While executives are still working out the Hybrid working model, and with companies such as Airbnb and Atlassian still 100 percent remote if employees desire, the working from home illusion is fading and momentum is shifting towards mandating office attendance for some days per week. Workplaces and commercial office buildings need to work hand in hand to offer a compelling and enriched experience, as well as ensuring alignment with socially conscious investors and employees. This shift places ESG sustainability performance in the workplace front and centre.

Today, 74 percent of Sydney and 67 percent of Melbourne CBD occupiers have Net Zero Carbon Targets and by 2030, there will be significant demand for ‘zero carbon ready’ premises across the Melbourne CBD. According to JLL’s 2023 Future of Office report, electrification, which is a crucial factor in achieving net zero in commercial assets, is scarce. By 2030, 710,100 sqm of office leases to tenants with net zero targets will expire, but there is only 186,330 sqm of stock in the pipeline to meet this demand for all-electric space.

“101 Collins Street is an industry leader across the world in terms of what we do here”, says Selva Thiru, Senior Manager of Engineering and Sustainability at 101. “Our core values centre around environmental sustainability, and we have a comprehensive set of ESG targets to guide our actions and practices. By pre-emptively addressing the risks associated with climate change, and with evolving environmental standards, 101 is future proofed in the context of this rapidly changing landscape.”

101 is committed to achieving Net Zero certification and becoming a carbon neutral building by 2025. This sustainability commitment is underpinned by the continual assessment and live tracking of building metrics including Energy, Water, Waste and Indoor Environment Quality. “101 has been on its electrification journey for over three years and will be fully electric by March 2024. When we switch our energy contract to renewables at the end of 2024, we will have removed fossil fuel usage”, says Selva. “Our domestic hot water system is already fully electric and we’re one of the first premium commercial buildings to have achieved this. The removal of natural gas is coming for commercial buildings by 2026, but by 2024, 101 will quite possibly be the first premium building, that is not a new development, to be fully electric which is an amazing accomplishment for a 30-year-old asset.”

As well as progressing at a pace on its decarbonisation pathway, 101 engages with innovative technology to continuously support the improved efficiency of the building.

“101 has amazing owners and managers who have invested in the digitisation of the asset”, explains Selva. “It has been a four-year journey but we can now proactively manage the building on a day to day basis, using digital visual technologies unrivalled in even a new development.”

State of the art ‘Smart Building’ dashboards allow 101’s managers to monitor and control various systems within the building, viewing real-time data on energy consumption, indoor air quality, occupancy, and more. This live visual representation enables quick decision-making to ensure the building operates efficiently and sustainably. Equally, Energy Management Systems (EMS) use sensors and data analytics to monitor and control the building’s energy usage, providing real-time insights into energy consumption and occupancy patterns, automatically adjusting lighting, HVAC systems, and other energy-intensive components to optimise efficiency and reduce waste. “We can only achieve our sustainability goals if we actively manage our energy usage,” says Selva.

To ensure that 101’s environmental standards continue to set a benchmark in Australia, Selva and his team are constantly seeking new and emerging technologies in the ESG space, reaching out to industry peers and understanding global trends. By looking to Europe and the US as benchmarks, Selva is ensuring that 101 continues to lead the conversation in redefining the role work spaces now play in an increasingly ESG focussed society

101 prioritises the following benchmarks and ratings to ensure the building performs at its best. Here are the ratings explained:

NABERS Energy
Energy efficiencies and its impact on the environment. 101 continually strives to maintain the highest NABERS Rating possible.

NABERS Water
Water efficiencies and its impact on the environment. 101 continually strives to maintain the highest NABERS Rating possible.

NABERS Indoor Environment
Indoor air quality, lighting, acoustics and thermal efficiencies and comfort. 101 continually strives to offer the best indoor environment for our community.

NABERS Waste
Waste management benchmark – 101 continually strives to maintain the highest ratings ensuring a positive impact to the environment for all waste leaving the building.

WiredScore
101 is platinum rated in this space, making it a best-in-class digitally connected building.

SmartScore
101 is platinum rated. 101 has the best-in-class smart building offering.

CAF
Cleaning Accountability Framework
101 is CAF accredited – ensuring the entire cleaning supply chain and valuable team members who ensure 101 looks its best all times are looked after with the highest standards.