The Green Building Council of Australia's (GBCA) has made changes to its Green Star building rating tool by revising two credits into the system to measure storm water and commuting mass transport.

According to the council's director, Andrew Aitken, the revised credits "represent a first step in developing the next generation of Green Star tools. These revised credits are just the first of many that will be incorporated into each Green Star tool - eventually resulting in a single, easy-to-use online rating tool that can assess all building types, regardless of their space use."

Green Star undergoes regular refinements based on feedback from industry and learning outcomes from each assessment. After significant research and industry consultation, the GBCA developed two revised credits which assess storm water (Emi-5) and commuting mass transport (Tra-4). The two revised credits were released in May as part of the Green Star - Industrial v1 rating tool and feedback from the industry indicated that these credits should be integrated into all other Green Star tools.

"By including the revised credits in all existing Green Star tools, we are not only improving the tools, but moving towards a common approach to rating all building types," Aitken said. The 'Storm water' credit, which replaces the 'Watercourse Pollution' credit, will reward projects that use the most innovative products and scientifically-advanced processes available."

He added:"Green Star now encourages the application of approaches currently used at the forefront of the storm water management industry, notably those of Water Sensitive Urban Design."