Conclusions
This paper sought to address the following questions : ( a ) what is the level of sustainability in Sydney office conversion adaptation projects ? And ( b ), are stakeholders cognisant of the sustainability issues in these projects ? This paper has investigated the nature and extent of residential conversion in Sydney , as well as sustainability and other attributes considered in conversion . Through interviews held with developers , a consultant and a valuer in the Sydney market , residential conversion in the Sydney CBD importance and awareness of sustainability was investigated . Various physical , economic , environmental , legal / regulatory , social and political factors influence and impact on conversion adaptation . In answer to the question ; what is the level of sustainability in Sydney office conversion adaptation projects ? It is shown that , that the level of sustainability achieved is derived from compliance with planning and building legislation and regulation and not from demand from buyers or investors . The results show that financial considerations and risks are the biggest attribute influencing decision-making . If tenants or buyers would demand and be willing to pay for sustainability , developers would increase the level of sustainability . Where deleterious materials such as asbestos or other contamination exists , remediation is undertaken but in terms of compliance with regulation rather than for sustainability reasons per se . Furthermore , the biggest contribution to sustainability , which comes from the embodied energy resting in the original structure , is ignored both in rating tools and by the stakeholders . The rationale is primarily economic in the Sydney market . The second question asked , are stakeholders cognisant of the sustainability issues in these projects ? Here the findings are that the interviewees were knowledgeable and aware of some of the sustainability issues that affected conversion adaptation , given the predominance of economic attributes , sustainability was at best a secondary or tertiary consideration . The development of a conversion adaptation sustainability rating tool may pave the way for increasing awareness of and recognition of sustainability in the office to residential conversion adaptation . Given the increasing amount of the stock earmarked for conversion , this is a timely opportunity .
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772 ZEMCH 2015 | International Conference | Bari - Lecce , Italy