Grocon, a Melbourne-based development company, will start construction of the first Carbon Neutral office building of its type in Australia, and possibly the world, later this year. To be located at Grocon’s Carlton Brewery site at the top end of Swanston Streetnin Melbourne, the Pixel building will become a project office for the duration of the $1 billion urban renewal project.

Designed Australia’s Studio 505 Architects, the Pixel Building will be the first carbon-neutral office building in Melbourne. The $6 million, four-storey building will generate more energy on the site than it uses, offsetting the carbon emissions produced to operate it - and, in time, the greenhouse gases generated in making and installing the construction materials.

Daniel Grollo, CEO of the development company, Grocon, said: ’Any carbon emissions used in the building’s ongoing operation will be offset by renewable energy from large photovoltaic [solar] panels on the roof as well as wind turbines. We believe this will be the first building of its type in an urban environment.’

Mr Grollo said he believed this approach was unique in the Australian building industry. "Some research has been done on carbon neutral buildings overseas, and there are several small buildings, different from the Pixel building, in Germany and the US, but we believe this will be the first of its type in an urban environment." he said.

Other green technologies used include an ozone-free absorption heat pump chiller, a grass roof covering to filter rainwater and insulate the building, a reed-bed system to filter grey water and shade the windows, individually controlled workstations to circulate fresh air through a raised roof, and concrete ceiling slabs to provide radiant cooling with minimal energy use.

The building is due to be completed by March next year.

Architects: Studio 505
Location: Melbourne
Type of project: Office building
Structural engineers: Van Der Meer
Consulting engineers: Umow Lai
Total cost: $6m
Planned completion date: March 2010
Annual CO₂ emissions: Zero

Sustainability experts Umow Lai provided environmental and engineering advice.