Tag Archives: Australia

Enhanced Renewable Energy Target Good Outcome for SOLAR

January 2010

John Grimes, CEO
Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES)
Website: www.auses.org.au
Email: ceo@auses.org.au

Australian Solar Energy Society welcomes the federal government’s proposed changes to the Renewable Energy Target, announced today. The changes reserve 41,000GWh (from the original 45,000GWh target) for large scale renewable energy like solar thermal, large scale photovoltaics, wind and wave power. In addition the government has announced an uncapped scheme that will apply to solar panels and solar hot water installations, with a fixed REC price of $40.

“This change recognises the importance of personal action on climate change, while freeing up the renewable energy target for large-scale investments” says John Grimes Chief Executive, Australian Solar Energy Society. “Perhaps the most damaging element of recent solar policy for the solar industry has been constant change. This announcement gives the industry the certainty it needs moving forward”. “Whilst the proposed changes are welcomed, they will not by themselves ensure a strong Australian solar industry. The Australian Government should support large-scale solar through loan guarantees or a national feed-in tariff and the existing Solar Flagships Program”. “A strong Australian solar industry will delver clean energy jobs across Australia, but this cannot happen without concerted government action.” “We look forward to seeing the detail in the legislation when it is available” said Grimes.

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Watch Out for Fraudulent Sustainability Builders: Expert Warns Home Owners

December 2009

Jacinta Goerke
Journalist

AN AUSTRALIAN sustainability expert is warning consumers to watch out for designers, architects and builders claiming to be sustainability specialists.

The warning was issued today following a rise in the number of people appointing unqualified sustainability practitioners to design and build their homes and offices.

LEED-certified homes

Leading Australian eco architect and adjunct professor at Murdoch University Mr Garry Baverstock said he was aware of the sudden increase in the amount of unqualified people claiming to be ‘sustainability’ experts.

“Sustainability is the new buzz word and there is a growing number of drafts people, architects and builders claiming to be ‘experts’ when they are neither qualified nor experienced in this area,” said Mr Baverstock.

“I’m worried it will all come to a head in a few years when people realise their homes and offices don’t comply with sustainability principles and will label ‘sustainable buildings’ a joke.

“This is such an important issue because the built environment in developed nations such as Australia accounts for between 40 and 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions so our buildings need to comply with the best possible sustainability and energy efficiency rating systems,” said Mr Baverstock.

Mr Baverstock said it was not easy to design and build top rating energy efficient buildings because specialist expertise and coordination was required.

He said many practitioners were telling people they were sustainability experts just to win jobs.

“I believe this fraudulent behaviour must be stopped and for practitioners to return to university to complete post-graduate studies in environmental science and sustainability,” he said.

“These courses provide students with knowledge and skills over and above what they would have learnt in their undergraduate architectural and engineering degrees,” he said.

Mr Baverstock said tips for people looking to appoint sustainability experts included requesting copies of practitioners’ qualifications in sustainable design/environmental architecture; number and types of awards won for green building designs; addresses of past projects over the last ten years; client testimonials; and the names of energy rating systems used.

Commercial business owners should contact the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) to see if their proposed architects and builders are registered with them.

Image-
Name: Northside green homes
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northside-green-homes.jpg
Image released to public domain

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Green Cards to be Dealt at Cottesloe’s Old Bridge Centre

21 November 2009

Jacinta Goerke
Journalist

A NEW type of cards is soon to be played at the once well-patronised Rosendorf’s Bridge Centre located on Railway Street in Cottesloe.

As of early December the new ‘bridge’ will no longer be home to shuffling decks, calling spades and keeping score, but to the hustle and bustle of professionals working toward building a more sustainable future.

Swanbourne Railway Station near the new Swanbourne Business Centre

Centre owners Ms Julia Hayes and Mr Garry Baverstock said the new ‘bridge’ is to be renamed ‘The Swanbourne Business Centre’ where a serviced office Perth can be leased by business people committed to doing something positive about the environment.

“From the outset we wanted to turn the ‘old bridge’ into a centre of sustainable excellence where professionals working in green industries could come together to share ideas, network and use a common secretarial service while remaining independent,” said Ms Hayes.

“We’re aware new ideas and innovative ways of doing things often emerge when neighbouring executives share ideas.

“This means we’re keen to hear from people who specialise in areas such as environmental law, climate science, sustainable building practices, engineering, town planning, real estate development and other business activities such as ethical investment and financing and complementary trades and professionals,” she said.

Ms Hayes said the sustainability and green industry was rapidly growing and specialists were keen to connect and lease premises alongside like-minded professionals.

She said the new Swanbourne Business Centre in the Swanbourne Village was complementary to ‘all things green’ because it had been retrofitted to comply with quality green building principles to ensure energy efficiency and natural comfort.

“The office walls have double insulation, there is a well-appointed natural ventilation system and a low energy cooling system in place, ceiling fans are installed and low energy lighting complements natural light in each room,” she said.

“The office building also takes advantage of the northern orientation in which natural daylight is harnessed to light, heat and provide maximum comfort in each office.

“And the upstairs’ location has excellent views across to the village shops and the ocean in the distance,” she said.

Ms Hayes said tenants and people external to the centre would be able to access the secretarial support service for typing, photocopying and possibly use temporary office/work stations.

She said this business model of sharing secretarial services and office equipment in one central location worked well in Asia and among medical, allied health and legal specialists.

Mr Baverstock, a well known local eco architect, said there were savings to be made in sharing larger professional offices and identities.

“Daily social and professional contact is often lacking when people work from home and, with huge advances in the internet, it’s no longer necessary for businesses to employ full-time secretaries and lease expensive office equipment,” said Mr Baverstock.

“Paying a higher price for a smaller office and sharing facilities can be much cheaper than business as usual in one’s own office suite or complex.

Mr Baverstock said many people were now taking advantage of the recent slow down in activity to restructure and downscale the floor area of their offices.

“In fact, I think the people of Swanbourne are ready for an eco-oriented village and this is just one more step towards that sustainable vision,” he said.

Mr Baverstock said the Swanbourne Railway Station was across the road, the post office and other key shops and cafes were within a short walk.

Mr Baverstock and Ms Hayes said the new centre was once a vibrant bridge club and part of the heritage of the location.

“There is also a bridge in front of the building and the centre will provide a bridge of business opportunities for people ready to grow their businesses in a sustainable and efficient manner,” he said.

However, not all will be lost from the old bridge days said Mr Baverstock.

“I’m sure some of the ‘lingo’ will still be heard and used,” he said.

“For example, we’re looking for ‘partners’ who can play their cards right, keep score on the environment and regularly call trumps.

“But to call a spade a spade; please no ‘dummies’ (a term bridge players will understand); ‘just genuine people who want to contribute to the Cottesloe business scene and community,” said Mr Baverstock.

Image-
Name: Transperth Swanbourne Train Station
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transperth_Swanbourne_Train_Station.jpg
Image released into the public domain

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Top Architect Says Building Practices Must Change to Cope with Changing Weather Patterns & Disasters

2 November 2009

Jacinta Goerke
Journalist

ONE of Australia’s leading environmental architects today said rapid change was required in the way we build and renovate properties and prepare for disasters.

The director of Wise Earth Pty Ltd and Order of Australia recipient Mr Garry Baverstock said the increase in reported property damage due to bad weather reaffirms the need to change the way we build structures and prepare for catastrophes.

Damage from 2009 tsunami in Pago Pago, American Samoa

“The west coast of Australia has been hit by ongoing severe storms this winter while fires, droughts, floods and dust storms have affected central and eastern Australia not to mention the tsunami that devastated some Pacific Island nations recently,” said Mr Baverstock.

“Most houses and buildings in Australia will not withstand ongoing storms, extreme cyclones, heavy rain, hail, fires, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and tornados.

“With climate change now in action we need to implement adaptive practices which means changing the way we live and fast!” said Mr Baverstock.

Mr Baverstock said many new houses and commercial buildings did not comply with sustainability principles and people should feel short-changed if problems occurred in their homes within ten years.

“The tie-down on roofing needs to be more solid, windows need to be stronger and homes should be designed to complement the surrounding environment,” he said.

“Houses should be built to last at least three generations and the integration of climate sensible principles, passive solar design, natural vegetation and waterways is vital,” he said.

He said investing extra money up front to construct a durable home or other building is cheaper to maintain in the long run and won’t fly away in a storm.

Mr Baverstock said the federal government had introduced a uniform building code for all states and territories but it failed to include comprehensive sustainable best practice benchmarks.

“The legislation that guides building practices in this country needs to be reviewed and amended to comply with the impact of changing weather patterns and sustainability principles,” he said.

“I’m aghast that developers can still carve up land without taking into account the northern orientation of each lot, rising sea levels and necessary waterway and vegetation corridors.

“While the government has made initial changes we have a long way to go before our homes and buildings will be able to sustain battering caused by harsh weather,” he said.

Mr Baverstock said people keen to live in durable homes should tell their architects, drafts people, builders and local councils to adopt sustainable building policies and designs.

He said at least 80 per cent of people in Australia lived along coastal strips and this made them more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

“If enough people place pressure on builders and local councils then building codes will change,” said Mr Baverstock.

Image-
Name: Tsunami 2009 Pago Pago
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tsunami_2009_Pago_Pago.jpg
Author: Lorn Cramer
Licensing: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

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