Home » Archives for The Fifth Estate » Page 2
News from the front desk, issue 491: There’s pretty much consensus, in The Fifth Estate’s circles at least, that going all-electric is the most straight-forward way for most buildings to hit net zero targets. It makes sense when Australia’s energy network is tracking towards the “biggest and fastest” clean energy transition in the world according […]
A green recovery is on the agenda for Western Australia, with the state government pouring $60 million into environmental projects to create more than 1000 conservation jobs. The plan is part of the government’s recovery plan and will target revegetation, habitat restoration and protection of existing vegetation. The package includes new funding commitments, environmental offset funds […]
A round up of business opportunities in sustainability, including government tenders, grants and accelerator programs.
It’s always sobering to be reminded that Australia is the extinction capital of the world.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: AMP Capital’s Quay Quarter Tower refurbishment in Sydney and a major water treatment plant in regional Victoria are among the sustainable projects that have tapped into Sustainable Australia Fund’s range of loans.
The cooling industry will need to improve the efficiency and affordability of its units by 2030 if it is to meet a surge in demand, a new report finds.
IN BRIEF: The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has today announced
$630,000 for the Sustainable Australia Fund (SAF) to expand its fixed-rate, long-term
loans for environmental upgrades to NSW and SA.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: Today’s architecture, engineering and construction students are tomorrow’s builders. Tomorrowland 2019 heard from two Western Sydney University students – Manuel Hankoo and Lavender Liu – whose passion for the built environment promises hope for the future.
More than 80 organisations from Australia’s community, housing and corporate sectors have signed an open letter to the prime minister Scott Morrison demanding greater investment in social housing.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: Fred Holt, partner in charge of 3XN, one of the most exciting architectural studios in the world, explained some of his firm’s sustainability philosophy in relation to AMP Capital’s Quay Quarter Tower.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: “But it is more obvious now than ever that the architect can’t make a building on their own,” Peter Poulet says.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: There’s been huge collaboration between, architects, engineers and council with a strong eye to social as well as environmental sustainability, in one of Sydney’s new skyscrapers.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: Where would you look to for inspiration to create sustainable, affordable and liveable communities? Landcom’s Lauren Kajewski has some ideas.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: Property consultant Abdul Khan told Tomorrowland19 about plans for a new style of sustainable housing, with apartments to suit everyone from youth with disabilities to retirees looking to downsize. But will politicians and developers back this vision?
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: Connectivity in the built environment has many benefits, but the reality is that smart buildings are collecting data that could be used in nefarious ways in the future and it’s hard to plug the entry points for infiltration.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: Tomorrowland points to the intellectual and structural changes that will impact this sector, including construction, real estate technology, and the cities, for years to come, says Robert Harley.
The dairy industry is not typically acknowledged in the sustainability world, but this three person, 45-cow farm is doing something a little differently.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: Smart cities technologies promise more efficient and cost-effective urban environments. But what are the privacy and legal implications of wiring our buildings to monitor everything and everyone in them?
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: This is what can be created when you team an architect with a passion for affordable, sustainable housing with impact investors and bankers: carbon neutral, low-cost housing that creates resilient communities.
A “digital owl” and a scheme to make infrastructure greener were among the winners of the 2019 Banksia Sustainability Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Sydney earlier this week.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: Australia’s top commercial property developers are talking about “radical sustainability”. But if these ideas are to reach the mass market, the building industry needs to consolidate, cut costs and better train construction workers.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: Creating sustainable, liveable communities is no cake walk, but some of the key visionaries in the public sector are using ambitious targets, planning controls and a big dose of grit and determination to make the impossible possible.
Tomorrowland19 – I, human: “We [Indigenous Australians and knowledge holders] don’t fit into a box, which is really challenging for the people we work with.”
Residents of Stockland homes may be able to snag a discount on their rooftop solar thanks to a new national scheme recently launched by the developer.
Research such as conducted by Bank of England and PwC, has identified positive correlations “between a company’s stock prices and the number of TCFD disclosures that firms are making”.
FLAMMABLE MATERIALS, UK – You’d have thought it wouldn’t happen again. The fire at The Cube building on Bradshawgate in Bolton, northern England, on 15 November spread rapidly due to its plastic external cladding, just as with the Grenfell disaster.
The stone, brick, timber, tiling and cast-iron elements of old buildings have already proven their durability and suitability for purpose. The same can’t be said of some of the more modern materials such as aluminium composite cladding, high-formaldehyde composite boards and asbestos fibro.
“There’s no doubt that new ideas in agriculture will play a massive role in reducing carbon emissions,” he Mike Cannon-Brookes. “The economic upside for Australia’s economy is also huge.”
We cannot just restyle our buildings to conform to current fashion; we must deeply rethink them, act towards positive future environments and mindsets, find better ways to recycle them and create a symbiosis between the old and new.
Architects are discovering that keeping some of the old features of our homes can be more sustainable than installing new materials and technology.
