Sustainability at GJK Facility Services 

GJK Facility Services is committed to improving the sustainability performance of the organisation through promoting a culture of sustainability, managing our operations in a manner that minimises our environmental and social impact and enabling the integration of sustainability principles and practices in our day to day activities.  This commitment is demonstrated through:

• Ensuring sustainability is reflected in GJK Facility Services' strategic documents. 

• Developing an annual Sustainability Reporting Framework.

• Providing sustainability practices training and support to staff to achieve sustainable behaviour change within the workplace.

• Partnering with clients and community to respond to the need for a sustainable future and provide leadership within our industry.

• Fostering a culture of sustainability and reducing our ecological footprint.

• Joining a global reporting network and demonstrating our commitment to sustainable development transparency and accountability.

GJK Facility Services and the Global Reporting Initiative

GJK Facility Services believes that greater transparency and accountability lead to improved sustainability performance, and are members of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Organisational Stakeholders Group to be involved in the further development, improvement and dissemination of the GRI Reporting Framework. In October 2008 the Global Reporting Initiative announced they had established a new Australian base at St. James Ethic Centre, and GJK Facility Services along with other Australian Organisational Stakeholders responded to an invitation from the two organisations and participated in a special program of consultation and feedback on the establishment of a GRI Focal Point in Australia in December 2008. GJK are extremely proud to be supporters of this great initiative.  GRI has pioneered the development of the world's most widely used sustainability reporting framework (G3) and is committed to its continuous improvement and application worldwide. The framework sets out the principles and indicators which organisations use to measure and report on their economic, environmental and social performance.

These Guidelines have become the 'gold standard' of reporting and are the most accepted, credible and trusted framework used throughout the world today. 

GJK Facility Services and Sustainable Footprint

GJK Facility Services is committed to corporate social responsibility and to reducing our Greenhouse Gas emissions and our impact on the environment. As part of this commitment GJK recently engaged the services of Sustainable Footprint Pty Ltd to perform an energy, water and transport audit of our Collingwood headquarters.  Having established the baseline for continual environmental improvement, GJK is now part of the Sustainable Footprint ‐ Carbon Monitored Program, with the aim of becoming carbon neutral.  GJK Facility Services are committed to setting an example to all of our stakeholders, through demonstrating how practical  measures taken through corporate leadership can be embraced at all levels to tackle the issues of climate change head on. 

Sustainability in the field

GJK Facility Services are proud to be associated with the Economics & Commerce Building Development at The University of Melbourne. Located on the Parkville Campus at 198 Berkeley Street, construction is now complete with relocation of staff having commenced on 6 February 2009. The building will be open and ready for teaching by the start of Semester 1, 2009.

As a 5 Star environmentally sustainable building, the Economics & Commerce building operates differently to the average building, and a Building Users Guide has been published to outline the intended environmental objectives and performance of the building in its everyday operation. The 12 storey building will provide state‐of‐the‐art facilities to students and staff in the Faculty of Economics and Commerce and the Melbourne Graduate School of Management. The two basement levels, ground level and lower six tower levels provide a range of collaborative and individual teaching spaces, open access laboratories, two lecture theatres and student break‐out areas. 

The building incorporates cutting‐edge audio visual and information technology facilities including video conferencing, interactive teaching, full building wireless internet access and VoIP telephony. 

The building incorporates 'chilled beam' cooling technology throughout, together with natural air ventilation systems for the Ground Floor and Level 1.  The building also includes environmentally‐sustainable initiatives including a double‐glazed facade with the ability to maximise thermal performance and glare reduction, enhanced features for rainwater collection, black‐water recycling, recycling of cooling tower water, low‐energy light fittings, low‐water sanitary fittings, bike storage facilities and showers.

Current modelling indicates the 'green' building will result in carbon reductions of 73 per cent and water use reductions of 90 per cent compared with a conventional education building of the same size and use. The building will minimise the University’s carbon footprint while providing a more amenable working space for academics and students. 

GJK Facility Services Contract Site Manager for Melbourne University, John Faulkhead, is responsible for the management at the campus which ranges from the Old Quadrangle circa around 1819 to the recently completed Economics & Commerce building. 

The Economics & Commerce Building is a five star building with defined operational procedures. “It is a magnificant building insofar as the layout, the fixtures and fittings, it is quite revolutionary.” said John. “I enjoy the challenges we meet in looking after the campus. We are very much a people business, and proud of the standards that we achieve and maintain.”

Yiannis Kourounis, GJK Facility Services Supervisor. Yiannis said “the training and guidance initiatives that GJK has provided to all Managers and Site Supervisors has empowered me to be proficient in the sustainability platform applicable supervising this site”. 

Attention to detail is paramount for Yiannis and his newly assembled team of two weeks. The team is focused on all aspects of building services unique to this educational five star facility, and the precision required in delivering services to a high‐profile building. 

For more information please contact  GJK Facility Services

Telephone: (03) 9418 6999 Fax: (03) 9418 6900 Website: www.gjkfacilityservices.com.au