for heating, cooling, toilet flushing and carwash, use of natural ventilation for long periods of each day, night sky cooling of harvested rainwater used for cooling purposes, night purging of warm or stale air within the complex and the use of recycled timber."
Along with the ACE, Green Cities 2010 showcased many of Melbourne's most sustainable buildings including the Gauge, the Goods Shed North in the Docklands area, and Council House 2 in Little Collins Street, which has become a high-profile example of public sector leadership in sustainable development.
