4 Oct 2023
For the past three decades, PMG has prioritised longevity and sustainability as key elements of our relationship-based, collaborative approach to property management. The importance of embodied carbon in existing commercial properties, and the idea that demolish/rebuild may not be the best choice for the environment in all developments, are always top of mind.
In line with this, we recently partnered with innovative interior architecture design firm Spaceworks, to create a net carbon neutral fitout for our 152 Fanshawe Street office building. The innovative design, which incorporated the use of Spaceworks' bespoke carbon calculator, won the Environmental category in the 2023 Construction Sector Accord Awards.
Lizzi Whaley, CEO of Spaceworks, recently shared her thoughts on the collaboration and setting a benchmark for wider use across the industry.
The construction sector is responsible for tipping a staggering 17,000 tonnes of waste into landfills every day, and construction and demolition waste alone occupy 40% of our Class 1 landfills. Perhaps even more alarming is the fact that the built environment contributes a significant 20% of New Zealand's carbon emissions, with 9% of that attributed to embodied carbon.
With sustainability increasingly important for both tenants and landlords, these statistics cannot be ignored. Sustainable, long-term change relies on the collective, but we acknowledge that it is up to us to be the leaders in the space, to show what's possible, and hopefully encourage others to follow.
Net carbon neutral at 152 Fanshawe Street
We were honoured to partner with PMG to design this fitout using our carbon calculator, and share the results to show its applicability across the sector.
The project was heralded by judges as "an example of a business taking leadership in reducing carbon in the fit-out industry, taking a risk to move towards making sustainable practices standard practice. Definitely an innovative tool for non-Greenstar Buildings."
The judges further praised the innovative use of the technology and its potential to enable and support sustainability in construction.
"This is a versatile tool with potential for wide use and significant outcomes in an area we need to develop more capability and capacity for in our sector."
Leading the change for good
From Spaceworks' perspective, we see innovation often occurring in new builds, often by large corporations with substantial budgets.
However, we firmly believe that for real change to happen, positive environmental tools need to be available for all businesses, including pre-existing buildings and small-scale fit-outs.
Disclaimer: The information in this testimonial reflects the opinion of the specific partner and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of PMG. It is of a general nature and was current as of October 2023. It is not intended to be regulated financial advice for the purpose of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, and does not take your individual circumstances and financial situation into account. PMG does not provide financial advice. Please seek advice from a licensed financial advice provider before making any investment decisions.
