Stockland claims reveal a stunning turnaround in energy costs for housingBy Tina Perinotto 27 January 2012 – Stockland has claimed the energy costs of its new homes can shave more than $2000 a year off the energy bill for an average

News from the front desk: Issue No 86Message needs to stick 27 January 2012 –Paul Keating not long ago lashed out at "sandal-wearing, muesli-chewing, bike-riding pedestrians". It was another Keatingesque king-hit. He somehow managed to lump the whole green/climate

Green Capital forum: how to win in media and marketing A Fifth Estate Special Report   25 January 2012 – In November last year Green Capital pulled out all stops to find out why the  green

Mercer report find super funds taking climate seriously24 January 2012 – More than half of the 12 superannuation funds surveyed in a report by actuarial firm Mercer have included climate change risks into investment decisions. The funds surveyed

Forest agreement may create thousands of Tasmanian jobs 24 January 2012 – A $120 million fund in an intergovernmental forest agreement could create 3000 regional jobs in Tasmania, a report commissioned by Greens Leader Bob Brown has shown.

Wind farms: nail in the coffin on health claims27 January 2012 – The case against wind farms on health grounds took a dramatic step backwards this week after Freedom of Information documents obtained by Friends of the Earth

New Urban Policy Forum: the full list20 January 2012 – The Federal Government on Friday announced its new Urban Policy Forum of 30 members. It will include former South Australian Premier Mike Rann, former Deputy Prime Minister

News from the front desk: Issue No 85Ethical dilemmas Parts I, II, and III 20 January 2012 – It's the start of the year so let’s take a big picture look at what's in store. Starting globally. In India, they're

Report: We need more resilient infrastructure 20 January 2012 – Australia's energy, transport and telecommunications infrastructure could well do with a new national body to co-ordinate greater resilience to climate change, a new government report has

NSW politics: Lisa Corbyn steps down after major changes at OEH By Tina Perinotto 23 January 2012 – Long standing and well regarded head of the NSW Department of Environment & Heritage Lisa Corbyn left her job suddenly on Friday, amid reports

Mercer report find super funds taking climate seriously24 January 2012 – More than half of the 12 superannuation funds surveyed in a report by actuarial firm Mercer have included climate change risks into investment decisions. The funds surveyed

Report: We need more resilient infrastructure 20 January 2012 – Australia's energy, transport and telecommunications infrastructure could well do with a new national body to co-ordinate greater resilience to climate change, a new government report has

Japan's sustainable fast track includes subsidies and tax breaks 18 January 2012 ­– Private developers in Japan may qualify for 50 per cent subsidies to build shared use buildings under a program to foster more sustainable cities. And buyers

Colonial First State – pushing for new ways of investment thinkingby Lynne Blundell FAVOURITES: 22 November 2011 –At the Colonial First State Global Asset Management Responsible Investment Forum earlier this year chief executive officer Mark Lazberger expressed frustration over the

Wind farms: nail in the coffin on health claims27 January 2012 – The case against wind farms on health grounds took a dramatic step backwards this week after Freedom of Information documents obtained by Friends of the Earth

Report: We need more resilient infrastructure 20 January 2012 – Australia's energy, transport and telecommunications infrastructure could well do with a new national body to co-ordinate greater resilience to climate change, a new government report has

Bathurst Burr: Somali pirates, when the food runs outBy Michael Mobbs 20 January 2012 When Somalia’s political system collapsed the country had no government. The government collapsed after a 2006 US-backed Ethiopian invasion. There was no one to issue fishing licences, to

Peak car use: urban planning needs to change say Newman and Kenworthy 26 May 2011 – FAVOURITES: Peter Newman and Jeff Kenworthy of Curtin University's Sustainability Policy Institute in Perth, Western Australia, say a new phenomenon is under way –  “peak

Stockland claims reveal a stunning turnaround in energy costs for housingBy Tina Perinotto 27 January 2012 – Stockland has claimed the energy costs of its new homes can shave more than $2000 a year off the energy bill for an average

The resi challenge is to go green, stay green By Jacqueline McArthur 7 December 2011  – Carrot or stick are the two options architects, body corporates and government policy makers have at their disposal when protecting their green credentials. But

Study reveals sustainable design of a home reduces energy useBy Ben O’Callaghan and Richard Hyde This is an edited version of their paper, presented at the World Sustainable Building Conference 2011 in Helsinki. 20 December 2011 – Significant effort, capital and time are being invested by western countries to address climate change impacts by constructing more sustainable buildings.

Bringing BedZED to AustraliaBy Scott Willey 13 December 2011 – The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s Centre For Design is working with the UK entrepreneurial charity Bioregional to extend BioRegional’s portfolio of leading demonstration projects.

Wind farms: nail in the coffin on health claims27 January 2012 – The case against wind farms on health grounds took a dramatic step backwards this week after Freedom of Information documents obtained by Friends of the Earth

Sydney’s “sociable seating” winds up in New York’s better zoning 23 January 2012 – New York's city zoning comes in for an entertaining analysis in this article by Julie V. Iovine from The Wall Street JournaI that shows that NSW is not the only state to suffer from frustrating zoning laws. Sydney's "sociable seating" is one of a range of cosmopolitan influences adopted by the city, it says, (clearly not the steel convex seating at bus stops designed to deter homeless people from getting comfortable).

Bloomberg reports solar investment outstrips wind 17 January 2012 – A report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance shows a 36 per cent surge in total investment in solar technology in 2011 to $US136.6 billion, nearly double the $US74.9 billion investment in wind power, which was down 17 per cent on the previous year.

“Conservative” energy solutions now risky, expensive and dangerousBy Alan Pears 15 December 2011 – What is “conservative” when it comes to energy policy? As energy expert Ian Dunlop pointed out a

GBCA recognises products with hard surfacing standard23 January 2012 – The Green Building Council of Australia will recognise products certified against Good Environmental Choice Australia’s hard surfacing standard level A – entitling conforming products to 100 per cent of available Green Star points.

One stop shop helps building owners with energy options18 January 2012 – Norman Disney & Young, e + architecture and quantity surveyors Rider Levett Bucknall have joined forces to help building owners assess their options in response to the commercial building disclosure legislation and to support the Melbourne 1200 buildings program.

Jones Lang La Salle reaches 1000 energy professionals goal18 January 2011 – Real estate consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle has reached its goal of 1000 energy and sustainability accredited professionals in 29 countries one year early because of strong client demand.

GBCA wraps up a big year20 December 2011: The Green Building Council of Australia has wrapped the year with 100 Green Star buildings certified, the highest in any one year. GBCA chief executive Romilly Madew said

Blackbutt timber in university centre minimises environmental impact18 January 2012 – Case study: Blackbutt timber linings and details were used in the refurbishment of the University of Western Sydney’s climate change and energy research centre because of its longevity, durability and minimal environmental impact. Another reason was that the purpose of the building is to test climate change effects on natural plant matter, such as trees and plants, the project' s designers said.

Recycling of assets – new thinking leads to rewards in GPT and NAB offices By Amanda Stanaway, Woods Bagot 13 September 2011 – The refurbishment of the GPT Property group headquarters at the MLC building in Sydney's CBD was a unique challenge and could

Sustainable features at Ravenswood School double as educational toolsBy Lyn Drummond 24 August 2011 – Sustainable features which can double as educational tools have been incorporated in the design of the $20 million Mabel Fidler Resources Hub Building for Ravenswood School for Girls in the northern Sydney suburb of Gordon.

Leighton puts its money where its design is, with HQ Brisbane17 August 2011 – Case study: The time has come when tenants want to know how many bicycle racks there are in a building, rather than car spaces.