Driving Measurable Impact in Sustainable Fitouts: Why Product Metrics Matter

The journey toward a truly sustainable built environment is powered by bold vision, long-term commitment, and decisive action. However, progress isn’t measured by ideals alone; it’s validated by tangible evidence: metrics, certifications, and rigorous documentation.

This is particularly crucial when navigating the evolving landscape of environmental rating systems, where data volumes can be vast, especially regarding specified materials and product compliance.

With the launch of the Green Star Fitouts rating tool on the horizon, we explore how design professionals can make strategic product choices that deliver measurable environmental outcomes. Using Billi’s Quadra and Quadra Plus systems as a case study, we examine a core question: Why are verified sustainability metrics essential in achieving high-performance certification outcomes?

Elevating Fitouts Through Smart Specification

Many in the industry are familiar with the Green Star Buildings framework. The upcoming Fitouts rating tool, building on the Green Star Interiors foundation, introduces more ambitious targets across key focus areas, including decarbonisation, circular economy, occupant health, and social value.

The tool will award credits across five core categories:

• Circular
• Responsible
• Healthy
• Positive
• People

Each project is assessed according to specific criteria and classified across three tiers: Minimum Expectation, Credit Achievement, and Exceptional Performance.

Understanding the Responsible Product Value (RPV)

One of the key tools to evaluate product performance within the Green Star framework is the Responsible Product Value (RPV)—a scoring system used to measure how well a product aligns with sustainability objectives across four categories: Responsible, Circular, Healthy, and Positive.

Each category contributes a fixed number of points, and the total defines the product’s RPV. The higher the RPV, the greater its contribution to credit achievements within a fitout project.

Higher RPV, higher potential: The Quadra example

Specifying products with a high RPV contributes significantly towards achieving the Responsible Products credits. Billi’s Quadra and Quadra Plus systems – with an RPV of 16 – are an excellent showcase of that methodology. Their RPV score is based on their Global GreenTag product-specific EPDs (worth five points) and their Global GreenTag LCARate Gold certification (worth eleven points).

Sustainable Hydration Solutions for Green Star Fitouts: Quadra & Quadra Plus Lead the Way

As the Green Star Fitouts tool enters the Australian market, sustainability-focused products are becoming critical for design professionals aiming to meet evolving certification standards. While this new rating tool is still rolling out, its foundational assessment approach is well-established in the Green Star Buildings tool, offering a clear framework for evaluating a product’s impact on environmental and performance outcomes.

Contributing to Green Star Responsible Products Credits

Billi’s Quadra and Quadra Plus systems are engineered to support compliance with the Green Star Responsible Products Framework, delivering independently verified sustainability performance.

In the Green Star Buildings rating tool, these systems have a Responsible Product Value (RPV) of 16, exceeding the minimum RPV of 11 required for Exceptional Performance under the Responsible Systems category. This positions Quadra and Quadra Plus as standout products for professionals aiming for high-performance fitouts and building certifications.

Key Sustainability Features That Support Green Star Credits

1. All-Electric Operation for Fossil Fuel-Free Goals

As fully electric systems, Quadra and Quadra Plus help achieve Green Star outcomes that require the elimination of fossil fuels for:

• Heating and cooling
• Domestic hot water
• Cooking applications

This aligns with future-forward building designs that aim for 100% electric operation.

2. Low-Toxin, Health-Conscious Materials

Quadra and Quadra Plus are manufactured using zero-VOC and BPA-free materials. These units are:

• Watermark certified
• WELL compliance-ready certifications
• Global GreenTag Gold Level certified

Additionally, they earn the maximum Health & Toxicity score under Global GreenTag, making them ideal for projects prioritising occupant health and wellbeing.

3. Water Efficiency & WELS Ratings

Water usage is a key sustainability metric. Depending on the model selected, Quadra and Quadra Plus feature:

• WELS ratings of 5 to 6 stars
• Flow rates from 5.0 to 4.5 litres per minute

This supports water efficiency targets in both Green Star Buildings and Green Star Fitouts projects.

Supporting Occupant Comfort and Wellness

Beyond direct credit contributions, Quadra and Quadra Plus also enhance indoor environmental quality:

• Ergonomic and intuitive design
• Whisper-quiet, water-cooled operation improves acoustic comfort
• No need for cabinet ventilation helps maintain thermal comfort

These features contribute to a healthier, more comfortable indoor environment—critical for WELL and Green Star criteria.

Driving Carbon Reduction With Product-Specific EPDs

Billi provides product-specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for Quadra and Quadra Plus, supporting calculations for Green Star’s Upfront Carbon Emissions credits. Key metrics include:

• 167 kg CO2 Eq unit (Modules A1-A3, cradle to gate)
• 175.98 kg CO2 Eq unit cradle-to-grave

Compared to an industry worst-case average of 271.7 kg CO2 Eq, Billi products demonstrate an upfront carbon saving of approximately 35%.

Credit Pathways for Carbon Performance:

These verified metrics help specifiers confidently target high-performance fitout outcomes under Green Star.

Embodied Carbon Reduction in Practice

According to Fergus Tough, Director of Manufacturing Operations at Billi:

“Case study analysis shows that material substitutions using low-embodied-carbon alternatives can reduce overall embodied carbon by 19% to 46%.”

With Australia’s upfront carbon emissions projected to rise from 16% to 85% of total building emissions by 2050, decisions around material selection will have long-term impacts. Billi’s transition to natural refrigerant R290—with zero ozone depletion potential and a GWP of <5—is one of many steps in its carbon reduction strategy.

Ahead of the Market: Verified, Transparent, and Digital-Ready

Both Quadra and Quadra Plus sit in the top 35% of Global GreenTag’s internal rankings, classified as “Ahead of the Market” for sustainability compliance.

To support specification and compliance documentation, Billi has:

• Published BIM content via BIMstore
• Provided up-to-date information to platforms like Architecture & Design
• Committed to publishing its first Sustainability Report
• Ongoing collaboration with Global GreenTag

Empowering the Next Generation of Sustainable Fitouts

The evolution of the Green Star Fitouts rating tool highlights the industry’s shift toward metric-driven sustainability. With products like Quadra and Quadra Plus, Billi equips architects, designers, and specifiers with the tools they need to:

• Reduce embodied and operational carbon
• Achieve health and wellness targets
• Contribute to Responsible Products credits
• Stay ahead of compliance requirements

By combining robust sustainability metrics with third-party verification, Billi sets the standard for responsible hydration solutions in Australia’s green building landscape.