The potential for sustainable retrofit in Premium office buildings in the Central Business District

With acceptance of the relationship between energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, the built environment is a sector with high potential to lessen overall emissions. Given that the built environment emits around half of all greenhouse gas emissions; it could play a significant role in mitigating global warming. With around 2% of new buildings added to the total stock each year; the scope for reductions lies with adaptation of existing buildings. Many cities aim for carbon neutrality with Melbourne leading the way. Successful adaptation demands that social, technological, environmental, economic and legislative criteria are addressed. Buildings have to meet user and community needs. City centres comprise a range of different type of office stock with regards to age, size, location, height, tenure and quality. All buildings present challenges and opportunities with regards to adaptation and sustainability, and integrating retrofit measures that reduce energy, water and resource consumption. Using a selection of Premium grade office buildings to develop retrofit profiles, this paper addresses the questions; (a) what is the nature of adaptations in relation to Premium quality office building stock in the Central Business District (CBD) and, (b) what is the extent and scope for sustainable retrofits to Premium grade office buildings. Using the Melbourne CBD, adaptation events of Premium grade office buildings were analysed between 1998 and 2008 to identify the potential for integrating sustainability into retrofits projects.