The global push to lower carbon emissions has accelerated this year and that has put a renewed focus on building with timber instead of carbon-heavy steel and concrete, Green Building Council of Australia chief executive Davina Rooney says.

After a focus by developers and landlords to take gas out of buildings, secure renewable sourced electricity and better using ventilation to lower heating and cooling demands, the next challenge is coming, says Rooney, whose organisation administers the Green Star building sustainability scheme.