ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Features of the Glasshouse

The Glasshouse is committed to sustainable devlopment.

 Innovative design elements are integral to making the Glasshouse a world-leader in environmentally friendly urban design.

The annual energy consumption of this building has been reduced by 150,000 kilowatt hours per year, which equates to a total reduction of 150,000 kilograms per annum of carbon dioxide emissions. Environmental solutions used to achieve this reduction include;

• Recycled grey water systems for site amenities including banks of public toilets on the site;
• Sustainable timber initiatives including mill-run timber utilising 80% of raw product
• Seawater cooling system eliminating the need for cooling towers and using thermal properties of the nearby Hastings River
  
• Natural convectional cooling in foyer areas
• Microclimatic and zoneable cooling in the theatre
• Preservation of a lightning-affected Norfolk pine to create furniture and other timber features in the centre
• Use of local blackbutt and spotted gum in floor and panel finishes; and
  Original and recycled materials from the Sydney Opera House and Port Macquarie Civic Centre development in the 1970s are incorporated in this development to create a strong link to our national arts heritage