Home Archive by category "Sustainability" (Page 12)

Category Archives: Sustainability

2015 Sustainable House Day opens homes to the public this weekend

The Advertiser, 11 September 2015. For people with sustainability on their minds who are looking to build a home, put 2015 Sustainable House Day this weekend on your to-do list. Sustainable House Day on Sunday will see homeowners around Australia swing open their doors and welcome the public into their sustainability-focused properties. Sustainable House Day provides a unique opportunity to look around these houses, meet and talk to the owners and designers and get some insight into the principles of sustainable design and solar architecture. Each of the houses was designed around sustainable design principles using passive solar design, solar …

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Australia named ‘world’s greenest property industry’

Real Estate Business Online Australia has again placed first in an international ranking of sustainability in real estate. For the fifth year running, the region of Australia and New Zealand topped the annual survey, which is conducted by GRESB, a Dutch-based industry group. Property companies in Australia and New Zealand achieved an average score of 69, which was well ahead of the other regions. Property Council of Australia chief executive Ken Morrison said the Australian property industry should be proud of the result. “Not only is our industry keeping the economy growing and providing jobs for more Australians than almost …

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Naomi Klein says building new nuclear power plants ‘doesn’t make sense’

News.com.au, 1 September 2015. BUILDING new nuclear power plants to create a carbon-free world “doesn’t make sense” and just serves as a distraction from the risks, Canadian author Naomi Klein says. The activist and author of This Changes Everything, was asked what she thought about the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in South Australia, which a Royal Commission in the state is currently considering. Backers of nuclear power often spruik it as an alternative to renewables because it does not produce greenhouse gases, unlike coal-fired power stations. But Klein said building new nuclear plants did not make any …

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The ‘green-tech’ future is a flawed vision of sustainability

Original article by The Conversation August 28, 2015. What does your vision of a sustainable future look like? Some people imagine a scenario whereby technology solves the world’s most pressing environmental problems. In this world we all drive electric cars and have solar panels on our roofs that power our air conditioners and flat-screen televisions. We purchase “eco” products that provide all the convenience and comfort but without degrading the planet. We continue consuming and growing our economies, yet Mother Nature wins too. But I and my colleague Josh (who co-wrote this article) would argue that this vision of sustainability …

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Sustainable living put to the test in Bondor-QUT study partnership

Sustainable housing is increasingly sought-after by Australians – but how effective are current strategies and products used in sustainable construction? A study, which sees Queensland University of Technology (QUT) team up with Bondor, aims to find out. Residential homes in each state constructed using Bondor’s innovative InsulLiving® building products, InsulWall® and SolarSpan®, will be monitored over an extended period of time to evaluate how Bondor’s high performance thermal building system meets the needs of the residents in relation to both energy cost savings and comfort. QUT’s Dr Wendy Miller and Bondor have been working closely since 2009 when Bondor first …

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It’s raining water tanks

It’s raining water tanks: top tips for keeping them healthy and efficient Article published by CSIRO 11 February 2015 Author: Adam Knight Australia is the driest populated continent in the world, and yet our water consumption per person is among the highest on the planet. For Australians, water is scarce and how we manage this resource is a concern for us all. It’s no surprise that people are looking to install some form of water catchment for their property. Recent data shows that 26 per cent of Australian homes have already installed a rainwater tank and an overwhelming majority reported that they are positive about …

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Sustainability vs. Resilience

By William E. Rees, originally published by Resilience.org: Sustainability vs. Resilience In my opinion this article [The End of Sustainability] is poorly reasoned, and mis-represents (misunderstands?) both sustainability and resilience. Two sample quotes to illustrate (ignoring for a moment that the authors use a questionable definition/understanding of sustainability)… read the full article here

Urban Farming Is Growing a Green Future

With seven billion mouths to feed, human agriculture exerts a tremendous toll on the planet, from water draws to pollution, and from energy use to habitat loss. But there is also a growing set of solutions, from organic agriculture to integrated pest management. More people around the world are taking a look at urban farming, which offers to make our food as “local” as possible. By growing what we need near where we live, we decrease the “food miles” associated with long-distance transportation. We also get the freshest produce money can buy, and we are encouraged to eat in season…more here Urban Farming Is Growing …

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GBCA calls on WA to strengthen sustainability commitment

20 February 2013 — In the face of Western Australia’s 9 March state election, the Green Building Council of Australia has outlined a three-point green plan for the state’s buildings and communities to create “a clear long-term pathway to resilience and sustainability”. The Council has called on the political leaders of Western Australia to strengthen their commitment to more efficient, productive, resource-friendly and sustainable buildings and communities. Executive director Robin Mellon said “despite a slow start” the number of Green Star rated buildings in WA continued to grow, government and industry were working collaboratively, the GBCA’s state industry group was …

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