The search for an optimal eco-friendly retirement village has just become more accessible, as The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has announced the launch of a new property search-engine site called Living Green Star.
According to the GBCA, the number of residential developments with the Green Star tick of approval has tripled in the last three years, with more than 100 around Australia in existence. Additionally, statistics say more than 42,000 Australians are already living in Green Star-certified apartments, and a massive 420,000 people are moving into communities with Green Star ratings.
“Increasingly, people of all ages want to live in homes that are good for their health and wellbeing, and good for the environment,” says GBCA CEO Romilly Madew.
“If you are thinking about downsizing or upsizing, Living Green Star is packed full of real world stories of people living in sustainable homes and communities, and the benefits they’ve gained,” Madew says.
Ms Madew also stressed that sustainable living isn’t just about carbon output, it also benefits health, wellbeing, affordability and livability for residents.
“We want Australian home buyers to understand why sustainable living is better for people, planet and the purse strings,” she says.
According to Jonathan Cartledge, head of Public Affairs for the GBCA, this is the first site of its kind to specifically focus on Green Star-rated residential.
“We have deliberately targeted a broad range of demographics – from first home buyers to downsizing retirees – because we believe everyone deserves to live in a home that is efficient, affordable and sustainable,” says Mr Cartledge.
“Our goal is to make it easier for people to gather information about sustainable homes – whether that’s an individual apartment, a retirement living unit or a block of land in a master-planned community – and to gain insights from real-world people already living in Green Star-rated homes or communities,” he says.
“It’s early days, but the initial response has been very positive,” he says.
