GBCA launches updated Green Star tool

The GBCA says the updated tool for new buildings and major refurbishments builds on the success of Green Star Buildings v1 while reflecting the latest thinking on climate action, nature, and the circular economy.

According to the GBCA, v1.1 was developed with input from more than 700 project teams and aligned with global best practice, ensuring Australian buildings continue to meet evolving investor, government and market expectations.

“Green Star Buildings v1.1 is designed for what’s next,” says GBCA Chief Impact Officer Jorge Chapa.

“It builds on the strong carbon outcomes of v1 and brings nature and circularity to the forefront, making it easier for teams to deliver buildings that are low-carbon, nature-positive and future-ready.”

Natural positivity

Green Star Buildings v1.1 introduces a Nature Positive Pathway to help projects actively enhance biodiversity.

This pathway includes several new requirements:

• From 2028, projects pursuing a 6 Star rating must demonstrate a 10% net gain in biodiversity, or no net loss where sites are greenfield
• All projects will be required to report nature-related metrics in line with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
• Updated credits support outcomes on light pollution, waterway protection and long-term stewardship.

Making compliance easier

The GBCA says Green Star Buildings v1.1 is designed to support upcoming regulatory moves, including:

• Mandatory carbon disclosure (Scope 1 and 2)
• Circular economy policies
• Nature reporting frameworks (TNFD)
• National Construction Code updates focused on energy and performance.

It also aligns with the NABERS upfront carbon tool, creating consistency across government and private sector standards.

Other new features

V1.1 offers several other new features:

• A new Design for Circularity credit encourages smarter material choices, adaptability and reuse from day one. It helps project teams get ahead of emerging circular economy regulations, improve asset resilience, and reduce waste
• The updated tool includes over 100 usability improvements, simplifying technical language, reducing interpretation risk, and improving clarity. Several credits now offer stepped point structures to allow for better recognition of project outcomes
• All buildings rated under Green Star Buildings v1.1 – no matter the star rating – are aligned with the climate mitigation new construction criteria in the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy.

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