Sustainability

The Stockland Shellharbour development is aiming to achieve a 4 Star Green Star (Design and As Built) rating under the Retail Centre v1 environmental rating tool. The 4 Star rating equates to environmental best practice and is a demonstration of Stockland's commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its developments.

Stockland Shellharbour will deliver the largest application of solar energy to date for a shopping centre in Australia. The centre will include more than 7,000m² of solar panels on the roof supplemented by a trigeneration energy system. This combination of solar and trigeneration will provide energy for 70 per cent of the new common area of the development.

What is trigeneration?
Trigeneration, as the name implies, is the simultaneous on-site production of three different outputs: electricity, heating and cooling, from a single fuel source (natural gas). Trigeneration is a cleaner way of producing electricity and reduces the environmental impact of the building. This is because the amount of greenhouse gas produced by burning natural gas is approximately half that of burning coal. Trigeneration results in approximately 80 per cent of the fuel's energy being converted into usable energy (as opposed to coal, which is around 30 per cent).

So what do all these key environmental outcomes mean for our customers and retailers?

Improved air quality within centre for retailers and customers:

• Increased fresh air rates. 
• Use of low chemical paints and sealants to reduce fumes which may cause headaches, allergies and skin irritations in some people.
• Use of low formaldehyde emission plywood, particleboard and fibreboard.

Reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions:

• Energy sub-metering which can monitor consumption and alert the building management team to any unusual patterns which may indicate equipment is operating at times when it shouldn't. 
• Efficient lighting with controls so lighting isn't accidentally left on when no one is present. 
• Occupancy sensor escalators and moving walks. 
• Energy efficient air conditioning equipment with controls to allow equipment to ramp down when there is less heating or cooling demand in the centre. 
• Working with retailers for more energy efficient outcomes.

Reduced carbon pollution:

• The application of more than 7,000m² solar panels on the roof. 
• A low carbon on-site energy generation plant, a trigeneration system. 
• Extensive commissioning of all building services to ensure equipment is operating at peak performance. 
• Providing bicycle facilities for staff and shoppers to encourage cycling to the centre rather than driving.