Alcoa of Australia has reaffirmed its position as a business leader in sustainability with the opening of its new Peel Regional Office, which has been designed to achieve a 4-star 'base building' Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (ABGR).


Alcoa’s Managing Director, Alan Cransberg, said the state-of-the-art building falls into line with Alcoa’s global commitment to sustainability.
 
“As soon as we started discussions with the builders and designers, environmental excellence and best practice in energy efficiency was a key priority for Alcoa,” he said.
 
The building is one of only a small number of regional offices to be designed to achieve the ABGR.

“Our values are such that, for us, there was no other option than to have the office designed in this way,” Mr Cransberg said.
 
Alcoa looks forward to being formally assessed on the ABGR in around 12 months time. Energy efficiency savings arising from the behaviour of our people will contribute to achieving the rating.

The sustainability features of the new Peel Regional Office include:
• An air-conditioning system, with an economy cycle option, offering an improved indoor environment. It also provides energy savings by naturally or mechanically ventilating rather than using mechanical cooling systems (when conditions permit).
• Thermally rated glazing throughout the building. This high performance glazing provides solar heat gain control in summer and improved thermal insulating properties in winter to help maximise the building’s energy efficiency.
• An advanced Building Management System (BMS) to monitor and control the energy performance of the building.
• The use of large roof overhangs to limit solar gains.
•Light coloured, well insulated roof design to limit heat absorption and to minimise the use of air conditioning.
• Window placement which brings natural light deep into the work areas to reduce the need for artificial lighting. 50 per cent of the building’s occupants sit immediately next to a window.
• The capturing of rain water which is then channeled through a filtration trap into the adjacent wetlands area.
• The use of aluminium (a recyclable material) in the building’s wall cladding system.
• Over 1000 water wise plants in the landscaping surrounding the building.
 
“We are absolutely committed to being part of the solution to climate change. Alcoa has taken a global leadership position on addressing this problem and reducing greenhouse emissions and our new office is an example of that,” Mr Cransberg said.
 
Alcoa has also partnered with the Peel Harvey Catchment Council, Greening Australia, the South West Catchments Council and the Peel Development Commission to rejuvenate the wetlands adjacent to the Peel Regional Office. Community seedling planting days will take place at the end of June.
 
Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter will officially open the new Peel Regional Office on 4 July 2008.
 
Background:
Alcoa’s Peel Regional Office is located on the corner of Pinjarra Road and Roe Avenue, Pinjarra.
 
60 employees from our Booragoon head office have relocated to the new office while another 30 employees from our operational sites will join them by the end of May. Those 90 employees work within HR, Procurement, Finance, Real Estate and Facilities Management and the Management team.
 
Our new office is owned, and was built, by Pindan Constructions. Alcoa has signed a 20 year lease agreement with Pindan.
 
Media contact: Sarah Tempest 0404 800 417