Smart water metering saves $180K for Lendlease retirement villages
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.
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Jeremy McLeod from Breathe Architecture and Nightingale Housing says we should all be carbon neutral now
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 […]
Why construction teams should embrace rather than fear AI and automation
The benefits of embracing AI outweigh the potential negatives, especially in construction.
Rainwater tanks for a greener future
Rainwater harvesting solutions involves a minimal upfront cost to achieve sustainability upgrades that will pay significant dividends for homeowners as the climate changes.
Next generation fault detection throws away the rule book
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 […]
Online NABERS + CBD Conference 2020
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 […]
Looking for savings? Energy efficiency is the best place to start
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?
Great building managers are making the most of a bad situation
If a building’s occupancy drops by 50-80 per cent, by how much should its energy use go down?
Romeciti set to launch its second “green building” in Macquarie Park
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.
The features of a Zero Net Carbon Display Home
To celebrate Sustainable House Day in 2019, Metricon Homes launched its first ever Zero Net Carbon Home.
Sustainable Equipment Hire a Shared Resource
The rise of sustainable urban infrastructure is set to continue, supported by state-of-the-art construction machinery and equipment.
Cundall’s David Clark on engineers making 2020 the year of net zero
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.
Australia’s iconic water tank making waves as an urban favourite
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.
WaterGroup: Could 2020 be the year smart water solutions come into their own?
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.
During its hottest summer, Penrith calls on the experts to help it cool down
As Penrith residents seek relief from the heat wherever they can find it, the city’s council is holding a masterclass to investigate how to cool its urban spaces.
Sustainable Australia Fund launches next generation environmental upgrade loans
Loans for environmental upgrades have come a long way in the past 10 years. Owners can now enjoy one of three tailored products, including the Capital Fund, which becomes part of a developer’s capital stack, reduces cost and provides a greater return on equity.
Optimising office space to drive efficiency
How EcoStruxure Workplace Advisor optimised energy efficiency and employee comfort levels at Sodexo APAC House.
Making buildings smart and creating the agile workplace
Across our cities we see more and more smart buildings, equipped with sophisticated technology to monitor almost every aspect of their environment, but not all buildings are operating smartly.
How to love our open green space and help them grow
Not many people in the community know how to make a case for better green space nor who to approach to make this happen. Now a new large scale research project from the 202020 Vision program has come up with a community engagement kit that can change this..
Videos from the CRC for Low Carbon Living show how to cool our cities
The CRC for Low Carbon Living may have officially wrapped up at the end of June, but its impact is far from over.
Tracking your rainwater tank flow can help your home and business stay in touch with nature
Rainwater tanks are like solar batteries in the garage: able to bring you water when it’s not raining, now they’re getting smarter with Kingspan’s latest innovation called SensiT by measuring water consumption and flows.
Concrete a key component of Australia’s first Passive House apartment building
Sustainability architects have for many years specified concrete for its thermal qualities, and it’s clearly an essential part of construction – especially in mid to high rise buildings and infrastructure. In recent times it’s attracted the attention of the Passive House movement.
Renewables set to soar with disruptive insight systems
There’s never been a better time to talk renewables, and the technology around will only speed things up manifold.
Emotional tech and a rise in measuring indoor office space on the menu at Total Facilities 20-21
“Emotional tech” to track moods and a rise in measurement of indoor air quality are just some of the trends that will be under the microscope at Total Facilities wellness session this year
How cool is cool when it’s natural? National Energy Efficiency Council
Given that the most energy efficient building is one that uses no energy at all, then the star studded Naturally Cool session at the National Energy Efficiency Conference, looks like it just might create new aspirational thinking in “cool” for buildings – in both senses of the word.
The human side of buildings needs to come first – National Energy Efficiency conference 19-20 November
We humans are such variable and fickle creatures. Turns out we’re not that fussed about “perfect” indoor quality, what we want is agency – to have some control over our environments.
The Visible City: new voices in urban renewal 5-25 November
How can Canberra’s contemporary urban renewal efforts make visible our city’s distinctive design identity, inclusive processes and the hopes and dreams of our community?
The amazing power of rainwater for Melbourne’s future (and property values)
Talk of Melbourne needing a second desalination plant to meet future demand ignores a much more cost-effective solution – rainwater
Great potential of local climate action in the spotlight at Cities Power Partnership Summit
Local government has enormous capability to progress the transition to a low carbon built environment and economy, as the upcoming Cities Power Partnership Summit in Kiama, NSW will showcase.
Air leakage is the next big front on the way to net zero buildings
Stopping air leakage in buildings is one of the next big wins in the journey to a zero-carbon built environment, according to the Australian Sustainability Built Environment Council (ASBEC).