Vision glazing that has been installed to provide sight-lines for clinical staff to observe patients may be excluded from the credit minimum requirements. This is due to the clinical health and safety needs, as well as the model of care being provided to patients.

Can project teams use alternative metrics to demonstrate compliance with flicker free LED lighting?

Yes. Project teams may use the following metrics for both analogue and digital forms of dimmable and non-dimmable LED lighting to demonstrate that LED fittings within the project are flicker-free. 

Acceptable flicker metrics:

• Short Term Light Modulation (PstLM) <= 1.0
• Stroboscopic Visibility Measure (SVM) <= 0.4

These metrics have been deemed appropriate at this time for residential and commercial office projects, with the understanding that ongoing research into acceptability levels may result in a more stringent limit being recommended in the future.

Documentation Requirements:

Please provide the following in your submission:

• Evidence demonstrating the above metrics have been achieved
• In speculative or cold shell projects: A Tenancy Fitout Guide outlining all procured LED lights need to meet the above flicker metrics.
• In speculative or cold shell projects: Co-signed agreement between the building owner and tenant committing to the conditions of the Tenant Fitout Guide.
• All other documentation requirements as per the submission guidelines.
• A copy of this response.

For the auditing requirements of the Best Practice Guidelines for PVC, an appropriate method of compliance can be a simple statement that a limited assurance review according to ASAE 3100 Compliance Engagements has been completed.

Do I need to provide meters to uses not related to base building systems?

All distinct uses, common uses and major uses that service the building must be metered. These uses must also be connected to a monitoring system.

As an example: at a minimum, the base building should provide floor by floor meters for the following tenant energy uses;

• General Power
• HVAC Systems
• Lighting Systems

The DAB Submission Guidelines references ASHRE 62 however this standard does not contain any duct cleaning requirements and is an error. Projects should use the TR19 Standard which is acceptable for demonstrating compliance with the ductwork cleaning requirement in section 9.1.3: Cleaning Prior to Use and Occupation

Can project teams use ‘Pot Diameter’ to demonstrate compliance with the credit criteria 12.3.1 – Plant Distribution?

Yes, as alternative to soil surface area method, the pot diameter method can be used as a method of demonstrating compliance with the credit criteria 'Indoor plants - Plant distribution'. 

As a minimum, for every 10 m2 of the nominated area the diameter of the pots must be equal to at least 300mm in diameter.

A combination of different pot sizes is acceptable, provided the diameter of all the pots combined is greater than or equal to 300mm for every 10m2 of the nominated area. 

Please include a copy of this response in your submission. 

A new ‘Responsible Resource Management – Operational Waste Calculator’ and ‘NZ Best Practice Guidelines for Operational Waste’ document have been created to demonstrate compliance with Green Star Buildings Credit 4 – Responsible Resource Management. These resources can be used as an alternate compliance pathway for Design & As Built Credit 8 – Operational Waste. 

Although the credit refers to steel framing, this credit has been perceived to address all the major steel uses associated with structural elements of the building. Therefore, the table still shows required steel strengths for non-structural and non-framing items like steel roofing and steel wall cladding/sheeting. Accordingly, steel roofing and steel wall cladding/sheeting should be assessed under this credit.

Does not having a Make Good clause meet the intent of the End of Life Waste credit?

Yes. Not having a Make Good clause is considered to have an equivalent environmental outcome to having a best practice Make Good clause, where the project team can demonstrate there is a commitment from the building owner to pursue the re-use of the existing fitout by an incoming tenant.

A joint commitment, wherein no Make Good works are required between Building Owner and Tenant, must still address the requirements of credit 5.2A.

Where the lease agreements do not have best practice ‘make good’ clauses in place, a separate legal agreement or memorandum of understanding that addresses these requirements may be used.

Project teams are not required to have been awarded the pre-approved credits from other rating tools listed under the Global Sustainability credits in Green Star - Design & As Built when making claims under the Global Sustainability credit. These pre-approved credits may also be applied to other tools of Green Star - Interiors where appropriate. The project team is required to outline and supply evidence to validate the claim in lieu of official WGBC member rating tool accreditation. Project teams using all Green Star tools may also target other items not listed as pre-approved, provided they are considered outside of the scope of the Green Star rating tools. In this case, a free-of-charge technical question should be submitted to the NZGBC for approval. For innovation claims within a Green Star crosswalk, the relevant attribute from the crosswalk does need to be achieved to target the point, as these topics have been deemed within the scope of Green Star.