In 2020, thousands of you adopted the ambitious goals of the Declare movement and Net Zero Embodied Carbon to provide clarity and momentum on this crucial issue. Now, 2021 is here and it’s time to take tangible action, but it can be overwhelming – so here is our four-step action plan to help kick-start your […]
It has been a year scarred by deeply visceral events – record bushfires and a global pandemic, confronting conceptual assaults, the peddling of grand fantasies, dangerous untruths, and toxic politics. How can we all emerge better and stronger from these encounters? The government-sponsored pitch for Mattias Corman to become the next head of the OECD […]
Booming populations and increasing floods are overburdening urban stormwater systems, so why not lighten the load by collecting rainwater for household use?
This summer is the time to start practising load shifting in commercial buildings because by this time next year, the savings for demand management are going to become super lucrative.
Not all personal protective equipment was created equal and different industries need more protection from Covid risk than others. Here’s your guide to getting the right level of protection to keep your workplace safe. Compared to the rest of the world, Australia has fared pretty well when it comes to COVID-19. Victoria experienced the worst […]
Energy assessors can get $44 off every NatHERS Technical & Non-Technical webinar until March 2021, thanks to Design Matters National’s half-price special offer. Webinars cover Tools & Materials, Sustainability, Software and more, and are delivered by subject-matter experts (not sponsors) including Matthew Graham, Dong Chen and Jo Brennan. Here’s some energy assessors’ feedback about Design […]
“Europe’s man on the moon moment” is how Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, describes the European Green Deal.
Frasers Property Australia’s energy retail business Real Utilities has its sights set on the industrial sector to turn its expansive rooftop space into renewable powerhouses.
As consumers become more sustainably conscious, the typical kitchen design has been turned on its head by revered Italian kitchen brand Snaidero. The company recently unveiled its first Australian project to feature precision-engineered porcelain fronted joinery at Seafarers, the new Yarra River waterfront residences in Melbourne developed by Riverlee. Designed and crafted in Italy, the […]
Haystacks is Australia’s first large scale solar garden, enabling everyone to participate in the clean energy revolution whether or not they have access to a sunny rooftop – pioneering a way for locked out energy users to access renewable energy. Haystacks solar garden is being constructed on a farm in the Riverina of NSW and […]
The challenge to deliver net zero all-electric buildings is a formidable one. And no-one knows that better than an ESD consultant. Victorian based AECOM principal sustainability consultant Sian Willmott is well familiar with the task. Her remit in all-electric projects stretches from education to healthcare and the commercial sector. When it comes to office buildings, […]
Hot water can be a pain point in the pursuit of low carbon apartment buildings but with modern electric instantaneous hot water systems, there’s really no need for fossil fuel-intensive alternatives.
Since 2017 the Lendlease Retirement Living portfolio has saved over 17 Olympic-sized pools of water and reduced residents’ outgoings by more than $180,000.
Jeremy McLeod was a key signatory to the influential Architects Declare movement. He says sustainability might be seen as complex by some people but there are simple ways “that everyone could win”. Partnered content for Beyond Zero Emissions At the beginning of this year, Australia’s leading architects called on the wider industry to make a […]
The benefits of embracing AI outweigh the potential negatives, especially in construction.
Rainwater harvesting solutions involves a minimal upfront cost to achieve sustainability upgrades that will pay significant dividends for homeowners as the climate changes.
Imagine a self-learning or machine-learning system for fault detection. One where algorithms find patterns and correlations between a range of data sources to work out the most efficient order for fixing faults. A major data science research program on this by Buildings Alive has produced some promising results. Over time, buildings have become complex creatures […]
Clear your diary on 16 July for the online NABERS + CBD Conference, with a speaker lineup that’s packed with the leaders driving sustainability in the built environment such as the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor, NSW minister for energy and environment Matt Kean, Green Building Council of Australia’s Davina Rooney and host […]
How we can help you? Here’s a list of options we’ve put together to help your business or organisation promote itself in the best possible way: TFE Green Bond Any booking you make and pay for before 30 June 2020 will earn you credit to the equivalent value in display advertising any time in the […]
It’s great to see property companies setting themselves ambitious emissions reduction targets, says Buildings Alive chief executive officer Craig Roussac, but are they making the most of the easiest, cheapest tactic to cut emissions: using less energy?
Join us for our series of weekly live stream broadcasts on Wednesdays, starting 15 April, 1pm-2pm. The first one will be about our built environment at a time of COVID-19. Guests joining us will be:
A series of weekly live stream broadcasts at 1 pm on Wednesdays Featured Wednesday 15 April, 1 pm Our built environment at a time of COVID-19 Guests Bryon Price, group Strategic development director of A.G. Coombs and chair of the Facility Management Association of Australia Claire Bird, founder of Building Fitness Scientist, Litmas Pty Ltd […]
If a building’s occupancy drops by 50-80 per cent, by how much should its energy use go down?
Sydney based developer Romeciti has agreed to pay more than $40 million to buy a second site for its “Green and Smart” residential project offering at Macquarie Park, 28 kilometres north west of Sydney. The deal follows lengthy negotiations with the owners of 36 strata title units to amalgamate the site.
To celebrate Sustainable House Day in 2019, Metricon Homes launched its first ever Zero Net Carbon Home.
The rise of sustainable urban infrastructure is set to continue, supported by state-of-the-art construction machinery and equipment.
Cundall might be leading the pack on climate action but for David Clark, an Australian partner of the global engineering firm, the company has a long way to go – as does the rest of the engineering and design profession.
There’s something deeply iconic about the galvanised water tank in Australian architecture. It’s a practical response to the need to save water, and at the same time a symbol of a growing sensitivity to the need for a more sustainable way of life.
It’s been a long road but Australian-based water recycling company Aquacell is now installing its non-potable water treatment systems into major commercial building in the US, including the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco.
The intensity and length of the drought in New South Wales and Queensland, coupled with a revolution in technology, could make 2020 the year people start to pick that low-hanging fruit.
