Element 27’s Carbon Neutral Certification has received considerable coverage including this piece from 7News Perth

Sentinel Real Estate is proud to announce that our flagship Australian Build to Rent project, Element 27, has become the first Carbon Neutral Certified apartment building in Australia under the Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard for Buildings.

The industry-first achievement comes after Sentinel and Stantec’s sustainability team worked with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and Climate Active to shape a certification methodology for Green Star Performance that’s applicable to the Build to Rent model.

Element 27 was successfully registered for the first-of-its-kind certification in April this year, with final certification occurring on June 29th 2021.

Located in Subiaco, Western Australia, Element 27 was designed to incorporate environmental strategies aimed at water and energy conservation, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and minimal maintenance and waste through the use of durable products.

Key sustainability features in the 93-unit building include electric car charging stations, energy efficient appliances, a 30kW photovoltaic system for common area energy use and an 8-star NatHERS rating. Specialty waste streams, access to a centralised geothermal system, a rainwater and grey-water recycling system, occupancy sensors and an embedded metering network also support high sustainability standards.

Michael Streicker, President of Sentinel said: “Driving progressive sustainable outcomes is at the core of our projects. Following a productive and considered process with Climate Active and the Green Building Council of Australia, it is rewarding to see Element 27, Australia’s first purpose-built Build to Rent project, successfully certified as the first Carbon Neutral Certified project of its kind as well.

“There is a unique opportunity with the Build to Rent model – our continued role in management of the building following design and construction means it is possible to track, benchmark and publish residential environmental performance in ways that differ from the traditional residential strata model. We have a continued responsibility and can ensure the building performs to high sustainability standards once occupied.

“We are also seeing a strong trend towards environmentally sustainable investments within the investor community, so it is natural we aim for outcomes such as creating Carbon Neutral buildings and embed this in our institutional management strategy.”

The Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard for Buildings was established through collaboration between the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the GBCA and NABERS. To achieve eligibility and certification, several operational factors including stabilisation, greenhouse gas emissions, waste from operations, refrigerant impacts and transport emissions are assessed. The GBCA provides Climate Active with validation of projects for certification through industry recognised pathways such as Green Star – Performance v1.2.

Davina Rooney, Chief Executive Officer of the GBCA said: “We congratulate Sentinel for their leadership in setting the standard for the residential market with a net zero rating from Climate Active for their Element 27 development, using Green Star – Performance. The residential sector is responsible for over 50 per cent of Australia’s building-related emissions and the Build to Rent sector has an opportunity to set clear leading goals in this space by bringing investor drivers to the residential market.”

Element 27 was the first purpose-built institutional Build to Rent community in Australia, with the first phase operational and fully tenanted since April 2019. It is the only Build to Rent property currently active in Western Australia.

The second phase of the project is approaching practical completion and expected to open by September 2021. Construction of the third phase of the project is expected to begin in Q3 2021.

Element 27’s industry-first certification received considerable coverage from Australian press:

• 7 News Perth – Carbon neutral: rental revolution for the Perth housing market
• Channel 10 News Perth – Sentinel Real Estate carbon neutral building
• Australian Property Journal – Element one with nature with carbon neutral apartments
• Architecture and Design – Sentinel’s Build to Rent is Australia’s first Carbon Neutral Certified apartment building
• Eco Voice – Sentinel delivers Australia’s first Carbon Neutral Certified apartment building
• Urban.com.au – Sentinel’s Element 27 in Perth sets green benchmark in emerging Build to Rent sector
• Facility Management Magazine – Perth apartment block Element 27 gains Carbon Neutral Certification
• The Fifth Estate – Perth’s carbon neutral certified apartment building
• The Urban Developer – Sentinel Real Estate Achieves Australian Build-to-Rent First

Learn more about Sentinel's Build to Rent model here.

Learn more about how Sentinel is dedicated to Sustainability efforts here.

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