The Fifth Estate

New deputy chairs for GBCA

2012-02-09T05:54:30Z

9 February 2012 – Daniel Grollo and Siobhan Toohill have been appointed joint deputy chairs of the Green Building Council of Australia, joining Tony Arnel who has been reappointed as chair. Each of the terms are for12 months.

Mr Arnel has recently announced that he is stepping down from his position as Victorian Building and Plumbing Commissioner to pursue his passions in the green building space. (See our recent reports).

Daniel Grollo is chief executive officer of Grocon. He is a non-executive director on the Bluescope Steel Board, and is a former national president of the Property Council of Australia.

Ms Toohill is general manager, corporate responsibility & sustainability for Stockland, a director of the Australian Building Codes Board, a member of the federal government’s Built Environment Industry Innovation Council and she also chair the Property Council of Australia’s national sustainability roundtable.

The Commons will be a community, not “your own little box”

2012-02-09T05:39:47Z

By Lyn Drummond

9 February 2012 – Case Study: Building a community out of an eight star apartment building in Melbourne rather than having a home as “your own little box” was how the architects envisioned designing the 24-apartment building, the Commons, which will be completed later this year.

Breathe’s director Jeremy McLeod said: “One of the fundamental ideas was to make it green, but it was also to make it clever and strategic around the way the building works, which was to build a community out of it, rather than just having it as your own little box.”

The building will push boundaries around sustainability, Mr McLeod said.

“Sustainability is premised on the whole idea of stripping back and taking out all of the stuff that you don’t need, and expressing all of the stuff that you do need.

“The aesthetic at the Commons is not compromised by the sustainability, but enhanced with details such as raw copper tap fittings, copper kitchen sinks and recycled floorboards in the apartments.”

The Commons

Development manager for project developer, Small Giants, Adam Borowski told The Fifth Estate tenders would be called in April to construct the building, which will comprise one and two bedroom aapartments, three artist’s studios and a cafe. It will take six weeks to complete.

Located six kilometre from the CBD at 7 Florence Street, Brunswick, Mr Borowski said it was breaking the mould – there is no car parking, every apartment has two or three bicycle spaces.

“We have been more than 50 per cent sold, and in a slow market we are happy with that result, “ he said. “One bedders sold for $385,000, two bedrooms from $495,000 to $570,000. To date one single bedroom is left at $395,000 and nine two-bedrooms.

“It’s a smart building concept in every sense. The rooftop garden provides a communal meeting space, but also serves to cool the building naturally. The interiors create natural ventilation, while the northerly frontage maximises natural light, “ Mr Borowski said.

Sustainable features will include:

Solar panels and gas boosted solar hot water service
Rainwater tanks for the rooftop vegetable garden and landscaping
Abundance of natural light and cross ventilation
Selected recycled materials and exposed concrete ceilings

Each apartment will have:

Hydronic heating
Double glazed windows
Recycled timber floors and raw timber feature wall
Copper and brass tapware
Outdoor terraces and access to a communal rooftop garden with BBQ

The site is between Anstey train station and the Sydney Road tram and all residents will be offered yearly public transport passes and a car-share membership as part of their owner’s corporation fees.

The Commons rooftop

The Upfield bike path alongside the Commons runs directly into the city with almost 70 internal bike racks incorporated into the building plan.

Finishes will be raw and exposed wherever possible to reduce the embodied energy of the building. At the same time the use of solid concrete structure and cladding will ensure the building has a long life.

The west façade will have a second skin of Wonderglas (Ampelite polycarbonate) battened off the exterior wall that is open at the top and bottom. This second skin will breathe and reduce undesirable afternoon solar gains on the main façade from the west.

Carbon offset mechanisms
A large grid connected photovoltaic array is proposed for the roof. The body corporate will negotiate on behalf of the occupants for 100 per cent renewable green power for the building. However, individual tenancies will have their own meters.

The building design has made the most of the site and its limited northern exposure. Deep balconies on the north and limited glazing to the east and west will help deal with unwanted sun and glare. Voids have been introduced to promote better daylight penetration and ventilation.

See www.7florence.st

Victoria’s FirstRate rating tool up for sale

2012-02-08T22:45:51Z

Stan Krpan

By Tina Perinotto

9 February 2012 – Sustainability Victoria will call tenders for the sale of its FirstRate5 residential thermal rating tool, but only private industry need apply, it seems.

Newly appointed chief executive officer of SV Stan Krpan on Wednesday said: “We believe owning and maintaining software is not in line with our future direction and FirstRate5 would be better maintained by private industry.

“This is an exciting opportunity for a potential new owner and for the industry in general,” he said.

But a leading expert in rating tools said that any rating tool that is used for statutory performance standards needs to be managed by government in order to access the data critical for its accuracy.

The tool is part of a suite of tools on the market to rate buildings underpinned by the NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme)

See details

The move to sell the FirstRate5 tool comes as Victoria’s lead environmental agency continues to shift away from broad based transformational policies under the coalition government in Victoria to focus on waste management. It is understood this is to reflect the agency’s primary source of funding from a landfill levy.

A wide ranging review of the agency that has taken almost the entire term of the new government to date, has been concluded but its results not yet released. A spokeswoman for the minister for environment and climate change Ryan Smith recently told The Fifth Estate that the document was still with cabinet.

Mr Krpan said SV has owned and maintained FirstRate5 and its predecessor software for more than 20 years. The software has helped existing home owners and the building industry to improve the energy efficiency of Australian dwellings.

Mr Krpan said it was hoped a new owner would improve the software and provide a high level of service to new and existing licensees.

However, Bruce Taper, one of the developers of the NSW BASIX residential rating tool, said he believed a private owner of the tool would struggle to access the data required to provide accurate information such as accurate data sets of water and energy consumption from utilities.

Access to such data was particularly important for tools used to mandate and assess regulatory standards, he said.

“Yes the private sector can have a role in administering the tools but where government relies on those tools to meet regulatory standards then they need to be in the game,” Mr Taper said.

“The private sector can own the tool but the government needs to have some skin in the game, with servicing or furnishing those tools with the data sets that might only be with government departments.”

However, he said that the FirstRate tool had been “oversold” because it related to thermal performance of building fabric not the overall energy efficiency of a home.

“Everyone knows that a five star house with a black roof and no eaves is not energy efficient,” Mr Taper said.

“It still exists in BASIX and forms a discrete and important part of BASIX, but only a small part.”

Lightweight structures such as those built by leading architects tended to perform poorly under a FirstRate tool but were actually highly efficient homes.

Asked to explain the decision to sell FirstRate5, a spokesman for Mr Krpan said: “The Victorian Government maintains that allowing software developers to own intellectual property in the software they create for the Victorian Government is important to encourage innovation and provide software developers the opportunity to benefit from the commercial exploitation of the software outside of the Victorian Government.”

The spokesman denied Mr Krpan’s comments on the tender offer that the tool would be better maintained by private industry excluded government agencies such as the NSW Government-owned NABERS, which has significant experience managing rating tools.

“SV would not exclude the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (which owned of NABERS) from tendering as the process is designed to be fair and open in order to find the very best tenderer.”

The spokesman also said the quality of the tool would be protected.

“CSIRO will maintain ownership of the calculation engine that sits behind FirstRate5 so that a government agency will still provide all climate data and will ensure the software incorporates the best available data in the Australian context,” he said.

For tender details are at: www.tenders.vic.gov.au

For the FirstRate5 update patch released 25 January, see the Sustainability Victoria website

Questus lifts the bar on WA’s sustainable affordable housing

2012-02-08T21:55:06Z

Alannah MacTiernan

By Lynne Blundell

9 February 2012 – Investment group Questus Limited will make use of its $20 million funding under the National Rental Affordability Scheme to push housing sustainability standards in remote areas of Western Australia, Questus director and former WA planning minister, Alannah MacTiernan told The Fifth Estate this week.

Questus was allocated 920 NRAS subsidy packages for towns across the Pilbara and for Broome and Derby in October last year. These will be delivered by June 2014 and the company is working with modular housing manufacturers and local builders to ensure the housing is as sustainable as possible.

“We will be using high quality transportable housing for the first tranche of four houses. The manufacturers of this housing are really achieving incredible standards, with Australian Modular Solutions who will be doing the first tranche, saying they can achieve 10 star without the need for airconditoning,” Ms MacTiernan said.

Questus will provide airconditoning in its housing but aims to reduce its use over time. The key, Ms MacTiernan said, is the use of highly efficient insulation or thermal blanket, similar to that used in cold storage buildings, between the internal walls and the external corrugated iron cladding. This keeps out the intense heat of the Pilbara region.

The company is working with local builders to ensure they adhere to minimum six star standard, with an aim to achieve much higher.

Ms MacTiernan said the allocation was the first time the scheme had been extended to the Pilbara, an area where affordable housing has been severely lacking. She sees it as a great opportunity to push for higher standards.

“We are trying to keep the houses as affordable as possible but across the board we’re aiming to raise the sustainability standards. We have asked builders to aim for 7.5 or eight stars.

“We’re using national Building Code of Australia standards as the Western Australian government has not shown much commitment to addressing climate change and hasn’t yet introduced a state standard.”

The jointly funded federal and state government NRAS provides investors with a $10,000 a year subsidy indexed for 10 years to provide rental accommodation for low to medium income earners at below market rents.

The Pilbara and other mining areas face a shortage of housing

Questus is hoping to attract small business owners, who would then lease the housing under a salary packing arrangement. Both employer and employees can benefit from a salary package, which offers award level wages but highly subsidised rents, as accommodation is fringe benefit exempt in the Pilbara

“We have developed a model to make this scheme work in the high rent environment of the Pilbara where mining has pushed up the price and availability of land. Essentially we will be constructing dual occupancy houses, which will allow two separate tenancies and two NRAS entitlements,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“This will deliver investors a tax free subsidy of nearly $250,000 over 10years, while rents will be a minimum of 40 per cent below market price.”

The first tranche of four houses will have three bedrooms with separate studio apartments. Questus is applying for planning approval for a “whole batch of granny flats” in Karratha to overcome the shortage of land in the northwest and to increase the supply of housing quickly.

“We got the council to change the rules for dual keyed housing so that you don’t have to be a relative to live in a granny flat. This means existing owners of land can use the opportunity to get more rent. It is a good way of providing affordable housing.

Ms MacTiernan said Questus has been meeting with small business groups, not for profit employers and traditional owner land holders as well as builders over the past year who had been very eager to have the scheme extended to WA’s North.

She believes that as the push for both affordable and sustainable housing increases, there will be a lot more prefabricated modular housing built across Western Australia.

Prefabricated housing on a massive scale
“There are around six companies producing high quality transportable housing on a massive scale in Western Australia and I think the use of this type of housing will filter across to Perth. There is a move to prefabricated housing because of its obvious advantages of being transportable and cost effective Ms MacTiernan said.

Some of the companies producing prefabricated housing in WA include AMS, McGrath Homes, TR Homes and BGC Modular.

Questus has received planning approval for the first four houses, which will be constructed in Port Hedland. It is currently applying for building licences and expects the houses to be completed before the end of the financial year.

The company also received a further 314 NRAS allocations in Perth and the South West of WA, taking their total allocations across Australia to 3405.

It works closely with developers and not for profit housing and tenancy managers in each state, including Foundation Housing in WA and Horizon Housing / Gold Coast Housing Company in Queensland to develop and manage properties under the scheme.

lblundell@thefifthestate.com.au

Design principles for sustainable and resilient buildings

2012-02-08T21:49:18Z

8 February 2012 – Treehugger has highlighted resilient building and living in what it terms as a subtle shift in focus from sustainability to resilience in two published articles. One says walkable communities and older buildings are resilient; they can cope better when the power goes out, and you can walk to the store when the car is out of gas. The other asks if resilience is the key to making sustainability mainstream. From community nut tree plantings to neighbourhood energy action groups, the transition movement has pioneered community-focused resilience initiatives.

But it’s not just activists or community groups getting in on the action. Pure self-interest can build resilience too. The rise of the sharing economy does not just mean less stuff going to landfill. It also means neighbours who actually speak to each other and an increased social acceptability of the fact that sharing your stuff is OK. All of these things can stand us in good stead if things do go south.

That rather than appealing to our environmental consciences, it appeals to our self-interest, and to our social consciences. It makes the case for why sustainability is not just about “doing the right thing” by the planet, but about covering our own asses too.

Read full stories

Building design principles

But what is resilient design, really? Architect Craig Applegath creates the picture.

From resilientcity.org

Designing buildings to effectively meet the conditions and realities of a post carbon, climate-changed world will require a shift in our current understanding of what constitutes good building design and sound building practice.

Many of the practices that we now take for granted, like cladding our buildings in curtain wall building envelopes, in future, may no longer be economically feasible.

Here is Treehugger’s list of building design principles for designing and constructing buildings in a post-carbon, climate responsive building environment:

Use low carbon-input materials and systems:
Any materials and systems that require either significant amounts of energy, or are derived from oil by-products in their manufacture, will become economically uncompetitive because of the relative increase in energy costs on the down side of the peak oil curve, as well as the probable additional costs associated with potential future carbon cap-and-trade regulations or tariffs.
Materials such as wood and low-energy input masonry should be considered as more appropriate building materials. Moreover, the use of wood as a building material will be a very effective strategy for sequestering carbon as part of future regional, national, or international carbon sequestration strategies and policies.
Design and plan buildings for low external energy inputs for ongoing building operations:
Buildings should be designed to be highly energy efficient and include the use of highly insulated building envelopes, triple insulated glazing, and, where possible, passive solar heating with thermal mass storage systems. Where required, lighting systems should use LED task lighting in combination with natural day-lighting. Design to allow for natural ventilation, and simple low energy mechanical systems.
Design buildings for maximum day-lighting:
Daylight will be the primary source of lighting for buildings in a post-carbon city, so buildings should be designed to make the most of daylight for internal lighting. Because the pressure to reduce the overall surface area of glazing in building envelopes to reduce energy loss will be significant, the use of daylight will become of strategic importance in the design of building form. Narrower floor plates, internal courtyards, and atrium spaces are good examples of possible daylight effective strategies.
Design generic buildings for future flexibility of use:
Because energy costs will be higher in the post carbon city, both construction materials and the construction process will be relatively more expensive than they are now. These higher costs of construction will create an impetus for building owners to design for future flexibility in their building designs, so that later renovations and alteration can be undertaken in the most cost effective manner.

The most effective strategies for designing for future flexibility are the use of modularity and standardisation in the planning of program spaces. Modularity provides for building spaces to be multiples of one another, and standardisation of spaces aims for the provision of common denominator spaces that can be used for many overlapping uses. Buildings should be designed for both first and future uses. Form should not “follow function” but instead follow many future functions.

Design for durability and robustness
To maximise the future resilience of buildings, buildings should be designed for durability and robustness. Materials and construction methods must be durable in the face of more energetic weather, and increasing number of significant weather events that increasing climate change will produce.
Design for use of local materials and products
Resilient cities will need to be much more localised in their use of materials and products. The increased cost of energy will dramatically increase transportation-related costs of non-local materials. That should in turn create a greater demand for locally produced materials and products for building construction.
Design and plan for low energy input constructability
Design and plan for buildings that can be built efficiently by manual labour that do not require oil-fuelled machines and systems requiring significant quantities of fuel for operation. As the cost of fuel increases as a result of the price pressures of peak oil, energy intensive construction techniques could become ess economically effective, and the costs of manual labour will potentially be a less critical a factor in selecting construction techniques.
Design for use of building systems that can be serviced and maintained with local materials, parts and labour
Climate change and peak oil will more than likely reduce global trade, and reduce easy access to materials, products and systems from other countries. Therefore, building systems should be designed to be serviceable through a local supply of parts and labour.

Landholders rush to establish carbon forests

2012-02-08T22:17:21Z

By Lyn Drummond

8 February 2012 – Landholders spiralling interest in carbon forests has resulted in CO2 Australia investing an estimated $23.3 million in rural economies during 2011 and partnering with more than 300 farming families.

CO2 Australia land acquisition manager Mark Ritchie told The Fifth Estate the organisation secured revenue of $35 million for the financial year 2011 and manages a contract portfolio exceeding $160 million.

It expects a significant increase in interest by companies looking to manage their carbon liability.

It has 33 full time staff and has jobs in rural areas for contractors engaged in site preparation, planting and monitoring phases of the program.

Mr Ritchie said the carbon forest program was of interest to landholders not only for financial reasons but because the trees sheltered livestock, reduced waterlogging, salinity and wind erosion.

The number of landholders investigating carbon sink opportunities with CO2 Australia had increased by 681 per cent since the introduction of the government’s carbon farming initiative in August 2011.

“It is early days for the CFI and difficult to judge the size of the market however the potential is substantial given the new carbon tax, “ he said. More companies will be looking at ways to hedge against the future cost of carbon emission permits. Carbon forests are a low-cost alternative for companies to offset their emissions, rather than pay a more expensive carbon tax.”

As landholders are paid on a per hectare rate for the land planted to trees, the money involved depended on the market value of the property, he said.

Mr Ritchie said in a statement CO2 Australia-managed tree plantings have contributed enormously to livestock production including lambing.

“The shocks and stresses of the hot and cold weather to sheep and cattle can cause mortalities, but a farmer near Dubbo, NSW, was shearing his sheep when it was pretty cold in October and he didn’t lose any sheep due to the shelter provided by the trees,” Mr Ritchie said.

Most carbon sink plantings under CO2 Australia’s management consist of a small range of mallee tree species, another reason landholders have not been able to cash in on past tree plantings.

“The trade off for using the one variety is being able to consistently supply carbon to clients and mallee trees allows us with certainty to determine the amount of carbon to be sequestered,” Mr Ritchie said.

“Mallee trees have a long lifespan and are also fire tolerant. They will regrow after a fire, so any loss of carbon is temporary.

“We also need a species which can handle harsh climatic conditions and is drought tolerant.”

CO2 Australia has carbon sink sites in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia, and is also investigating opportunities in Queensland.

The minimum landholding set aside for a plantation is 50 hectares and the life of the agreement is usually 100 years, which gives certainty to the amount of carbon which will be sequestered from the trees.

The CFI allows landholders to participate in carbon reduction projects including planting trees, increasing soil carbon and reducing on-farm emissions.

CO2 Australia has been operating since 2004 and was the first organisation to achieve accreditation for reforestation projects under both the NSW Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme and the Federal Government’s former Greenhouse FriendlyProgram.

CO2 Australia has more than 22,000 hectares of carbon sink plantings (equating to more than 33 million trees) under its management.

Making the building do the work: natural ventilation design

2012-02-08T03:22:42Z

By John Brodie
8 February 2012 –In the world of climate change and inefficient buildings everyone is clamoring for more efficient airconditioning systems and improved lighting to reduce energy loads and carbon.

Airconditioning uses a large proportion of energy in buildings.The rule of thumb in trying to drop air temperature down from something quite hot – say 38 degrees Celsius external temperature to a default comfort level of around 22 degrees – is that airconditioning uses around 40 per cent of the energy in a building.

If we stand back and take an objective look at building design and what inhabitant thermal comfort is really about we may be able to significantly reduce that airconditioning energy use by adjusting our notions of comfort.

We would need to consider natural ventilation as either the main option for ventilative cooling and providing fresh air or at least have it working in conjunction with airconditioning.

In an airconditioned building with comfort levels controlled through the commonly used temperature set points, there will always be 10-15 per cent of occupants dissatisfied.

The empirical research undertaken worldwide across a range of climates and buildings indicates a naturally ventilated facility will have around the same levels of user dissatisfaction.

We also need to remember that occupant comfort isn’t just based around temperature related conditions it is also based around air quality. Air quality in naturally ventilated buildings is higher than in airconditioned buildings.

If we utilise the hybrid technology of natural ventilation and airconditioning then we can significantly reduce the amount of energy used and carbon created to make a building comfortable.

Combine that initiative with the proven concept of adaptive comfort and how valuable that is in improving user comfort and reducing energy use in naturally ventilated buildings then natural ventilation should be considered as a major option across most of the Australian climate range.

The National Institute of Science and Technology, USA has some preliminary analysis software that indicates that with an adaptive comfort range of 20-27 natural ventilation cooling for around 78 per cent of the year in Sydney.

In Melbourne that figure becomes 93 per cent of the year because of climate conditions which are even more conducive to natural ventilation. This is using an internal heat load of 100 watts a square metre which is very high and would be considered the worst case scenario for internal heat loads in a commercial building. That is a lot of energy saving and reduced carbon. That is not to mention the major improvements in indoor climate that are often credited with increased user satisfaction, higher retail sales, productivity and improved learning outcomes.

Natural or passive ventilation has not been readily embraced in Australia for the past 50 years but in Europe and the hot dry humid climates of the Middle East and Asia it is traditionally very popular.

What these countries have learned is that natural ventilation must have the appropriate control strategies to work effectively in modern building types. Simply opening or closing a window manually has been shown to not be effective.

Users will open or close too early or too late. With a smart control system designed specifically for the nuances and broad range of criteria needed to control natural ventilation that still offer user control and override, natural ventilation will maximise comfort and energy efficiency.

There are many ways to assist the efficacy of natural ventilation through the building based on the use of pressure differences across the façade and inside the building.

If we examine the façade and footprint of the building and the surrounding buildings combined with the local climate data we are able to use that information to create areas of positive and negative pressure which will then push and pull air flow through the building.

Together with designs that utilise optimum positioning and shape of windows this can significantly increase the air flow and daylight penetration into a room.

These initiatives are generally either cost free or low cost and will have very little impact on the look of the building. Understanding air flow and the shapes as well as location of components that comprise the building façade are a key to assisting the designer make use of the “potential energy” just sitting there waiting to be captured.

Window shading is a prime example. Window shading is designed to keep the sun out of a facility in summer and if properly designed will encourage penetration of sunlight , in winter, if required.

But what about using the shades to encourage air flow into the building as required during the summer and, if required, deflect it during winter? This doesn’t mean the shades have to be movable. Working with pressure differences and air flow, again, can achieve this smart and simple design.

Sensible and small design changes to these façade items can have a major impact on the flow of air and day lighting into the buildings and the exhaust of air out of the building, hence improving inhabitant comfort.

If we couple these built form initiatives together and ensure we have the best typology for fabric including glazing then we can have a measurable improvement in air flow and daylight penetration over a typical building that hasn’t taken these ideas into account.

If we also look at external plantings and design of landscape areas to accelerate or decrease air flows and also temper the heat loads in those areas with suitable shading regimes we are adding again to the improvement of the external environment from a comfort point of view and also assisting the internal environment as well.

Natural ventilation offers up some interesting statistics. In schools, for example, natural ventilation and increasing outdoor air flow rates has been shown by the Environment Protection Authority the US to improve learning outcomes by 15 per cent over a typical school building, where natural ventilation has not been a key design driver . http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/pdfs/student_performance_findings.pdf

Concentration and recall is much higher in such environments. Energy usage is measurably reduced and maintenance costs are much lower. If we coordinate the smart natural ventilation control system and allow it to replace the building management system (at a much lesser cost) then we can use the natural ventilation system to run the lights, airconditioning, the shades and the blinds so all is coordinated and integrated.

In the current building set up if a window has to open automatically and a blind is in the way, a lot of design and coordination work is required to get the blind to talk to the window and the airconditioning to talk to the automated ventilation system and so on.

But if a specific natural ventilation control system is used then all those coordination headaches are removed.

Natural ventilation control is the hardest component for a building management system to control because BMS aren’t designed to control natural ventilation and the logarithms and expertise used in a true natural ventilation control system is not part of a typical BMS brief.

As we search for ever more efficient building types it is imperative that if we are serious about reducing the carbon emission from buildings (which is currently a key design driver), then we cannot afford to neglect natural ventilation as a serious option.

Research undertaken across thousands and thousands of users in an assortment of building types in different climatic zones around the world shows those users of naturally ventilated and hybrid buildings are more comfortable than or at least as comfortable as, users of an airconditioned buildings. (De Dear, Nicols, Roaf et al)

Imagine how much heat we will save from expelling into the atmosphere and how much energy we will save if we adopt even a hybrid system to cool our buildings.

Once internal temperatures get above, for example, 28 degrees and the outside temperature is even hotter users have the option to turn on their airconditioning. Sydney, however, has on average of only 15 days a year that over 30 degrees.
The cost of implementing natural ventilation into a facility is extremely low on a square metres basis and the options of automating windows or using other proprietary systems – for instance WINDATCHERSTM – can have pay back periods of between three to five years in a hybrid solution.

Energy savings for a mixed mode (hybrid) system are on average 59 per cent (Carnegie Mellon; 2004). An Australian study carried out in 2002 at Sydney University indicated the energy savings can be up to 79 per cent (D Rowe, 2002).

Through smart building design utilising simple initiatives that are low or zero cost, combined with knowledge and understanding of air flows linked to an adaptive comfort criteria, we can improve the inhabitants comfort while reducing energy and carbon emissions significantly. Surely a win–win situation.

John Brodie is the principal and founder of consultancy Vim Sustainability Pty Ltd and has an extensive background as construction project manager, design manager and builder and specialises in passive and low tech sustainable building design strategies.

Energy efficiency grants opening 13 February

2012-02-09T02:30:33Z

9 February 2012 – The Federal Government today (Thursday) opened its package of energy efficiency programs designed to improve energy efficiency in households communities and businesses.

The programs opened include:

The Community Energy Efficiency Program – $200 million to assist local government, not-for-profit and community organisations to undertake energy efficiency upgrades to community infrastructure.
The Low Income Energy Efficiency Program – $100 million to support groups of service providers to demonstrate smarter energy use in low income households across Australia.
The Energy Efficiency Information Grants program – $40 million to support small and medium sized businesses and community groups by providing information and advice to make smarter energy choices.

Applications open on 13 February. Details: www.climatechange.gov.au

The happy drug in your own backyard

2012-02-08T21:56:17Z

8 February 2012 – From The Atlantic: I’m holding a bowl of dirt up to my nose in hopes of getting high on the fumes of my backyard compost pile. The microbe that I’m after today is M. vaccae, a living creature that acts like a mind-altering drug once it enters the human body.

It has been shown to boost the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine circulating in the systems of both humans and mice. In other words, it works in much the same manner as antidepressant pills. And yes, it is possible to dose yourself by simply breathing in the smell of good dirt.

The drug-like effects of this soil bacteria were discovered, quite by accident, about a decade ago. A doctor named Mary O’Brien created a serum out of the bacteria and gave it to lung-cancer patients, in hopes that it might boost their immune systems.

Instead, she noticed another effect: The hospital patients perked up. They reported feeling happier and suffered from less pain than the patients who did not receive doses of bacteria. Further studies in mice confirmed the mood-boosting effect of the soil bugs.

Read the whole story

and thanks to Treehugger for the pointer

UK lifts feed-in tariff

2012-02-07T22:59:15Z

8 February 2012 – The UK government’s intention to raise its feed-in tariff for micro combined heat and power has been welcomed by Ceramic Fuel Cells whose BlueGen product is sold to the residential market in that country.

UK Minister of State (Climate Change), Greg Barker said Micro-CHP could play a much larger role in driving the decentralised energy revolution.

Geothermal, the latest “must have” in energy

2012-02-07T23:03:13Z

Geothermal systems tap the earth's natural heat

By Lynne Blundell

8 February 2012 – Geothermal systems are the latest technology to be embraced by wealthy residential clients who wish to be green leaders, according to architect Luigi Rosselli, with one of the firm’s Sydney clients recently installing a geothermal system that will see energy costs almost halved.

“Our clients are renovating a large house in Woollahra and while they wanted airconditioning, they were amenable to using geothermal technology, which uses a fraction of the power needed for a normal airconditioning system,” Rosselli says.

But the upfront capital and installation costs of geothermal are high so clients are usually motivated by their desire to be leaders in sustainable technology.

Luigi Rosselli

Luigi Rosselli Architects last year won the Milo Dunphy Sustainability Award from the Australian Institute of Architects NSW for one of its residential projects in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

As we reported in an earlier story, the firm is proactive in getting clients to make sustainable choices, with Rosselli designing a clause in his contracts, for instance, that encourages clients to avoid airconditioning and in- floor heating or pay a penalty.

See our article Luxury green bling or responsible comfort?

Half of the fee applied to these technologies by the firm is donated to carbon emission reduction advocacy groups.

Hugh Campbell, associate with Luigi Rosselli Architects, was closely involved with the Woollahra geothermal project. He says geothermal technology, which uses the heat stored in the ground to produce energy, can dramatically reduce a household’s energy bills. But because of the high upfront and installation costs, the systems are more popular in cold climate locations such as Europe and North America where payback times are faster.

“It is fairly unusual to put in one of the systems in Sydney. Geothermal is more widely used in Melbourne and Canberra but our clients were keen to make a difference.

“They have chosen to keep the original house rather than demolish it, something that we encourage because of the huge amounts of embodied energy in buildings. It’s not necessarily the cheapest option but it is the most sustainable,” says Mr Campbell.

The Woolahra geothermal drilling

Other technologies used in the project include ground water retention systems, photovoltaics, heat reclamation and grey water re-use.

“The other thing we are trying more at this end of the market is on-site gas generation, like the Blue Gen technology,” says Mr Campbell.

Melbourne-based geothermal company, Direct Energy, was chosen for the project. Winner of the Best green start up of 2011 in the Australian Start Up Smart Awards, (founded by entrepreneur Amanda Gome), Direct Energy is a privately owned Australian company and has a licence to use US-based direct exchange technology, as none of the systems are manufactured in Australia.

Direct Energy’s business development manager, Nicholas McGloin told The Fifth Estate that most geothermal systems installed in Australia have been water based, using plastic pipes. The one used in the Rosselli Architects project is a direct exchange system which uses copper loops and refrigerant instead of water.

“These are more suitable for smaller applications as they have higher efficiency,” says McGloin.

Australian clients
Direct Energy has installed 150 ground source heat pumps in Australia over the past three years, in a mix of high end residential and commercial projects. The company installs both water-based and direct exchange systems. Recent clients include Byron Bay Library, the Geoscience building in Canberra and the Ausgrid Learning Centre at Silverwater in Sydney, where 64 water loops were installed 100 metres under the ground and operate in conjunction with a tri-generation plant.

McGloin says the costs of installation for the direct exchange system are high but once in the ground the systems are virtually maintenance free and highly efficient.

“As a guide the smallest residential system can be installed for around $35,000 but as most of our projects have been more substantial architect designed homes, they have averaged around $55,000.”

At Woollahra the cost was around $250,000 but this was because of of the system’s complexity.

McGloin says: “There were five systems of various sizes serving different zones and levels of the original house and the extension.

“It also had premium fittings and controls.”

On the Woollahra project the team also needed to bring in a 50 tonne crane to drill down 30 metres. Some caution was required because one of the tunnels for the Eastern Suburbs railway line runs below the block of land.

“Drilling is an issue in any CBD work, “ says McGloin. “There are underground streams, optical fibre cables, sewerage lines and railway tunnels to contend with.”

Worldwide geothermal use on the increase
According to figures from the International Geothermal Association (IGA), in 2010 10,900 megawatts of geothermal capacity was installed worldwide, generating enough electricity for around six million households. The potential is enormous says the IGA, estimating there is enough heat under the ground to meet the world’s energy needs for around 100,000 years.

The advantage of geothermal plants is that despite their high upfront and installation costs, they have very low operations costs, including zero fuel expense.

In the US the Environmental Protection Agency has identified geothermal heat pumps as a technology that significantly reduces greenhouse gas and other air emissions associated with heating, cooling and water heating residential buildings, while saving consumers money, compared to conventional technologies.

Research by Ruggero Bertani, executive director of the IGA and geothermal business development manager for Italian energy provider ENEL SpA, shows that Iceland is the world’s biggest user of geothermal energy per head of population, with 575 megawatts of installed capacity, one quarter of Iceland’s electricity usage. Iceland’s geothermal energy generation increased by 210 per cent between 2005 and 2010. This compares with a decline of 5 per cent in Australia over the same period.

Other countries investing heavily in geothermal power include Indonesia with 1197 MW of installed capacity in 2010, the Philippines (1904 MW) and Mexico (958 MW).

Bertani forecasts worldwide geothermal capacity to increase by 72 per cent between 2010 and 2015.

To see the research paper and table comparing geothermal use around the world click here. (http://geotermia.org.mx/geotermia/pdf/WorldUpdate2010-Ruggero.pdf)

Government commitment lacking
Government rebate schemes for geothermal heat pumps exist in the US, Canada and UK but so far Australia has not extended incentives applied to the solar hot water industry to geothermal technologies.

The Australian Geothermal Energy Association, which entails both geothermal hot-rock & heat-pump technologies is actively lobbying for geothermal rebates.

Nicholas McGloin says Direct Energy has a very high inquiry rate but high installation costs can be prohibitive. He would like to see some government assistance made available to ground source heat pumps similar to that available for solar hot water systems.

“One of our directors, Professor Donald Payne from the University of Melbourne, recently organised a delegation of Canadian geothermal experts to visit Australia to talk to federal and state government representatives about the benefits and potential of geothermal technology,” says McGloin.

“In Canada, the US and Europe there is more incentive provided by government for ground-source heating. Something like a REC [renewable energy certificate] would be good here.”

lblundell@thefifthestate.com.au

New pollution laws in NSW require immediate reporting

2012-02-07T07:29:30Z

7 February 2012 – The Orica chemical spills at Newcastle and Port Botany in NSW have led to tough new laws that require immediate notification of environmental pollution and stiff penalties for corporations and individuals.

The new laws, which came into effect on 6 February, include doubling of the maximum penalties to $2 million for corporations and $500,000 for individuals who fail to report a pollution incident. Daily penalties have also doubled to $240,000 for corporations and $120,000 for individuals.

The new laws, section 148 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, replace former rules that required notification “as soon as practicable.”

This ruling, affects organisations holding an environment protection licence under the Act and anyone causing a pollution incident where material harm to the environment is caused or threatened.

According to a report by global consultancy WSP Environment & Energy http://www.wspenvironmental.com/newsroom/news-2/view/new-pollution-reporting-introduced-in-nsw-australia-330 the changes have been made as a result of recent incidents at the Orica manufacturing site in NSW.

See lists of coverage of the Orica

Licence holders have from 29 February to start preparing pollution incident response plans for each of the licensed activities in Part 5.7A of the Act. They have to be in place by 1 September.

Any data collected as a result of a licence condition from 31 March 2012 also has to be published within 14 days of collection.

- By Lyn Drummond

New tools calculate greenhouse footprint of roads

2012-02-07T00:57:28Z

7 February 2012: From Roads Australia News – Australian and New Zealand road agencies have jointly funded a project to develop a common approach to the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the design, construction and operation of a road project.

For the first time, proponents can assess the whole of life emissions associated with a particular road construction project.

The final product is the joint effort of six road agencies (Roads and Maritime Services NSW, the New Zealand Transport Authority, the SA Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, the Tasmanian Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, Main Roads Western Australia, and VicRoads), although it is anticipated that it will be utilised by all road agencies across Australia.

The project has involved two discrete stages:

The development of a workbook to document the emission factors utilised and the assumptions made to develop a standardised approach for a suite of standard pavement designs over the whole of life of a road project; and
The development of a user-friendly calculator known as Carbon Gauge to identify emissions associated with each stage in the life of a road considered to generate materially significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, namely construction, maintenance and operation (street lights and traffic lights).

Read the whole story

Why are people with mobile phones still using kerosene for light?

2012-02-07T21:09:30Z

By Monique Alfris

7 February 2012 – We’ve heard it all before. The developing world, they are so poor. They live in the dark. They have no other options.

But is this really true?

I’ve been travelling across some of the poorest countries in the Asia-Pacific with Good Return and everywhere I go I see people with poor-quality light. People using wood fires.

And this isn’t unusual – almost 40 per cent of the world’s population rely on some form of biomass for cooking and heating and 20 per cent have no access to electricity. And yet another 15 per cent only have access to unreliable electricity networks.

But many of the people I’ve seen are also riding motor bikes, using top-quality shampoo and laundry detergent, and are talking on mobile phones.

The International Telecommunications Union stated that by the end of 2011, five billion people worldwide had mobile phones – and the coverage rate in the developing world was 79 per cent.

Which means there are people using kerosene for light and wood for fires, but mobiles for communication.

And actually, there are a significant number of people like this.

How has this happened?
I’ve read over and over that there are three main issues associated with energy poverty; three issues which standards groups, certifications schemes, Clean Development Mechanism schemes, donor funds and entire research centres have spent years working on: access to information, access to after-sales service and access to finance.

But didn’t people face these same barriers before they bought a mobile phone?

Perhaps a few answers
I know people are not happy with their kerosene light and wood fires. But when I spoke to my investment banker brother he was clear: “The benefits of the change do not outweigh the costs.”

Perhaps people do not understand the benefits – maybe because marketers keep focusing on payback. (And tell me, what exactly is the payback on expensive shampoo?)

Perhaps the quality of products is the issue, as found in this highly sceptical GTZ report of solar lanterns

Or maybe a person’s life just doesn’t change enough when they make the switch to good quality light or smokeless stoves – and so people are just making do until they are reached by more reliable, cheaper sources of modern energy.

A year of sustainable energy for all
This year is the UN’s International Year of Sustainable Energy for All

Over the next year I plan to contribute articles to The Fifth Estate about some of the answers the best companies and organisations have found – from energy companies, to microfinance institutions, to investors, to local entrepreneurs.

May it truly be a year of sustainable energy for all.

See how Greece has returned to using wood for heating, following steep fuel prices

Monique Alfris is the sustainable energy field coordinator for Good Return. If you would like to directly fund a microloan to help a woman step out of poverty, go to Good Return

Follow Monique

Energy of word award open

2012-02-06T23:40:24Z

7 February 2012 – Journalists and media organisations have until 6 April to submit entries for the annual energy of word award, a competition run by the organisers of the global energy prize.

The energy of word prize rewards those who have written an illuminating story on world energy challenges or any scientific innovations which provide new energy efficiencies.

The winner will receive a week-long all-expenses paid trip to St Petersburg, Russia in June.

Details

Story of a roofgarden

2012-02-08T04:51:34Z

7 September 2012 – From Treehugger: Brooklyn Botanic Garden captured the early-autumn installation of its new Visitor Center’s living roof in 3,600 individual photographs. With a soundtrack by Brooklyn-based artist Terence Bernardo (terencebernardo.com), this time-lapse video condenses a month of soil dispersal, planting, watering, and a surprise snowfall into two minutes of gardening history.

Click on the image to go to the video.

For more information about the living roof and other BBG projects, click here

Thirst: a film about what happens when the water runs out

2012-02-08T21:51:53Z

Here’s a film, by award winning director and author Robert Carter, that shows what happens when the water tanks run dry. Thirst is not directly about climate change and it’s not directly about the devastating consequences to your body and mind when there’s nothing left to drink.

Instead it’s a poignant and gripping narrative set paradoxically in a place where time seems to stand still. Perhaps even a love story. And you get the drift on climate change.

With Victoria Haralabidou, Myles Pollard, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence, Tom Green

See the website: www.thirstthefilm.com

or Chauvel Palace Cinemas

Job news – where they’re going, what they’re saying in green building world

2012-02-09T06:01:07Z

9 February 2012 – Daniel Grollo and Siobhan Toohill have been appointed joint deputy chairs of the

Daniel Grollo

Green Building Council of Australia, joining Tony Arnel who has been reappointed as chair. Each of the terms are for12 months.

Daniel Grollo is chief executive officer of Grocon. He is a non-executive director on the Bluescope Steel Board, and is a former national president of the Property Council of Australia.

Ms Toohill is general manager, corporate responsibility & sustainability for Stockland, a director of the

Siobhan Toohill

Australian Building Codes Board, a member of the federal government’s Built Environment Industry Innovation Council and she also chair the Property Council of Australia’s national sustainability roundtable.

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Jeff Connolly, Siemens

Jeff Connolly

8 February 2012 – Jeff Connolly has been appointed chief executive officer at Siemens Australia. He is currently senior executive vice president of Siemens North East Asia and takes over the new role on 1 March.

Mr Connolly was chief financial officer in Australia from 2002 to 2008, has been based in China for three years and has also lived and worked in Germany. He holds a commerce degree from the University of Melbourne University and broad international managerial background.

Mr Goller who has held the CEO role for nine years had recently implemented the company’s “Picture the Future: Australia 2030″ research program which had provided “thought-provoking and world-leading research on global megatrends for the Australian context” and he has been recognised as one of Australia’s most influential engineers, Siemens said in a statement.

Siemens launched operations in Australia in 1872 and in New Zealand in 1876. It claims the largest environmental portfolio of any other company worldwide, a research budget of $A6.3 billion and 30,000 research and development employees worldwide. In 2011, Siemens was ranked No 1 in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index DJSI as the most sustainable company in its industry for the fourth consecutive year.

Suzette Jackson

Suzette Jackson

Suzette Jackson has left Hassell after 19 years to pursue interests in research, sustainable design and communities and work with a number of universities and green building organisations.
Ms Jackson was most recently sustainability leader and knowledge leader at the firm and established its Sustainable Futures Unit, providing sustainability expertise and research internationally and speaking at numerous such as the recent SB11 World Sustainable Building Conference in Helsinki.
She has also been involved in key projects such as the ANZ Centre Melbourne, Deutsche Bank Hong Kong and the practice’s own Melbourne studio.

Tony Arnel has stepped down as Victorian Building & Plumbing Commissioner, after an inquiry into the commission which found issues of documentation in the building industry. He is currently Green Building Council Chair, in a term that was last week extended. Late last year he resigned as chair of the World GBC.

See our post
and comments.

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John Brogden

John Brogden
31 January 2012 – Former NSW Liberal leader John Brogden is the new chairman of NSW state development agency Landcom. The move has prompted calls from some developers that given Mr Brogden’s planning interests and understanding of the state political system, the opportunity be seized to reshape the agency into an urban development authority.

Mr Brogden replaces William Kirkby-Jones.

Nadia Woodhouse
Net Balance has appointed Nadia Woodhouse as an associate in its Melbourne office, pushing staff numbers to now more than 50. Ms Woodhouse has more than six years experience in the professional services industry, most recently working in sustainability consulting with ASX 200 companies in the manufacturing, retail, food and grocery, financial services and IT areas. Ms Woodhouse has also worked with Ernst & Young and with resources companies such as Woodside Petroleum; Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips.

She is also on the board of not for profit company Spark* International and holds a Masters of Environment (Climate Change) from the University of Melbourne, a degree in commerce/science from the University of Western Australia and qualifications as an accountant.

Geoff Gedge

Geoff Gedge

Former Property Funds Association chief executive Geoff Gedge will continue his work sourcing renewable energy solutions now that his firm Grenroc has joined Attila Fekete in Sydney and Anthony Warren in Auckland New Zealand in their Columbus Equity Partners operation.

The company will offer transaction services, support for mergers and acquisitions, fund establishment and administration, capital raising and other capital markets services.

Mr Gedge, a lawyer, has worked investment banking, funds management, property syndication and mergers and acquisitions in roles with Gadens, Axa, Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers.

Some of his sustainability work includes with a company known as Air From Water and its low energy systems for cooling towers. Mr Gedge said the company was initially interested in capital but he is now assisting it to roll out the systems to a number of properties in a government portfolio.

A challenge in introducing new systems in cooling towers included a high risk of voiding maintenance agreements.

“It’s about the ability to go in and negotiate with six or seven stakeholders along the way,” he said.

Current projects also included working with a US real estate investment trust Urban America in sourcing Australian property for its $10 billion portfolio in the hotel and government leased office sector.

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Pick of the job

1 February 2012 – Investa is seeking a sustainability, safety and environment administrator.

Campbelltown College is seeking a leader environmental sustainability – chief education officer, in the

Tourism, Hospitality, Primary Industry and Arts Faculty at a total package is up to $124,491 a year. Contact (02) 4620 1772

Officeworks is seeking a sustainability specialist for its East Bentleigh offices in Melbourne to work over 140 retail stores, two call centres and seven distribution centres.

The Green Building Council of Australia is recruiting for two positions – case manager and senior technical manager. Applications close 3 February. Contact: carol.lane@gbca.org.au

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Megan Dugdale

Megan Dugdale
24 January 2012 – Megan Dugdale has been appointed by The Planning Institute of Australia to create protocols for regional and remote area planners to better deal with natural disasters.

Ms Dugdale, a former airport redevelopment manager will set up the PIA project aimed at supporting post disaster planning in flood affected areas, working out of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.

“With this system in place professional knowledge developed through post disaster recovery experience will be easily accessed by planners in affected areas,” Ms Dugdale said.

The project will include the establishment of web based links and resources on post disaster planning, educational seminars, volunteer support and outreach services.

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Stan Krpan

Stan Krpan

18 January 2012 – Stan Krpan is the new chief executive officer of Sustainability Victoria.

Mr Krpan was formerly general manager of governance at Sustainability Victoria and led the Sustainability Victoria review.

He has held senior roles at WorkSafe Victoria and in 2010 undertook an independent review of EPA Victoria.

Alex Bruce
Perth-based eTool is seeking a tool client development officer for its national and overseas expansion.

Alex Bruce, one of the software company’s three directors, told The Fifth Estate: “Up until now I have been responsible for all of the business development (including marketing and sales) for eTool but really need a hand so I can keep up with all of the larger opportunities that are now presenting themselves both in Australia and internationally.”

Mr Bruce said the company was formed with the sole purpose of assisting in the development of a sustainable future.

“The eTool software is an innovative tool for conducting life cycle assessment of the built form for energy, carbon and cost,” he said.

The new position requires someone with a sales and marketing background. Details

Greenpeace

Greenpeace in action

Greenpeace Australia-Pacific has created a new head of programs position as part of a restructure in the wake of funding difficulties.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Julie Macken told The Fifth Estate the Sydney based headquarters which employs 75 staff had devoted the past six months to establishing a more cost effective model to counter financial issues she attributed to the effects of the global financial crisis.

It has merged communications and campaigns departments to save costs and created an overall position of head of programs rather than individual team leaders.

“The move away from the previous structure of team leader to a program model is a more integrated way of managing campaigns,” she said. “Rather than the silo system this type of model is more team based, more coordinated.” In the process about six staff were shed.

The new head of programs would be managing Greenpeace’s four campaigns – oceans, climate, forests and genetically modified food – while, as Ms Macken put it, “keeping their head up sufficiently to look over the horizon.”

The head of programs will lead a large team of staff working across Australia, in Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Applications close 26 January 2012. Contact: +61 2 9263 0346

Greencross
Greencross is looking for a “dynamic digitial content officer” to join its team. It is also looking for an executive Support Officer will report to the chief executive. Contact 07 3003 0644

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Cundall
22 December 2011 – Cundall is seeking an environmentally sustainable development consultant for its Melbourne office. The role is to “create ESD solutions for new and existing buildings through the use of analysis tools including thermal, energy and daylight simulation, airflow modelling in and around buildings, and solar access and shading studies,” a Cundall advertisement says. Contact r.jones@cundall.com.au

Peter Mould

19 December 2011 – Peter Mould, NSW government architect and general manager of the government architect’s office who retires from the position in January advises his successor to “do it your way.” See story

Angelo Di Marco, Jenny Saliba, Geoffrey Lee, John Churchill, Woodhead

Angelo Di Marco

14 December 2011 – Angelo Di Marco has been appointed chief executive officer Woodhead, as part of a major restructure and refocus of the architectural practice.

The move is part of a “generational shift” that will position Woodhead as a “vibrant and design focused” company, after a number of resignations and retirements have seen total employee numbers fall from about 250 to about 210 nationally, a company spokesperson said.

Mr Di Marco replaces Geoffrey Lee who was managing principle since 1993 and had been with the company for about 30 years. He recently relocated to Shanghai.

Woodhead chairman John Churchill said the appointment of Mr Di Marco to the leadership role, after 16 years with the company, was recognition that design firms “must be led by designers who are not only skilled in their profession but understand and have a global outlook.”

Mr Di Marco had worked on “large, complex and business critical projects designed to provide sustainable competitive advantages to his clients,” Mr Churchill said.

Recent projects handled by the company include Sydney Airport Terminals 1 and 2, the Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne, Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide, and the new campus for Southern Cross University on the Gold Coast and international projects such as Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.

The company has also appointed Jenny Saliba as a chief operating officer. Ms Saliba has previously worked with Lend Lease, Savills, Multiplex and ING Real Estate.

Craig Price and four new directors of NZGBC

13 December 2011 – Craig Price, regional manager of engineering consultancy group Beca is the new chair of the New Zealand Green Building Council.

Mr Price brings a wealth of property experience and knowledge to the role as a chartered professional engineer, a fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers and chair of IPENZ’s Competence Assessment Board. See story

NZGBC has four new directors. They are:

Lincoln Fraser, development director, Newcrest Group. He has been responsible for a number of commercial and residential projects including Auckland’s KPMG Centre, Vodafone venue and the 5 Green Star – Office Design certified NZI Centre.

Teena Pennington, director of strategy, planning and urban design, Wellington City Council. Ms Pennington has more than 12 years’ experience in urban planning, planning, urban design and engineering across public and private sectors in Australia and New Zealand.

Mary-Jane Daly, executive general manager, State Insurance, IAG

At IAG Ms Daly has overall responsibility for the state Insurance business.

Simon Wilson, project manager, RDT Pacific

Mr Wilson has provided industry support to the NZGBC in the development of rating tools and his experience includes construction project management across local government, healthcare, commercial and industrial buildings, including the first 4 Green Star certified industrial building – the CourierPost mail centre.

Steve Hennessey, Nick Deeks, Hermanus Louw

Steve Hennessey

7 December 2011 – Sustainability engineer Steve Hennessey will head up a new sustainability unit for WT Partnership along with Nick Deeks who will be director in the unit and Hermanus Louw as sustainability manager.

Mr Hennessy, credited as one of the leaders of the sustainability movement (See our profile) has most recently been running his own business AHA Management and previously was a director with Steenson Varming where he worked on buildings such as the Sydney Opera House, the National Gallery, the High Court of Australia and Parliament House in Canberra.

Mr Deeks is a quantity surveyor and cost manager with specialist skills in infrastructure and building services engineering. He has worked with Drake & Scull Engineering and Gleeds Chartered Quantity Surveyors in the UK. He joined the WT Partnership’s Sydney office in 1995 and has headed WT Partnership’s Infrastructure Group and is now a senior director of the company.

Mr Louw is an accredited LEED professional and trainer and has extensive in the Middle East, Asia, the UK, South Africa and Australia.

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Jobs on offer

NSW

8 December 2011 – World Wildlife Fund Australia is seeking a skilled manager to coordinate the Australian component of the Global Forest and Trade Network The role promotes the uptake of sustainably sourced palm oil, policy reforms and consumer outreach to support WWF’s global network efforts to transform markets and production methods for key tropical forest products. Six months, potential for one year. Contact www.wwf.org.au enquiries to Nadja Hasenauer +61 (02) 8202 1210

And in academe…

NSW

Sydney’s University of Technology needs a lecturer/senior lecturer in sustainable management. Closing Friday 9 December. Details Dr Antoine Hermens on (02) 9514 3641.

ACT

The ACT may soon announce a new director sustainable land strategy, if its recent search, now closed, has gone well. The direct report to deputy director-general, Land Development, Strategy and Finance will facilitate the delivery of “complicated land matters” associated with land release and the need for affordable and sustainable development of the ACT. Details Ian Thomson +61 (02) 6205 3997 ian.thomson@act.gov.au

Queensland

Lecturer sustainable energy systems. Griffith School of Engineering is recruiting a lecturer to contribute to teaching and research in sustainable energy systems engineering. Details, associate professor Steven O’Keefe +61 7 3735 5380

South Australia

University of Adelaide is looking for a lecturer/senior lecturer in sustainable energy engineering. Details ww.adelaide.edu.au/jobs

Apply by 23 December 2011.

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Dexus, Victor Hoog Antink, Darren Steinberg, Colonial First State

28 November 2011 – Victor Hoog Antink announced on Monday that he would retire as CEO of Dexus Property Group in March next year, with his position to be filled by Darren Steinberg, whose position as CEO of Colonial Funds Management will be filled internally by Angus McNaughton. See full story

22 November 2011 – David Haythorn will join the Australian Property Institute on 5 December as the

David Haythorn

new national director/chief executive officer.

Mr Haythorn joins the API from his most recent role as general manager, Building Management Australia

Mr Haythorn is also the founding partner and shareholder in the Australian Real Estate Finance Group establishing the Raine and Horne Financial Services National franchise network.

API national president, Mr Philip Western said Mr Haythorn’s diverse property industry experience, expertise, skills and qualifications placed him in good stead to lead the API into the future.

21 November 2011 – Saul Eslake is leaving the Grattan Institute to take a new offer at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch. For details on the job opening see http://www.grattan.edu.au/careers.html

Chris Carolan, Grocon, John Spitznagel, MacquarieBank

Chris Carolan

16 November 2011 – Chris Carolan has joined Grocon as NSW head of development after leaving Lend Lease Solar.*

Mr Carolan, who joined Grocon three weeks ago said that from his point of view the core values of Grocon aligned with his own.

“Grocon’s core value is sustainability and they very much live it and breathe it, with buildings such as Pixel [in Melbourne] and 1 Bligh Street [in Sydney]. There’s a resonance between what I’ve done in the past and what they do as an organisation.”

Mr Carolan was at Lend Lease for 15 years, most recently as general manager Lend Lease Solar, and previously in roles including chief strategy officer Asia Pacific, Bovis Lend Lease, head of sustainability Asia Pacific, Bovis Lend Lease and project director of ANZ Centre, The Gauge and The Bond.

In other Grocon appointments John Spitznagel has joined Bevan Towning in the funds management area after 14 years with Macquarie Bank as head of development’s capital division.

In Melbourne Sean Sweeney recently joined as national construction manager after a role with Major Projects Victoria and earlier in the year Brian McAdam who worked for Grocon in the Black Saturday bushfire cleanup at Kinglake joined in Sydney as NSW construction manager.

Recent activity for Grocon includes the opening of Common Ground, a facility of 104 beds for homeless people in Sydney’s Camperdown, to be run by Mission Australia.

Another Common Ground is due for completion in Brisbane in April and also in Brisbane construction continues on 55 Elizabeth Street for the Australian Tax Office.

In Melbourne Swanston Square is the new name for the former Portrait, the multi rise timber residential building still under construction, which features a large portrait of Wurundjeri elder William Barak.

Work is also under way to redevelop the Myer store in Bourke Street from Colonial, with the proceedings visible in time lapse images on www.grocontv.com.au

In Sydney the company is still waiting for approval for the off-grid Legion House.

[*Lend Lease Solar was launched in August last year with great expectations (See our article on the launch http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/archives/14866) but according to industry sources suffered under the twin blows of erratic feed-in tariffs decided by state governments and an influx of cheap low grade imports to the market. It is understood the residential side of the business is no longer operating but that the commercial side is still open.]

Paola Bevilacqua, Australand

Paolo Bevilacqua

Also in a new role after leaving Lend Lease Solar is Paulo Bevilacqua, now national sustainability manager with Australand.

He was previously business development manager with Lend Lease Solar and during his eight and a half years with Lend Lease has also been sustainability leader commercial with Bovis Lend Lease.

Mr Bevilacqua said that in his new role a key focus would be on achieving Green Star ratings with industrial property.

Foremost with these would be the Corporate Express headquarters at Eastern Creek in Sydney, now sold, where Australand was hoping for a five star Green Star rating under a pilot rating and a development at Keysborough in south east Melbourne that was on track to achieve four stars, and possibly five.

Were tenants drivers in this? Mr Bevilaqua said yes to some extent in the case of Corporate Express but not for the Melbourne projects which were initiated as a speculative development..

Mr Bevilacqua was on route to Singapore when The Fifth Estate spoke to him this week. He was scheduled to attend one of the quarterly meetings of sustainability managers employed by CapitaLand, Australand’s parent company.

John Thwaites is appointed new chair of Australian Building Codes Board

John Thwaites

16 November 2011 –Former Victorian Deputy Premier and sustainability champion John Thwaites has been appointed as chair of the Australian Building Codes Board.

Federal Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said: “Mr Thwaites’ work on building sustainability and climate change issues through the Green Building Council, Monash University and Maddocks law firm made him an ideal person to lead the ABCB through the key challenges ahead.

“The ABCB will also benefit from Mr Thwaites’ broader experience in relation to planning and local government, particularly with his former portfolio responsibilities of health, planning, and the environment, water and communities.”

The ABCB is responsible for developing a nationally consistent approach to building and plumbing regulations through the National Construction Code.

Outgoing chair is Graham Huxley who has held the role since 2006.

“Mr Huxley has successfully guided the ABCB through one of its busiest periods of building regulation reform. These achievements include implementation of the COAG initiated NCC, energy efficiency provisions for commercial and residential buildings, improved access for people with disabilities, as well as responding decisively to a number of natural disasters,” Senator Carr said.

Mark Pitman to head up new Cundall office in Perth

Mark Pitman

16 November 2011 – Mark Pitman has been appointed to head the new Perth operation for specialist ESD consultant Cundall, after the firm’s involvement in a number of WA projects including the recent fitout of 140 William Street in the CBD

The announcement is another step in a steady build up of sustainability capacity in the west by eastern seaboard companies, as the mining boom stimulates demand for more development generally and mining companies increasingly seek a sustainability-minded profile.

Dr Pitman said: “This is a critical time for the building industry in Perth as the city is literally evolving as we speak. There are numerous major projects in progress that have the capacity to change the face of Perth forever and the opportunity to have an impact from a sustainability point of view on the future of the city is both rare and exciting,” he said.

Dr Pitman will blend his new role at Cundall with his own ODS Engineering business, which develops software for energy efficient building design, and as a lecturer in Building Science in the Architecture Department at Curtin University.

His track record includes work on a number of high profile projects in Western Australia including the six-star Green Star Durack 2, the five star Green Star 140 William Street, Fiona Stanley Hospital, the Northbridge-link masterplan and the Port Oakajee development.

Cundall chief executive officer, Australia, Simon Wild, said Dr Pitman’s wide range of experience – and passion – for sustainability would be a perfect fit with Cundall’s drive into more collaborative innovation and knowledge sharing throughout the industry.

Dr Pitman said the company’s new offices at 40 Pier Street in Perth, would demonstrate its philosophy in terms of innovative techniques and technical development. The offices feature natural ventilation and extensive use of recycled materials and furniture.

“We are committed to making Cundall a focal point for leadership in sustainability in the Perth market. By facilitating an open door policy for the industry in our new office, we want to encourage everyone with a passion for sustainable design and development to leverage our national and international experience and help realise a sustainable vision for Perth,” Dr Pitman said.

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Nicola Woodward

Nicola Woodward, Apex, MBM

16 November 2011 – Nicola Woodward‘s Apex Property Consulting has merged with MBM, a quantity surveying and technical advisory firm, with Ms Woodward now associate director.

Ms Woodward, a contributor to The Fifth Estate on taxation issues has been a director at Taxnology Pty Ltd, director at Apex, manager research and tax co-ordinator at Napier & Blakeley, and has also worked at Andersen’s and at the Valuation Office Agency.

RICS in Asia push

Quah Lee Kiang

28 October 2011 – The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Oceania has appointed Singaporean Quah Lee Kiang to its new sustainability board to better tap into the burgeoning work on offer in the Asian region.

Dr Quah Lee Kiang director of the Real Estate and Construction Academy in Singapore. She is also an Honorary Fellow of Oxford Brookes University in the UK.

Sustainability board chair John Goddard said the board was formed from the Oceania sustainable steering group, which has been in operation for five years and has generated RICS’ global suite of sustainability guidance notes.

Other board members includeJudith Knott, Nick Deeks, Sara Wilkinson, Mark Willers, David Waldren, Peter Moon and Clive Warren.

Shailesh Tyagi, Deloitte

Deloitte is looking to build up its sustainability and climate change practice, searching for recruits to establish a Perth office and for senior manager level a senior analyst recruits for the Melbourne office.

Technical lead for the group Shailesh Tyagi described his group as a “niche practice” which would work with companies on “high level strategic work” to offer energy and sustainability related solutions.

Mr Tyagi, who has a background in sustainable property advisory work for the New Zealand Green Building Council, said expected focus of the team would be specific impacts of the carbon price, and green building and energy assessment work.

The firm recently promoted Shauna Coffey, to director, sustainability & climate change at Deloitte, from her previous role as manager.

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Sacha Coles

Tim Conybeare, Peter Phillips, Sacha Coles, Aspect Studios

28 October 2011 – Landscape architecture firm Aspect Studios is opening an Adelaide office to be staffed by directors Tim Conybeare and Peter Phillips who recently joined the company from Swanbury Penglase architects, plus a third employee.

Aspect’s national studio director Sacha Coles said it was part of steady “organic” growth by the firm, which was now about 60 staff strong. In Shanghai, China, however, the firm had doubled in size in the past 12 months to about 25 the staff.

The majority of Australian staff were in Melbourne, with more than 20, with three added recently, and Sydney about 18.

Mr Coles, a principal of the company along with major shareholders Chris Razzell in China, Kirsten Bauer in Melbourne plus digital director Jesse Sago, said staff numbers tended to fluctuate in line with projects.

Asked what the outlook was for his industry, Mr Coles said that in Sydney, “I don’t think it’s great, it’s stable at the moment. There are a few really big projects but they are not moving as fast as they could.”

He said Melbourne had not seemed very active earlier in the year but in recent times activity “has really picked up.” Adelaide was very quiet. “We have enough [work] to keep us going but we’re pretty conservative; we’re not in it for a strategy of growth in the case of Adelaide.”

He said the firm overall had three to four months of forward work, but that in landscape architecture, with its short and smaller value projects, this was considered “pretty good.”

“If you are healthy for four to six months, it’s really good.”

“Our projects are so much smaller. Architects might have $1 million in fees, but we need 20 [typical sized] projects [to bring in that amount.] ”

Biggest projects at present was the redevelopment of the southern portion of Darling Harbour – about 12 hectares in size, dwarfing the seven ha that would be offered with the Barangaroo project.

Michael Corcoran

Michael Corcoran, UDIA

Executive chairman of Clarendon Residential Michael Corcoran has been re-elected as President of the Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW.

UDIA council members also includes Simon Basheer (Lend Lease), Barry Mann (Stockland), Tony Pizzolato (Australand), Martin Wells (Cardno), Judy McKittrick (Boral), Trevor Jensen (Mirvac), John Georgas (BCS), Paul Hedge (BMD), Brendan Maier (Colin Biggers & Paisley) and Stephen McMahon (Inspire), Gabrielle Morrish (GM Urban Design & Architecture), and Toby Tames (Brown Consulting).

Ari Petrovs, Grocon, CBRE

13 October 2011 – Ari Petrovs has moved to CBRE in the Melbourne office, in the role of national projects director – office services.

Mr Petrovs, a planner, was previously with Grocon for 10 years and managed “complex mixed use projects such as Grocon’s $600 million QV development and $1.3 billion Carlton Brewery project,” a CBRE statement said.

CBRE regional director, office services, James Patterson and Victorian senior managing director, Matt Haddon, said the appointment was part of CBRE’s strategy to raise the level of service available to clients.

jlllian Broadbent

Jillian Broadbent. Clean Energy Finance Corporation

12 October 2011 – [Updated] The new Clean Energy Finance Corporation will be headed by Reserve Bank board member Jillian Broadbent, the federal government announced on 12 October as the carbon price legislation passed through the Lower House.

Deloitte is expanding its sustainability and climate change capability starting with a search for a director for its Perth office in the newly established assurance and advisory – sustainability and climate change.

Bunnings is advertising for a new marketing sustainability co-ordinator for its Melbourne office to replace Hanna Hope who is leaving for overseas. The job requires a blend of environment and sustainability with public relations and marketing skills. Contact www.bunnings.com.au

Dual finance and sustainability role difficult to fill

Ben Gregg of Redpath Partners is seaching for a rare blend of skills: finance and sustainability for a leading Australian real estate investment trust. The job is to analyse at a sophisticated level what financial outcomes can be expected from a given NABERS energy rating. Mr Gregg said there probably only “a handful” of suitably qualified people for the job in Sydney. He said one candidate, ready to make the leap, was lured back at the last moment by their current employer.. Contact: ben@redpathpartners.com or 02) 80714260

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Urban Taskforce, Chris Johnson, Aaron Gadiel

: Chris Johnson, at a Taskforce event

5 October 2011 – Former NSW Government Architect, Chris Johnson has been appointed as new chief executive of the Urban Taskforce following the move of former CEO Aaron Gadiel to a senior role at Gadens. Mr Johnson was NSW Government Architect for 10 years and was later appointed executive director in the NSW Department of Planning. He is also a former member of the Central Sydney Planning Committee and has written and edited 14 books on urban planning and architecture.

Mr Johnson has embarked on the job with a promise to make development more central to the community and to tackle density. “I am also keen to change the simplistic debate on density, from being either for or against, to an understanding that there are a range of at least a dozen types of density and each has a place in the city of the future,” Mr Johnson said.

See our report http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/archives/28513

Sustainability Victoria, new CEO wanted

Sarah Hill

4 October 2011 – Sustainability Victoria is on the hunt for a new chief executive officer, despite a review of the organisation by the Coalition Government that has kept the outfit on ice since election of the Coalition Government last November. See our article Details: Jo Fisher or Kate Wheeler of Jo Fisher Executive, Ph: +61 3 9016 6000

Sarah Hill, Hill PDA

28 September 2011 – Sarah Hill, who will this week be announced as new president of the NSW Planning Institute of Australia, is looking for two or three new staff for Hill PDA, the property consulting firm she manages.

Ms Hill said the appointments were partly to expand the company’s reach.

“We’re looking for a young graduate planner to mentor,” Ms Hill said. “We have long term goals here and we just opened an office in Melbourne and want to open an office in Perth or Brisbane but the staff needs to be born out of our culture first. We are not in a rush.” The firm currently has 16 staff.

Ms Hill has managed the practice since returning from a six year working stint in the UK. Her father Martin, a land economist, started the company 20 years ago, but now concentrates on the firm’s sister company Estate Master whose key offering is a software system to run development feasibilities.

“You plug in all the costs and projected sales and see how to shape the development and how much profit you can make – or how ugly it could be. It tells you what you should pay for the land,” Ms Hill said. Key clients in 42 countries includes the Australian Department of Defence.

Anita Marriott, City of Vincent

Anita Marriott

27 September 2011 – According to Anita Marriott, who has recently been appointed projects officer, sustainability, at WA’s City of Vincent, there is a shortage of suitably qualified individuals for sustainability jobs in WA, despite many university courses now incorporating sustainability streams in their degree.

“There is a rapidly growing demand for “green-collar” workers, including sustainability officers, not only in local government but also in business and industry,” Ms Marriott The Fifth Estate.

Ms Marriott started her working life as a veterinarian, but after five years in practice decided that she wasn’t making enough of a difference in the world.

“I had always felt concerned about food-animal welfare and the degradation of natural environments, and decided to change to a field of work that addressed these problems, “ she said.

“ Realising that they stemmed from unsustainable systems of production, consumption and development, I decided to learn more about natural systems and sustainable alternatives.”

She spent three years at Perth’s Kings Park, working with WA’s native flora and studied horticulture, landscape design and sustainability.

She now works on amending and developing policies to align with the City’s sustainability commitments; promoting sustainable design to professionals involved in urban planning, design and construction; organising a range of sustainability courses, workshops and lectures for the community; and, more broadly, implementing the City’s Sustainable Environment Strategy.

Her predecessor moved interstate for personal reasons.

23 September 2011 – Recruiter Kay Farnell is searching for two junior mid-level community consultation roles in Newcastle, NSW – one permanent, the other for six months. The positions are with a government organisation dealing with major infrastructure projects. Contact: 02 9966 0969.

April Pressler, SBA

21 September 2011 –April Pressler has been appointed national manager secretariat, communications, member services and events at Sustainable Business Australia.

Chief executive officer Andrew Petersen told The Fifth Estate, the position of national manager had been now expanded to include communications and membership.

About to celebrate its 20^th year in November SBA wants to get its message across to a broader market segment through its communications role, Mr Petersen said.

Ms Pressler is a former government journalist and public affairs officer, specialising in Australia’s international media programs and visits to Australia. She was head of public affairs at Australian embassies in Mexico, Italy and the Philippines.

19 September 2011 – The Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating is in the market for a “gun conference and event manager,” according to chief executive officer Phil Wilkinson. ?”A love of air conditioning, refrigeration and heating is not required,” he said. “That will come with time.” Contact

14 September 2011 –

Left to right: Amanda Zappia, Jessica McCartney, Meg Wrixon

Amanda Zappia, Jessica McCartney, Meg Wrixon, WSP Lincolne Scott

WSP Lincolne Scott has named Amanda Zappia as group marketing and pubic relations co-ordinator in an internal appointment following the departure of Jessica McCartney from the role after five years. Meg Wrixon has also been appointed marketing and communications manager with the group after seven years with Energetics. Ms McCartney’s new role will be as national brand manager, Australian Red Cross Blood Service.

According to Ms Zappia WSP Lincolne Scott is currently recruiting for a number of new roles: two senior ESD consultants to join their environmental specialist division Built Ecology and also a senior public health/ hydraulic engineer. [Update: a correction has been made in relation to Ms Wrixon's former company]

Aaron Gadiel

Aaron Gadiel, Urban Taskforce

Aaron Gadiel, tireless and ubiquitous combatant for development issues through his chief executive role with The NSW Urban Taskforce said on Wednesday that he was leaving the post after four years. He has been appointed as director in the planning, environment and government team of Gadens.

Taskforce’s secretary/treasurer, David Tanevski said Mr Gadiel had made “a significant contribution” to changes in urban development policy that favour his members. Mr Gadiel described the Taskforce as a “counter-balance to the vast array of anti-development bodies that regularly appear in the media and lobby government.”

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8 September 2011 –

Kinesis

Bruce Taper’s Sydney based sustainability consultancy Kinesis is on the expansion trail, searching for a new senior consultant. The company currently has a team of 12 plus three students.

Colliers Perth

Colliers in Perth has recently signed a new recruit to deal with increasing demand, but Bruce Thompson, director strategic building solutions, said the name was still under wraps until the October starting date.

Mr Thompson said the appointment was both replacement for John Perovich who was part time in the role and an expansion to a full time position.

He said the new role would also be supported by another recruit in the near future as demand for services in the sustainability field continued to increase.

“I think there will be a lot to cover in this area,” Mr Thompson said.

“Demand will increase. First of all there is the NABERS legislation [mandatory disclosure of energy ratings] and we feel that the amount of reporting and new legislation will flow onto all buildings. It will become all encompassing. The trends are there.”

RICS, Julieanne McIntyre

Julieanne McIntyre, a former executive director of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, has moved into a new role at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, as NSW manager and RICS Oceania standards manager NSW Manager NSW Manager, where, she says, “sustainability is a critical part of mandatory standards and competencies for all the professions alongside ethics, leadership, business planning.”

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7 September 2011 -

Danielle McCartney

Danielle McCartney, UTS

Danielle McCartney has been appointed manager, sustainability at UTS with responsibility for implementing sustainability policies in the $1 billion development program currently under way at the campus, including the Frank Gehry designed Dr Chau Chak Wing Building. (See our report )

Ms McCartney said the role would also include “improving UTS’ operational sustainability performance, particularly with reference to our greenhouse gas reduction targets as part of our Australian Technology Network commitments.” The ATN commitment is for an 11 per cent reduction of greenhouse gasses on 2007 levels by 2012-13 and a 30 per cent reduction on 2007 levels by 2020-21.

Ms McCartney previously worked at sustainability consultants SBE, establishing the Sydney office of the Melbourne based company in 2006. Her former role is now held by Chris Begert in an internal appointment.

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DEXUS, Tonianne Dwyer

Tonianne Dwyer

7 September 2011 – DEXUS Property Group has appointed Tonianne Dwyer to the board as independent director. Ms Dwyer Dwyer is a

member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was director from 2006 until 2010 of UK listed company Quintain Estates and Development involved in funds management, investment and urban regeneration and was previously head of funds management from 2003. Chairman of DEXUS Property Group Chris Beare said Ms Dwyer had “an outstanding track record across listed property, funds management and corporate strategy.” She replaces Brian Scullin.

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Andrew Borger

Andrew Borger, Leightons

16 August 2011 – Leighton Properties’ Andrew Borger has been promoted to national head of commercial for the company from his previous role as Queensland state manager. Mr Borger is a member of the board of the Green Building Council of Australia.

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Tosh Szatow, Cape Paterson

Tosh Szatow has recently joined the Cape Paterson Eco-village design team as an independent consultant. For the last five years Mr Szatow has worked as a researcher, advocate and consultant in the area of local energy systems, most recently as project leader of the Intelligent Grid Project at CSIRO.

See a series of articles Mr Szatow has contributed to The Fifth Estate.

Mr Szatow said he was attracted to the Cape Paterson project, near Phillip Island in Victoria, by the holistic approach to sustainability adopted by developers Brendan Condon and Mike O’Mullane.

Tosh Szatow

He said the project aimed to find ways to make clean energy more affordable than the alternative and his hope was that it would “catalyse innovation across the property sector.”

Key features will include large scale revegetation of natural habitat, re-establishing wetlands, new walking and cycling tracks, high performance housing, on site power generation, electric vehicles, community gardens and community workspaces. “Somewhere amongst the site will be 220 residential lots.”

HFM Management, Ian Knox

Perth based building efficiency consultants HFM Asset Management is searching for three more staff to add to the company total of 25 to deal with a spike in demand for his company’s services caused by mandatory disclosure and steep energy price rises in Western Australia.

See our article on HFM and its work with John Bond

Two of the positions will be based in Perth and another is in Melbourne.

Mr Knox said that Perth businesses had recently been hit with energy price rises of 30 per cent.

“Small commercial users such as my office, of up to 4000 square metres are now paying 30 cents per kilowatt hour…it’s quite unheard of,” Mr Knox said. “Melbourne and Sydney are averaging half of that. It’s really quite extraordinary, what’s occurred.

“I personally don’t know of any other place in the country that charges that much for electricity.”

Mr Knox said the blame lay in the failed electricity privatisation program which has left major infrastructure in poor repair.

The upside for businesses such as his, though, is that there was major interest in cutting energy costs.

Other sources of work would emerge from the latest – and last – round of Green Building Fund grants; his firm had been involved in five of the grants, all for hotel upgrades.

Mr Knox said skilled staff was very hard to find and would become more scarce as projects such as the Chevron’s $25 million Gorgon gas project at Barrow Island got under way.

Roger Walker, Walker EcoStrategies

Roger Walker

Roger Walker of Walker EcoStrategies has moved his new team of four staff, including himself, into new digs at 28 Margaret Street, Sydney. Mr Walker was previously worked with Napier & Blakeley and will continue consulting work with a range of property owners on work ranging from strategic advice to upgrades of existing buildings.

He also contributes to number of industry associations on a voluntary basis, including the Property Funds Association, the Australian Property Institute, the World Economic Forum project for financing and retrofits of buidings and Asia Pacific Real Estate Association http://www.aprea.asia/

Mr Walker said the prevailing mood in the industry was one of caution. “People are becoming very cautious about spending their money and taking more time to make decisions. They are seeing the need to review things on the longer term outcomes.”

There was also caution around the selection of technology, Mr Walker said. “The biggest impact we are seeing is the desire to have technology upgrades that don’t disturb the tenant. It’s a move away from total refurbishment of buildings to upgrade of plant rooms and technologies to improve the existing infrastructure.”

Steve Coster, Hassell, DEGW

Steve Coster has joined Hassell as new principal of the practice, after leaving his former role as managing director of DEGW. Mr Coster brings “extensive experience in developing workplace strategies, strategic briefs, design management/selection frameworks and workplace change management plans,” for organisations including ANZ Bank, Google, KPMG and SA Water, Hassell said in a statement announcing the appointment.

He will be joint leader of the HASSELL Knowledge & Sustainability team with Brett Pollard.

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James Redwood

James Redwood, Michael Shaw, NDY

26 July 2011 – Chair of the Property Council of Australia SA’s sustainable development committee, James Redwood has left NDY where he was director, manager, South Australia, to take up a new role as information and communication technology manage for the New Royal Adelaide Hospital, which he describes as a “$1.8 billion digital hospital”. Mr Redwood has been an active organiser and participant of the KnowChange network.

His previous position will be filled by George Balales who is returning to Adelaide, after heading up the company’s office in Manchester in the UK.

Also leaving NDY is Michael Shaw who authored a popular article for The Fifth Estate on Section J of the Building Code of Australia.

Melbourne based Mr Shaw has now joined Connor Pincus Group of building services consultants as its inaugural environmentally sustainable design manager. The company has several major projects under way including an expansion of the Roxborogh Park Shopping Centre and a new project for the Nonda Katsalidis team at Fender Katsalidis, called the Fulton Lane residential apartments, in the Melbourne CBD.

Architects on the hunt

Australian Institute of Architects NSW chapter is searching for a new events and marketing manager after four staff were retrenched this month. Contact 02 9246 4055.

Call of the wild

The Wilderness Society Australia is searching for business manager peter.cooper@wilderness.org.au $59,850 to $62,000, depending on skills and experience, full time, applications close 15/008/11.

See our jobs archives for all past jobs listing and notes

Environmental Upgrade Agreements: collected articles

2012-02-08T21:51:38Z

7 February 2012 – Collections: Here are our leads to all the articles we’ve done on Environmental Upgrade Agreements.

These lending techniques whereby the loan repayment is tied to the council rates over the property make them secure and are designed for work that lowers energy costs, which contributes to the cost of the loan…

There are quite a few articles here. Some specifically on EUAs, some are just snippets or mentions. We included the lot. And yes, you can tell EUAs are one of our favourite subjects.

EUA makes a beautiful set of numbers
21 December 2011 – Forget the feel good factors in energy efficiency or climate change. At the end of the day, according to green enthusiast Harry Chua, it’s the beautiful set of numbers on the bottom line that make the recent deal to upgrade his office building [...]Read More > >

NAB signs first private funding deal for EUAs
19 December 2011 – National Australia Bank and Low Carbon Australia on Monday announced they had signed the first privately funded environmental upgrade agreement through the Melbourne 1200 buildings program. In a second announcement the City of Melbourne and the Sustainable Melbourne Fund also said they had … Read More > >

EUA in South Melbourne good for business and environment
22 December 2011 – Melbourne property investor Will Deague says that when his family investment company Asia Pacific Property Group decided to embark on a major energy efficiency upgrade of a major asset in South Melbourne, it hadn’t heard about environmental upgrade agreements. Thanks to an energy efficiency consultant… Read More > >

News from the front desk: Issue No 82
On trigen, places for people, and better places for people who desperately need them 8 December 2011 – There’s a place we know called Fish on Fire. Great name. Well, the sustainable property industry is on fire…Read More > >

Energy efficiency conference: leadership, building upgrades and good sense
21 November 2011 –There is a new pool of funding and improved project economics for efficiency thanks to the Clean Energy Futures Package, the Energy Efficiency Council conference heard this week. Following is a special report, provided by the EEC that points to these and other key highlights covered in the conference…Read More > >

US announced US$4 billion energy upgrade finance for buildings
6 December 2011 – The United States Obama administration has announced a US$4 billion energy upgrade finance commitment program, similar to Australia’s environmental upgrade agreements…Read More > >

News from the front desk: Issue No 81
On small detonations of hope, bad weather and rabbit holes It started out as a quiet week. Then everything exploded. Reports, revisions, new programs, all pointing to the need to fast track sustainable change in the built environment.. Let’s see, this week’s list includes…Read More > >

Environmental Upgrade Agreements: ready for liftoff in NSW
1 December 2011 – The NSW property industry yesterday (Wednesday) heard more detail about environmental upgrade agreements, the financing scheme to improve building efficiency that has the potential to revolutionise the refurbishment industry in Australia…Read More > >

API/PFA Profitable Sustainability Conference 201124 November 2011 – At last Monday’s conference in Sydney, organised jointly by the Australian Property Industry and the Property Funds Association, it was clear that the industry…Read More > >

News from the front desk: Issue No 78
Who’s got the Abbott proof fence? Do we need one? 9 November 2011 –On the Abbott proof fence, Greenbuild, and Chinese in Chippo At the CarbonExpo on Wednesday in Melbourne, the day after ushering through the carbon price package, Prime Minister Julia Gillard was greeted with a standing ovation and …Read More > >

News from the front desk: Issue No 76
Mac banking on EUAs, the Spring Crush and mega trends for property 26 October 2011 – According to the grapevine Macquarie Bank is the latest financier to be lured to the potentially lucrative world of Environmental Upgrade Agreements…Read More > >

Take your pick of big spending on sustainability, says Verdantix
19 October 2011 – Green building technologies will be a key driver in a near doubling of the sustainability investment market to $3.1 billion by 2014, according to a new report from UK based Verdantix…Read More > >

Environmental Upgrade Agreements: they’re off and Melbourne leads the pack
13 October 2011 – Melbourne has claimed victory in the race worldwide to sign the first Environmental Upgrade Agreement…Read More > >

Supply and demand of NABERS rated properties in Sydney’s CBD
6 October 2011 – A new report produces more evidence that rated NABERS buildings outperform non rated ones. Early signs indicate that green development in Sydney’s CBD is gaining momentum to help redress an apparent shortage of space with a NABERS energy rating above four stars…Read More > >

Sydney has draft environmental upgrade agreements: the race is on
21 September 2011 – It’s got Richard Branson and his Carbon War Room and potentially billions of dollars of investment in the United States. Australia is also in on the act and Melbourne and Sydney are vying to be the first to market. It’s the race to…Read More > >

News from the front desk: Issue No 70
The violence of ABC listeners, Rod Leaver and Green Building Week, Low Carbon calls for interests and will Turnbull cross the floor? 15 September 2011 – Interesting comments came from Janne Ryan this morning (Thursday) speaking to a class of young architecture students at UTS in Sydney…Read More > >

Upgrade agreements could be a bonanza for older buildings, say Napier & Blakeley
23 August 2011 – There are plenty of people keen for the environmental upgrade agreement models to be finalised, but perhaps none more so than property and development consultants, Napier & Blakeley…Read More > >

High rises apartments can be greened, it takes a little energy
6 September 2011 – The Sydney Morning Herald recently published a story on energy-hungry, high-rise apartments and the challenges they face. (It just happens to mention The Fifth Estate!)…Read More > >

Low Carbon Australia calls for new projects
24 August 2011: Low Carbon Australia Ltd on Wednesday made good its promise to become another source of energy efficiency project with an announcement a “request for proposals” for projects from businesses, property owners and organisations. The projects will need to demonstrate they will save energy or carbon and be …Read More > >

News from the front desk: Issue No 67
Architects move against gongs for bling, NABERS goes 6 star and green is Go, of course 24 August – Who says architects are quiet types? You don’t normally expect architects to create a seething cauldron of controversy but in recent times they’ve leapt right into the fray….Read More > >

Low Carbon Australia springs to life with first funding deal
7 July 2011 – Brisbane investor Harvest Denison Opportunity Fund has leapfrogged the competition and signed Australia’s deal energy efficiency upgrade and finance deal with Low Carbon Australia. Up to six more agreements are expected to be announced in the following weeks in regional NSW Sydney and…Read More > >

Green leases: time to make them redundant
19 May 2011 – Green leases, which include clauses and agreements designed to ensure energy efficiency and sustainable operation of buildings, were not so long ago hailed as progressive. These days it is an outdated concept, according to many of those working in sustainable property, because all …Read More > >

New NABERS boss will need loads of energy for new programs
6 May 2011 – Matthew Clark former manager of the NABERS building performance rating program for the NSW government is on the lookout for a new manager to replace him after his move to a more senior position. But be warned: the job will be demanding. Not only has there …Read More > >

Carbon Trust could tap the $1.2 trillion super sector…but there are still hurdles
31 March 2011 – The federal government’s Australian Carbon Trust is targeting Australia’s $1.2 trillion superannuation sector for partnership funding. If it succeeds, it will potentially create an enormous funding pool for sustainable building around Australia. The Carbon Trust was set up in March last year as …Read More > >

High-rise living – sustainable or not?
15 February 2011 – A visit to Hong Kong and China inevitably leads to thoughts of urban planning and the realities of high density living. Lynne Blundell returned from such a trip and has looked at research that challenges the current high-rise approach to sustainable cities….Read More > >

Buildings look greener on the other side – Part II: the Australian view
20 December 2010 – Australia is consistently referred to as one of the global leaders in the sustainable built environment. However, green buildings come at a price and when is the Australian acceptance of “green” going to pay off? In the first installment of this two part …Read More > >

More money for property… again – this time it’s the Australian Carbon Trust
26 November 2010 – The federal government’s Australian Carbon Trust on Friday announced funding and strategic partnerships that could leverage up to $300 million of energy and other efficiency measures for the property sector in the next few years. Key beneficiaries of $23.7 in initial funding to …Read More > >

An urban development agency for Sydney: Are we ready then?

2012-02-02T22:42:10Z

By Tina Perinotto

3 February 2012 – Could John Brogden be the man to save Sydney?

The Urban Taskforce thinks so.

The developers’ lobby group leapt on this week’s appointment of the former Liberal Leader as chairman of Landcom to say this could be the time to reshape the state’s land development agency as a fully functioning urban developer, similar to Victoria’s.

Newly appointed chief executive of the Taskforce, Chris Johnson, says Brogden has the political connections and the interest in planning to make this happen.

“I recall having some quite good discussions with him on planning matters and he had a real interest in the area,” Johnson says.

“There is some real potential to build on his appointment.”

Johnson’s suggestion came amid the furore that accompanied revelations that the NSW Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard, invited landowners to submit sites for fast tracking of housing proposals. And this for land that is outside of the designated growth areas, to be handled outside of normal council processes, and without the state paying a cent, which means the councils would likely foot the bill.

See locations and map for all 43 parcels of land on the fast track

The move was defended by the ongoing call for more housing in Sydney.

Then there’s the call for an urban development agency. Last year Hazzard flagged a merger between the Sydney Metropolitan Housing Authority and Landcom.

NSW eyes new look urban development authority

There has been debate about what form it should take, and soulful looks to the success of other land development agencies, such as those in WA and Victoria.

At the end of 2011 The Fifth Estate published an astounding – and, to NSW eyes – enviable, list of major property holdings owned by Places Victoria, formerly VicUrban. Enough to create whole new suburbs at Fishermen’s Bend, a stone’s throw from the CBD for instance, and enough to shift the planning and development momentum in other key nodes.

And, according to its nonplussed new chairman, Peter Clarke, no reason to think development and rezoning won’t be orderly and smooth.

Peter Clarke on Places Victoria

By contrast, Sydney’s urban developers have thrown in the towel on medium-density, infill housing projects. They cite structural issues around site amalgamation, zoning problems and feisty resident action groups.

This confluence of factors pushes development out to the fringes where the environmental and social consequences are disastrous.

Except that it hasn’t happened much there, either, in recent years. In the north-west and south-west, earmarked for growth, owners of small acreages – mainly farmers – won’t sell, or are holding out for prices higher than developers want to pay for site amalgamation.

That was probably the reasoning behind Hazzard’s ill-judged decision.

See the Sydney Morning Herald story http://smh.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/rezoning-blitz-in-push-for-housing-20120129-1qo29.html

But in one fell swoop Hazzard managed to compromise a cornerstone of the O’Farrell Government’s election promise to hand decision-making back to local council.

The dreaded Part 3A of the Planning Act, which gives planning rights to the state, was scrapped, but the honeymoon of local councillors happily drumming fingers while development applications were put on the backburner, couldn’t last.

Last year the development industry was going quietly spare. It must have rallied to a man and woman when the minister opened the tuckshop doors for a free feast.

There’s another angle. Urban Taskforce’s Chris Johnson says much of the hoopla in Sydney newspapers this week about fast-tracking housing development is related to greenfield sites. But is this what the market really wants, he asks?

Johnson pointed to the Grattan Institute report released late last year that asked what type of housing Australians now want. It showed that preferences were swinging to better located property, close to existing services.

See our report, Our love affair with the white picket fence – it’s over

http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/archives/25179

“We need more housing that is well-located, not on the fringe,” Johnson says.

“The newspaper material was all about the greenfield debate, but we believe a similar leadership role is required for infill land which is much harder [to develop].

“Councils are more risk-averse, and stronger leadership is required by the state government to encourage development along transport nodes and corridors.

“An ideal way to do that is to have a much stronger urban development authority.”

Johnson has called for Landcom’s new chairman, John Brogden, to lead the transformation of the agency into a metropolitan development authority, adding to calls from like-minded lobby groups such as the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Interestingly, the Urban Task Force under Johnson looks like it will itself refocus attention away from greenfield development to more about infill projects.

Johnson, a former government architect for NSW, with a swathe of government design and property-related agency appointments under his belt, not to mention his contribution as an author, is well-placed to understand the nuances of the political and planning process that could help engineer the shift.

“The Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to Landcom by putting someone of Brogden’s calibre in as chairman of the board,” he says.

“There are a lot of people in the marketplace who see them as a bit of competition as they have an easier run at approvals, but there is a role [for Landcom] to help facilitate planning approvals, to amalgamate sites and help negotiate with communities.” Especially in infill areas, Johnson says.

In other words, all the hard stuff.

The Taskforce is working on several fronts, however. One of these is through a submission Johnson has prepared for a review of SEP 65, part of the Planning Act that relates to the quality of apartment design.

Johnson says that quality improvement has been achieved. Now it’s time to focus on the economic stimulus.

“SEP 65 remains, but it needs to readjust itself to lift the supply of housing, particularly in infill and particularly around transport nodes,” Johnson says. “And it also needs to be well-designed.”

In his view, SEP 65 can help speed development approval for apartments up to 25 metres, or eight storeys, beyond which fire safety and other costs dramatically escalate the cost of development.

It needs to be “skewed” towards economic feasibility to help get these projects through.

Johnson recently travelled to Queensland to examine that state’s “code assessable” development system, which speeds through approvals for projects of up to 25 metres (or eight storeys), if they comply with the development codes – without needing to advertise.

Let’s see how the residents like that one.

News from the front desk: Issue 87

2012-02-07T00:40:30Z

Influence: Rinehart, Fairfax, IPA, United States of Tara

3 February 2012 – You never know what someone is up to behind closed doors. There you are reading a salacious article on how one of the world’s richest people is fighting her children in court and next thing you know she’s launched a bid to control Australia’s most important newspapers.

With 15 per cent of Fairfax costing only1 per cent her wealth Gina Rinehart only needs to spend 6.67 per cent of her money to own the lot. Or two per cent to own 30. Either way, what’s the difference?

Which brings us to the cloudy issue of power and influence.

The debate about whether Reinhardt can influence editorial policy at Fairfax if she gains a board seat is missing the point. As of this week, she already can. Influence is a subtle thing. Look at Murdoch. Hand on heart, his editors can swear he has never picked up the phone and tried to influence their editorial policy. He doesn’t have to. They already know what he thinks.

Board seat or no board seat, Rinehart has just catapulted herself to major influence. The editors and journalists of the best newspapers in the country can already feel her breathing down their necks.

Rinehart does not have to achieve a seat on the board unless she wants to change the business direction of the newspapers Fairfax owns. And that’s unlikely given that the business proposition of these mastheads doesn’t is hardly worth the bother.

Sitting quietly in the corner, surrounded by her minders, dolling out cheques to the growing army of climate deniers on her payroll is enough.

Which brings us to the amazing court challenge under way in the UK to find out who is funding the climate deniers in that country, which is led by Nigel Lawson.

Climate activist and author Clive Hamilton in Australia has called for the same for the Institute of Public Affairs, which seems to lurk behind all the anti climate action push in this country.

See our article pointing to some great work coming from Graham Readfearn

It would be no surprise to find it’s Rinehart. Let’s not muck around. This woman is dangerous.

Victorian style
Speaking of the nuances of political influence, each new regime has its own cadres and favoured methods of executing the old.

In Victoria they take a leisurely 12-14 months to gather their thoughts, take a stroll, slowly turn down the oxygen supply.

With Sustainability Victoria, it was first put on hold for the traditional freeze in the run up to the election, then it lost its chief Anita Roper, then it was subjected to a review which we understand is completed but still “with cabinet”, a ministerial advisor has told us. Now a new chief Steve Krpan has finally been appointed to the top job, and he’s just confirmed that top of his agenda for the SV team will be a pile of rubbish. Waste management. There, that should do away with all that silly transformational stuff the agency was trundling out for years.

Another recent victim of the Victorian style of influence was Victorian Building and Plumbing Commissioner Tony

In the case of Victorian Building and Plumbing Commissioner Tony Arnel too the method was the long one – a tortuous inquiry into the Building Commission. The media coverage was punishing. Heartwrenching stories of families left homeless by negligent shoddy builders. Questions to the minister about whether he would seek Arnel’s resignation.

On any slow news day in the country any journalist worth their salt can find evidence of the most appalling behavior in the building game. Not just unfinished houses and appalling work but phoenix building companies that rip people off, declare bankrupt if anyone has the gall to chase them, then set up new companies.

The law seems to favour the numbers here – and that’s one or two consumers versus a very powerful building and housing lobby that viciously fights any efforts to make their members accountable under the normal normal meaning of the word (and any efforts to make their products more sustainable for that matter)

So what did the inquiry find? A poor legal framework skewed badly to one side? An industry that needs a complete overhaul and has an appalling culture? No. It found evidence of poor documentation.

Whatever his sins as a building commissioner (and who would have that job?) Arnel has a long track record as a green reformer. He has notched up long term role as chair of the Green Building Council of Australia, a role in which he was reconfirmed on Thursday for another term, and a recently resigned role as chair of the World GBC to which he’s added more than 80 member countries. This is influential work on a global stage with the potential to help members subtly side step political barriers and other roadblocks to achieve its own transformational work. Just as the GBCA has done in Australia. (See our interview with chief executive Romilly Madew on this.)

But then, there is a regime change. To those that have the power go the boots. Even if they are suede.

The Tara factor
Victoria has long managed its multiple personality disorder with ease, providing refuge to remnant cells of the socialist left and right wing loonies in equal measure. On the one hand is its leading art and intellectual scene and on the other a red neck culture to make a Louisiana banjo picker blush.

In recent years Melbourne has bedazzled Sydney with its better economy, better arts and more impressive sustainability gains, better seeded through the regular folk.

Sydney mayor Clover Moore has made no secret of her admiration and never fears to import a good idea: laneway life from Melbourne; walk-ability from Denmark. And it’s working.

But the recent noises coming out of Spring Street are a concern. Premier Ted Baillieu’s gaffe at a Premier’s sustainability award presentation last year that belittled the award (we heard) is a concern.

If the Victorian regime change keeps dumbing down sustainability it will lose one of the most important economic and strategic advantages available. One that has put it on the global map as an amazing place to live. Not to mention the healthy economy that goes with that.

Tampering with this could soon see the Sydney-Melbourne tide turning. Tides have a habit of doing that.

Fast track housing
By contrast with Victoria, NSW’s play at policy changes is almost light relief. There was the sudden chop for Office of Environment and Heritage chief Lisa Corbyn one recent Friday afternoon.

And this week came the entertaining news that the NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard had invited landowners forward their land for fast track approvals. Most of which is outside the growth centres.

The promise was no pesky interference from local government other than the tedious consultation process and no cost to state governments, So who pays for the infrastructure, given developers fierce lobbying to get rid of development levies. Local governments, we suppose.

Who is on this golden alchemist’s list? The minister refuses to say. He probably worries that revealing the names of owners will infuriate the voters and give them someone specific to ping. (Especially after the coalition helped whip up fierce anti development frenzy before the election.)

The interesting thing is that the same residents who fiercely attack development, sometimes don’t.

Here’s hope for the thinking man and woman’s developer: In conversation at a social event in Glebe one resident who had been strongly opposed to Mirvac’s redevelopment of the Harold Park site in the highly prized Glebe Point area decided to attend a presentation on the project.

With a touch of sardonic surprise, she confessed she was so charmed by the attractive design, the posters filled with happy people, farmers’ markets, and baskets full of fresh farm produce that she bought an apartment off the plan.

Resident action groups are scarred by years of poorly designed, insensitive development. Like war, it could take

It’s like a war it could take a few generations for such wounds to heal.

3 February 2012 – Following is a list – and map – of 43 properties that will be considered for fast tracking by the NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard. But not their owners.

The Fifth Estate asked the planning minister’s office for the names of the owners but was told it would take some time for a response. We even asked if this was a Freedom of Information matter, but suggested that ownership of property is a matter of the public record, so perhaps not.

We suggested to the Department of Planning it would a very helpful courtesy to make the owners’ list available, and a spokesman agreed, but said he could not do so. It was a matter for the minister.

The Australian Financial Review nominated some of the owners during the week. They included Lend Lease, Walker Corporation, Goodman Group with 50 hectares, the Gandagarra Land Council with 770ha in West Menai and Bradcorp with enough land at Wilton for 4000-6000 homes.

tperinotto@thefifthestate.com.au

Source NSW Department of Planning

LGA	Site name	Site location	Area (ha)*
Auburn	Manchester Road, Auburn	Formerly part Clydeburn marshalling yards	14.5
Blacktown	Townson Road Precinct	Part West Schofields precinct, North West Growth Centre	29.2
Blacktown	Townson Road, Schofields	Part West Schofields precinct, North West Growth Centre	15.0
Camden	Emerald Hills	Camden Valley Way Leppington	150.8
	Lowes Creek, Bringelly	South West Growth Centre	889.2
	Tidapa, Cobbitty	Chittick Lane, Cobbitty	212.0
	Raby Road, Catherine Fields	Raby Road, Catherine Fields	102.6
Campbelltown	Blairmount and Eagle Vale Drive	Hume Highway and Eagle Vale Drive, Blairmount	164.5
	Macarthur Grange Precinct	Raby Road, Kearns	125
	Kellerman Drive Estate	St Helen’s Park	30.5
	South Campbelltown	Appin Road Mt Gilead area south of Beaulah State Park	607.0
Cessnock	The Vintage	North west side of intersection of Wine Country Drive and Palmers Lane, Rothbury	142.8
Cessnock	Jack Nicklaus Golf Course	Wine Country Drive, Rothbury	240.2
City of Sydney	Goodman Industrial land, South Sydney	Various sites across South Sydney	Approx 50.0
Clarence Valley	Brooms Head Road, Gulmarrad,	Platers Road and Brooms Head, Gulmarrad,	135.0
Hawkesbury	North Richmond	Grose Vale Road, North Richmond	180.1
Hornsby	South Dural	Bounded by New Line Road, Old Northern Road and Hastings Road	238.2
Liverpool	Wallacia, Greendale Road	Park Road, Wallacia (Access road located in Penrith LGA)	198.0
Penrith	Bradley Street Development	The Northern Road, Glenmore Park	17.2
	Capitol Hill, Mount Vernon	Adjoining Western Sydney Employment Lands	189.1
	Littlefields Road, Mulgoa	Adjoining the village of Mulgoa	1.9
	Littlefields Village, Luddenham	The Northern Road, Luddenham	321.9
	Oakdale West	Junction of Bakers Lane and Aldington Road, Mount Vernon / Kemps Creek	127.9
	Orchard Hills	The Northern Road & Caddens Road, Orchard Hills	1065.9
	Queenshill Precinct, Luddenham	The Northern Road, Elizabeth Drive, Littlefields Road, Luddenham	479.4
Pittwater	Wilga-Wilson Precinct	Bounded by Wilson Ave, Powderworks Road, Monash Golf and Country Club and Wilga Street, Ingleside.	27.2
Port Stephens	Wallalong	Butterwick Road, High Street & Clarence Town Road, Wallalong	416.9
Sutherland	Captain Cook Drive, Kurnell Peninsula	Captain Cook Drive, Kurnell Peninsula	177.7
Sutherland	Heathcote Ridge, West Menai	Heathcote Road and New Illawarra Road, West Menai	776.1
The Hills	Box Hill North	Maguires Road, Boundary Road, Old Pitt Town Road	491.7
The Hills	North Glenhaven	Glenhaven Road, Old Glenhaven Road, Mills Road, Logie Road, Robson Road, Kyle Avenue, Edgecliffe Road, Glenhaven,	298.6
Wingecarribee	Mary Street, Mittagong	South of Bong Bong Road, Mittagong	75.8
Wollondilly	Appin Vale	West of Appin village	517.1
	Reservoir Road, Bargo	Adjoining the village of Bargo	2.3
	Bingara Gorge	North of Picton Road and east of F6Freeway (Hume Highway), Wilton	290.3
	Brooks Point, Appin	South west of Appin village	240.0
	Cawdor	Cawdor Road & Remembrance Drive, Cawdor	531.2
	Mayfarm Road	Mayfarm Road, Brownlow Hill	406.0
	Silverdale	Taylors Road and Eltons Road,Silverdale	238.0
	West Thirlmere	Stone Quarry Creek and Lakes Street, Thirlmere	819.5
	Wilton South	South of Picton Road and east of F6Freeway (Hume Highway), Wilton	391.9
	Wilton West	West of F6 Freeway (Hume Highway) and north of Picton Road,Wilton	626.6
Wyong	East Wadalba	Jensen Road, Johns Road and Louisa Road, East Wadalba Precincts 2A, 2B and 3B in draft North Wyong Structure Plan	257.4

GBCA is 10 years old and successful – what’s next?

2012-02-02T04:03:12Z

Romilly Madew

By Tina Perinotto

2 February 2012 – This year will mark the Green Building Council of Australia’s 10th anniversary and chief executive Romilly Madew has no plans to waste the opportunity this presents.

Yes, the GBCA has been massively successful in changing the game for commercial buildings. Yes, it’s now a solid operation with a strong team and a seat at most of the important national political tables convened on the built environment.

But looked at in the cool harsh reality of climate change and impending resource scarcity it’s not enough, Madew reasons.

“The stats say we can capture 14-15 per cent of the market but if we truly want to have sustainable places for everyone in Australia we have to scale up,” Madew told The Fifth Estate this week.

By scale up she means reaching the massive swathes of the virtually untouched residential market. As well as the commercial market that is unconcerned with a certified Green Star rating.

It’s a powerful agenda, but Madew says it’s not something that will happen overnight.

What shape a residential rating tool would take, what partners would be involved and how to influence a broad swathe of consumers and the residential development market was all up for grabs.

What was certain, she said, is that the residential market needs to be the next frontier in the journey of transforming the built environment.

“The key thing is our 10th anniversary at the end of the year. It’s made us really reflect where we’ve been and where we need to go,” Madew says.

“When I started in 2005 [and as CEO in 2006] there was a team of 10, now there is a team of 60 plus.”

There’s now stable leadership and a good strong board now happy to leave operational matters to the executive.

On Friday the leadership team will enter a strategy session with the board to hammer out the possibilities and the potential.

The team has been preparing well in advance.

“For the last three months we’ve been working with people such as [facilitator] Kevin Nuttall.

“We could either do same old same old or we could fundamentally look and take environmental scan; what’s happened that we didn’t think about?”

The revamp of the Green Star tools is well on the way and will include the custom tool, one for interiors and the big one for performance now due in August or September, Madew says.

“That’s the Green Star revolution. But what about Green Star evolution?”

Despite its best intentions however, Green Star won’t fundamentally change the urban environment and the built environment, Madew says.

Sure you can achieve your “four, five or six stars”, she says, but what about the people who say they have built to Green Star standard but haven’t had their buildings certified, she asks?

Madew says there needs to be a place in Green Star to accommodate this part of the market. The US Green Building Council was also looking at the same issue, she says: how to bring different versions of Green Star into the fold, without devaluing the brand.

“The challenge is working out how to do it. Do we really need to rethink how we certify, do we need to have self certification?

“Not everyone is going to be in a position to get four, five or six stars, so we need to change our thinking.”

But changed thinking is a process that the GBCA is already familiar with.

It has changed from pure environmental concerns to also include broader notions of social sustainability, Madew points out.

In the process of developing the residential communities tool it has embarked on partnerships that it has found valuable and wants to continue with.

“When we work with other industry associations, it’s more effective – Green Star Communities was a great example of that,” Madew says.

“We couldn’t have done it on our own,” Madew says, nominating partners such as the Planning Institute of Australia, Residential Development Council and all the land development agencies around Australia.

Other items on the strategic agenda will be a little harder to pin down but for good reason, Madew says.

These she sums up as the increasingly unpredictable or volatile scenario that is evident on the economic and political scene.

“Before, the economy would ebb and flow but now economists are saying that the trending is more difficult to predict and that has implications politically.”

If you are in the business of influence you need to be finely attuned to these changes, she reasons.

“We have to be nimble and work out how the future will impact.”

Madew points to the ascendance of the Tea Party in the US as an example. This conservative force has pushed back many of the gains in environmental concerns and unleashed a reactionary trend.

“A similar thing that might happen here.” Madew says.

In the US the GBC has responded with a change in the language, to appear less threatening. Water and energy efficiency become “productivity and employment growth and economic opportunity,” for example.

“If they talk in the language of the last decade the conservatives get frightened. There are benefits [of sustainability] we know and the benefits are huge.

“But many industry associations need to make sure that the language is expressed so you are not being pigeonholed.

“The language has changed.”

But hopefully not the ultimate goals.

Competition

2012-02-01T06:07:40Z

1 February 2012- Boral is holding its annual Boral Design Award competition for architects, building designers and architectural students.

Applicants will need to adapt an existing city fringe property into a medium density residential or mixed-use development, while preserving 50 per cent of the building and using Boral products.

Three cash prizes are on offer, totalling $34,000, to reward the professional, emerging professionals and student category winners.

Contact 1300 360 255 or visit www.boral.com.au/designawards

Speed date a sustainable designer

2012-02-03T06:30:06Z

1 February 2012 – The Alternative Technology Association with the support of bankmecu is conducting speed dating events in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in 2012 to help homeowners planning to renovate or build sustainability to find an appropriate architect.

Speed Date a Sustainable Designer brings together Australia’s leading architects and building designers in the one spot so that you can meet and discuss your plans in a relaxed “no obligations” environment.

The first event is in Melbourne on 19 February. See sdsd.ata.org.au

MWH donates for solar lighting in India

2012-02-01T03:00:47Z

1 February 2012 – MWH sustainable engineering company has donated $US50,000 to The Energy and Resources Institute to bring solar lighting to rural India.

The institute supports the Lighting a Billion Lives program which sets up a solar charging station in energy poor villages and offers solar lanterns for rent to the local community – reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 750 tonnes over the solar lantern’s useful life of 10 years.

In India 61 million rural households use kerosene and wicker lamps for lighting. Inadequate lighting has a direct impact on the livelihood, health, environment and safety of these rural residents, MWH said in a media statement.

Each village charging station is managed and operated by a local entrepreneur who leases the lanterns to village residents for an affordable fee, creating opportunities for renewable energy education and entrepreneurship in the villages.

The donation supports MWH’s partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative.

Bathurst Burr: Last rites for the farmers, towns and Murray-Darling rivers

2012-02-06T04:20:14Z

Area claimed by miners

By Michael Mobbs

1 February 2012 –This is a map which will change Australia’s future in the next 10 years. (1)
The map shows the area of land covered by the coal, petrol, oil and minerals mining leases given or being given over the Queensland catchments of the Murray Darling rivers. It foretells the finale of the rivers’ story.

Over 60 per cent of the catchments are to be mined.

The mining is taking both the water in the rivers and in the ground. This mining consumes about as much water as farming.

The area to be mined is so completely spread across the rivers and their catchments, so clear in its end result for the rivers and grounds water that it’s almost impossible to comprehend how governments could allow it.

The mining will take so much water from farming it will cause the quantity of food grown in the Murray-Darling Basin in the next 10 to 20 years to at least halve. About 40 per cent of Australia’s food is grown there.

The amount of ground and river water is expected to decline by at least 5- 15 per cent during these coming two decades; the data is clear and does not include the new mining leases.

“. . . there is very little spare capacity in the water budget [of Australia’s continent] for new activities or for using more water in existing activities; in other words, the Australian continental water budget is precariously balanced . . . Too many aquifers are already being over-extracted, with extraction at rates greater than natural rates of recharge . . . Groundwater use across Australia doubled between 1983 and 1996 . . . In most states groundwater extraction exceeds licensed allocations (Australian Water Resources Assessment 2000) . . . The commercial return on the water used in many agricultural industries is often small. For example, the beef cattle industry uses 800 litres of water to generate $1 of product value, and the seed cotton industry uses about 1600 litres of water to generate $1 of output. Rice in the husk uses almost 7500 litres to produce $1 of output . . . “

Ecohydrology: vegetation function, water and resource management, Eamus, Hatton, Cook & Colvin, CSIRO 2006 pp 3, 5]

In a 2012 report the near-terminal state of the rivers was made clear in the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation report:

“The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOLAW) notes that while the last 50 years witnessed a notable increase in food production, “in too many places, achievements have been associated with management practices that have degraded the land and water systems upon which food production depends.”
Today a number of those systems “face the risk of progressive breakdown of their productive capacity under a combination of excessive demographic pressure and unsustainable agriculture use and practices,” the report says.

No region is immune: systems at risk can be found around the globe, from the highlands of the Andes to the steppes of Central Asia, from Australia’s Murray-Darling river basin to the central United States . . . But one of the “warning signs” flagged by the SOLAW report is that rates of growth in agricultural production have been slowing in many areas and are today only half of what they were during the heyday of the Green Revolution.”

See the report

The water cost of what we eat

Product global average water litres footprint

Table of water use for everyday products

Product Global average water use for production

1 A4 sheet paper 10

1 orange 50

1 egg 200

1 kg of potato flakes 900

1 litre milk 1,000

1 kilo cane sugar 1,500

1 hamburger 2,400

1 cotton shirt 2,700

1 kg rice 3,400

1 kg chicken meat 3,900

1 kilo pork 4,800

1 kg cheese 5,000

1 kg beef 15,500

1 kg of leather
16,600

Source: The Water Footprint Network

Because the same, finite amount of river and ground water is owned several times over by farmers, there’s not enough for every farmer. Theft, as the data from the 2000 report above indicates, is consistent, widespread and accepted by farmers and government.

The final destructive act for the rivers is the granting of mining leases by Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian governments across millions of hectares of the river catchments and, with the leases, more licences to take more water. But there isn’t enough water for the farmers or the miners, and the data showing this was established 10 years ago and was publicised internationally.

Why is this happening?

Governments’ history of self-interested behavior – over-allocation of water to farmers and miners for political gain – explains their current conduct, it appears. And the money. Each of the states expects to receive over $40 billion in royalties from the mining they’re approving.
A water squandering madness is underway from mining out there far from the eyes of we city folk this side of the Great Dividing Ranges.

I can imagine the tragedy being averted only if the authors of the rivers’ destruction – the miners, the governments, the politicians –were to live there and depend on this resource for their food and water. Then they’d “get it”. But they don’t and they won’t.

We’re living through gross mismanagement of a scale that’s greater than that which has gone before us in our 200 years here.
I can’t believe what the map tells my eyes.

(1) Maps have been created by Bathurst Burr and graphic artist, Saima Ali based on maps published by the Queensland Murray Darling Catchment Authority in the report, Mining and Energy Industry Impact on Natural Resource Management in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin Geoff Penton CEO QMDC; and available here

Michael Mobbs is a sustainability coach and author (of Sustainable House now in its second edition) who advises, teaches and speaks on sustainability issues. He works with developers, governments and communities to design and obtain approvals for houses, units and subdivisions. He is based in the inner Sydney suburb of Chippendale, where in 1996 he pioneered the conversion of his inner city terrace into a sustainable house, which has now been disconnected to mains water and sewerage and is powered by solar energy. See www.sustainablehouse.com.au

Smart meters hit dumb roadblocks

2012-02-01T22:45:26Z

By Lynne Blundell

1 February 2012 – Smart meters, hailed by government and electricity distributors as the answer to reducing power use, have fallen victim to an inefficient distribution system, regulatory complexity and inflexible pricing. So far Victoria is the only state to mandate smart meter installation and consumers there are paying hundreds of dollars extra in electricity bills, often before they even get a meter.

Craig Memery, smart network specialist with the Alternative Technology Association, told The Fifth Estate this week that Victorian households will pay between $99.31 and $153.95 per meter during 2011, rising to between $127.46 and $219 by 2015. This money goes to distributors.

“Most customers have been paying these charges since 2010 regardless of whether they have had a meter installed. Every energy user had the levy imposed.”

Mr Memery said in NSW, where smart meters are so far voluntary, around 400,000 meters have been installed.

“COAG [the Council of Australian Governments] agreed that all states would put in smart meters but I haven’t seen any energy ministers falling over themselves to announce a mandatory program,” Mr Memery said.

In 2009 COAG committed to roll smart meters out nationally. Victoria was the first to initiate a program, mandating the installation for all residents, along with payment for the rollout by consumers. NSW was expected to follow but has since fallen silent on its intentions. Not surprising, given the Victorian rollout has been beset with cost blowouts and accusations by the current Coalition government that the previous Labor government mishandled the program.

Originally estimated to cost around $800 million the Victorian smart meter program is now expected to cost $2.3 billion.

The rollout was halted last year pending the outcome of a review by the Auditor General, and reinstated in December.

The Auditor-General stated in his report that: “If the project’s emerging risks delay the installation of smart meters it is likely that consumers will face further cost increases and gain fewer benefits”.

When announcing that the program would continue, Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Michael O’Brien, said the government would bring in changes, including subsidising the cost of in-house displays so consumers could see how much energy they were using.

“These changes aim to give households and business greater control of their energy consumption and their energy bills by making basic in-home display devices available at low cost to Victorian families and businesses,” Mr O’Brien said.

Smart meters are required for use by large consumers under the National Electricity Rules.

The advantage of smart meters is that they measure the amount of electricity used every 30 minutes and so allow electricity distributors and retailers to charge different rates based on time of use.

The real benefit for consumers is that they can see the true cost of their energy use and alter their consumption patterns so that they use less power at peak times. This also takes pressure off the power grid during peak usage.

The meters also have capacity for remote communication, allowing electricity suppliers to send or collect information directly from the meter and the customer, including for billing or outage notices.
However, incentives for consumers to use power more efficiently have been pushed back in Victoria with the decision by the state government to delay the introduction of flexible pricing until at least 2013. This follows protests by consumer groups that high peak pricing will disadvantage consumers.

Victorian consumers can also choose to remain on flat rates even when flexible pricing is introduced.

Unfair to low income people
A recent report by the University of Melbourne and national charity St Vincent de Paul found that unless suitable protections and policies are put in place to shelter vulnerable and low-income households from the cost impacts of time-of-use pricing and increased fixed charges, the Victorian smart meter rollout would seriously disadvantage groups such as pensioners, people on fixed incomes, and single parents, potentially adding around $300 to their annual electricity costs.

The report said low-income households were particularly disadvantaged because of their inability to take advantage of time-of-use pricing and direct load control technologies to off-set cost increases. Also, because of the low-volume of their consumption, fixed charges account for a much larger proportion of low-income household’s overall costs—so increases in fixed charges cause a more significant increase in their overall electricity costs.

“The effect of the rollout on energy affordability could be even more severe if households are put on TOU [time of use] pricing once smart meters are introduced. Two key time-of-use pricing initiatives here are time-of-use tariffs and Critical Peak Pricing tariffs,” the report said.

“These tariff structures will penalise low-income households, who tend to be peaky households with inelastic electricity use: households that mostly need to use electricity during the day-time because of (for example) disability, unemployment, retirement, or caring for young children or a relative; and which have a limited ability to shift their electricity usage in response to price signals because of their household circumstances, the types of appliances they have, the fact that little of their electricity use is discretionary consumption, or because of disability.”

Damien Moyes, Energy Project and Policy Manager with the Alternative Technology Association, told TFE that until tariffs were introduced that gave consumers an incentive to use energy more efficiently during peak times, smart meters offered few benefits to households.

“Right now any time based tariffs that do exist are cheaper from 11pm to 7am when nobody is really using power but then they rise to very expensive rate at peak times. The benefit right now is to distributors who get information from the meters,” Mr Moyes said.

The real future opportunity for distributors and retailers was in providing customers with access to their data through smart phones and web-based portals.

“It is about exploring those opportunities but until we get a tighter policy framework and more effective, well aligned tariff incentives there won’t be much benefit to consumers,” said Mr Moyes.

…. Or to energy consumption and the environment it seems.

lblundell@thefifthestate.com.au

Planning for urban sprawl and fisheries protection – huh?

2012-01-31T07:08:11Z

By Dick Clarke 31 January 2012 – This week’s news contains two seemingly unrelated stories – urban planning and fish stock management – which together actually point to where things go wrong. But that also means we know where to change things so they go right. That’d be nice.

The NSW Government is abandoning a leadership role in planning for Sydney’s growth (why do we assume Sydney is under some divine commandment to grow? – it’s just what keeps happening in the absence of any plan to the contrary).

Premier O’Farrell and Planning Minister Hazzard have determined that developers should be able to plan the city’s ever-westward expansion, without regard to infrastructure, transport, or nearby employment, and bypass local planning and zoning processes.

So what is currently potentially or actual productive farmland may become 10,000 houses, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Or, from the other perspective, land that you may have an option to buy now has a fast track to profit and there’s nothing those local reactionaries can do about it.

The problem with this is that Australia’s cities are already amongst the most spread-out and least dense in the world, which is a very inefficient way of making them function for transport, community cohesion, and employment.

This dysfunction is a financial burden that the whole community pays for ad infinitum. For years the struggle has been to balance the demand for growth (as distinct from the need for growth), and the future demands of sustainability.

This is a long running struggle which everybody who keeps half an eye on the news is aware of. In Sydney’s case, previous governments have established two growth corridors, with some form of mass transport at its core (although that is also an on-again off-again story), along and around which the sprawl of detached low density housing was to be clustered.

But today we learn that the O’Farrell mob can’t even stick to this simple discipline – they want anyone with an interest in any parcel of land in any location to be able to nominate it for rezoning directly by the government, bypassing council entirely.

Viewed in one way, this can be seen as a policy created by a government absolutely bankrupt of creativity and design discipline. Their excuse is that the current policy “has not worked”.

Really? By what definition? I suspect it is more to do with the free market ideology espoused by lobby groups like the Urban Development Institute of Australia, and Urban Taskforce has since joined the chorus.

I cannot help wondering if their ultimate vision is for urban sprawl to cover the whole continent: they never speak of limits, they have no long term constraints. Their rhetoric is very strong on “solving the short term problems”. (I note with wry amusement that in pursuit of this goal they will soon run headlong into the jaws of the Minerals Council, who want the whole state – every square metre of it – to be available for mining.)

It is clear to any informed observer that rezoning land based on its profit potential is an extremely poor way to plan a city, and I think that is being kind. The old saying “markets make wonderful slaves but poor masters” is as true as ever.

In world news today we also read of a 90 per cent decline in Southern Ocean jack mackerel stocks over the last 20 years. Fishing companies, often with significant government support and subsidy, have plundered – there really can be no other word – this fishery to the point of collapse in the next year or two.

Getting international agreement on such things is like herding cats, similar to the difficult progress on climate change. In climate change, all humanity has a stake and the vested interests fight to hold sway, but in fishery management, vested interests are more dominating and insidious.

Direct commercial interference is rife. Governments seem to be mesmerised, in the sway of big fishing companies like PacAndes and Thai Union Group. Never heard of them? They sell a large proportion of the world’s seafood through brands like John West.

Companies like these have undue influence on various governments, and thus have stymied efforts to limit fish takes, leading directly to the collapse of the whole food chain. The economic hurt they will suffer through their own short-sighted stupidity has not affected their decision making.

Why is it so hard for governments to adhere to good policy design in the face of pressure from vested interest groups? We see that the same principle is at work in both cases – Sydney’s “’planning” (loose use of the term), and protecting the world’s food security.

That is a question we should be asking our elected representatives. Claiming a mandate is well and good, but they must remember – or be reminded – that the mandate is from the people, not corporations.

We design buildings for the people who will occupy them, governments must also design cities for the people who live and work in them, not for the profits of land owner developers.

Good city planning takes guts as much as anything – once the design, with all its myriad inputs, is in place, you need guts to hold your nerve and say “this is where it will happen, not there.”

It seems that the new boss is just the same as the old boss: beholden to the interests of the developer lobby. And Sydney, the Great Unplanned City, suffers onwards and outwards.

Dick Clarke is director of Envirotecture.

Hamilton challenges IPA to reveal its funding

2012-01-31T05:49:55Z

31 January 2012 – Prominent climate change author and philosopher Clive Hamilton has called for funding sources of Institute of Public Affairs, a major source of climate disinformation, to be revealed.

“Environment groups are upfront about their funding, yet denialists claim privacy, ” professor Hamilton told The Brisbane Times this week, after a UK journalist’s court bid for similar revelations in relation to leading climate change sceptics.

Professor Hamilton backed the freelance journalist Brendan Montague’s appeal to the UK’s Information Rights Tribunal on 27 January,2012 for the release of a bank statement. The document is claimed to show the start-up funders of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, chaired by former UK chancellor Lord Nigel Lawson, the article said.

Mr Montague believes it will identify the source of a $50,000 seed donation.

Launched in November 2009, the foundation has consistently challenged the mainstream scientific view that human emissions of greenhouse gases represent a significant risk to the planet and societies.

Tribunal judge Alison McKenna is expected to reach a decision within four weeks.

Professor Hamilton, who is professor of public ethics at Charles Sturt University and was a Greens candidate in 2009 for a by-election in the federal seat of Higgins, is a long-time critic of think-tanks promoting outlying views on the risks of human-caused climate change, including the Melbourne-based Institute of Public Affairs.

Read the full article

Product	Global average water use for production
1 A4 sheet paper	10
1 orange	50
1 egg	200
1 kg of potato flakes	900
1 litre milk	1,000
1 kilo cane sugar	1,500
1 hamburger	2,400
1 cotton shirt	2,700
1 kg rice	3,400
1 kg chicken meat	3,900
1 kilo pork	4,800
1 kg cheese	5,000
1 kg beef	15,500
1 kg of leather	16,600