August


2008
In
this
issue:
The
Built
Environment
The
Built
Environment
In this edition, various contributors have
provided different insights into sustainable
Computer
Simulation
of
Australian
 building and its future. One acid test of
Office
Buildings

 
 (p
3) sustainability is the actual energy
consumption in practice as compared, for
Going
Better
and
Beyond:
Excellent
 example, to modelling during the design phase.
Sustainable
Design

 (p
8)
It is not always easy or practical to obtain this
Twentieth
century
planning
alive
and
 information but it is important that building
well
in
Canberra?


 (p
12) performance claims are both realistic and
within the law (Trade Practises Act 1974
(especially Sections 52 and 53). I received a
A
Californian
Local
Government
leads

media release recently suggesting that a

 
 
 
 (p
15)
particular sky lighting product could reduce
business energy costs by “up to” 90%. False
The
90:90:90
rule
put
into
practise
 and misleading? It is not easy to determine,

 
 
 
 (p
17) but the implication is clear that this product
was capable of delivering big savings and the
Renovation
of
a
1942,
timber
framed,
 purchaser would have no means of knowing
house
in
Adelaide


 (p
21) how much energy would be saved. The
practise of making unrealistic environmental
New
Green
renovation
guide
(p
23) claims about consumer products is known as
“greenwash”. Be re-assured. The Sydney
Positive
Development

 (p
25) based Total Environment Centre in
collaboration with the Australian Association
Climate
Ready
Program
 (p
29) of National Advertisers is taking an interest in
greenwash.
Intersolar
2008
 
 
(p
30)
“We
need
a
war
on
greenwash.
Environmental
claims
and

Society
news
 
 (p
32) brands
should
inspire
and
encourage
consumers,
not
dupe

them
into
thinking
they
are
doing
their
part
for
the

Disclaimer environment,
when
they
are
not.

It’s
essential
that
green

Statements
of
fact
and
opinion
are
those
of
the

authors.

Whilst
every
effort
is
made
to
check
 products
became
mainstream,
the
normal
products
to
buy,

authenticity
and
accuracy,
neither
the
Editor
 but
for
this
to
happen
consumers
must
be
confident
about

nor
the
Australian
and

New
Zealand
Solar
 the
environmental
claims,”
said
Jeff
Angel,
Director
of
Total

Energy
Society
is
responsible
for
any
 Environment
Centre
(TEC).
inaccuracies.
“While
the
ACCC
must
continue
their
important
regulatory

work,
we
hope
that
the
work
by
TEC
and
the
AANA
will

come
together
to
prevent
greenwash
emerging
in
the
first

place,”
said
Mr.
Angel.
“TEC
has
been
campaigning
to
inform
industry
about
greenwash
and
how
to
ensure
green
marketing
is
clear

and
substantiated,
and
we’ll
certainly
be
talking
to
the
AANA”.

TEC
will
be
releasing
‘The
End
of
Greenwash
–
how
to
unlock
the
consumer
potential
for
sustainability’
and

‘The
Green
Cred
Checklist’
at
events
to
be
held
in
Sydney
and
Melbourne
in
the
last
week
of
August,
to
help

industry
develop
green
marketing
strategies,
free
of
greenwash
and
inform
NGOs,
regulators
and
consumers

about
the
issue
and
way
forward
–
see
www.greencapital.org.au

The TEC and AANA are not alone of course – the ACCC is proactive in the area.

One of the issues is the poor standard of journalism – the lack of critical evaluation of
claims made in the area of energy are disturbing. It is one thing to depend on an energy
rating
label on a washing machine, but quite another to understand exactly what marketing
terms like “smartpower” or “greenpower” mean in terms of what the consumer is
actually achieving. “Smartpower” in Western Australia is synonymous with
environmental benefit in the consumer’s mind, but all its does in fact is load shifting by
charging less for electricity at night.

However, in case you thought things were moving the right way, we publish a strong
critique of a sub-division in Canberra. A design concept that does not appear to
consider the sun.
Bill Parker
Computer
Simulation
as
a
Predictor
of
the
Energy
Performance
of
Australian
Office
Buildings
By Annie Egan BE(Mech) BA BIT MEngSc
MSc(Renewable Energy) GDipEd DipHort
Increasingly building simulation packages
are being used to substantiate the expected
energy efficiency of building designs. The
Building Code of Australia, Australian
Greenhouse Building Rating and GreenStar
Rating systems all have provision for
building simulation to be used in the
verification of the energy efficiency of
buildings. In the commercial sector office
buildings are currently the largest
greenhouse gas emitters. If new buildings
have higher levels of energy consumption
than predicted in the design process, their
larger greenhouse gas emissions will
continue for the life of the building.
Building simulation uses computer-based
models to evaluate all energy flows in a
building and their
interactions over a
typical weather year.
The typical
meteorological year
(TMY) used in building
simulation is a collation
of weather data for a
location; Australian
TMYs are generally
based upon data from the 1980s. Simulation
allows hourly calculations of heating and
cooling loads and all energy used by
building lighting and equipment, as well as
the indoor temperature and humidity
conditions. The simulation program requires
the input of detailed information about the
building fabric and geometry, as well as full
specification of the heating, ventilation and
air conditioning (HVAC) systems used in
the building.
The purpose of my research is to improve
the capacity of computer simulation to
accurately predict the energy efficiency of
Australian office buildings.


The first stage of my work involves field
validation of simulation through detailed case
studies of five office buildings, one of which
will be discussed below. The buildings selected
for these case stidies have highly energy
efficient designs by current standards with an
anticipated performance of 4 star ABGR or
better. I am currently in the process of
generating computer models of each building
and comparing the modeled outcomes of these
with the actual recorded energy use.
Discrepancies between the actual and modeled
energy use are being investigated using data
logging, surveys and site visits.
The modeling of the buildings uses the
building simulation software, EnergyPlus.
EnergyPlus is an open source software
package developed by the US Department of
Energy.
Figure
1:
Building
Two. !
Figure 1 shows the drawing generated by
EnergyPlus for Building Two in my study.
This building is a medium sized office block
with a total covered floor area of
approximately 2,950m² and a net lettable area
of approximately 2,600m². It has a single floor
at ground level and is located in a major urban
centre. For privacy reasons the building will
not be identified.
The air conditioning system in this building is
comprised of several variable refrigerant flow
(VRF) heat pump units which provide both
heating and cooling as required. The intake air
is preconditioned by a heat recovery system on
the exhaust air. The building uses electricity
only and has no connection to natural gas.
Building Two is single glazed with
Pilkington SolarE S4 Green glass. The
external walls are metal clad with R1.75
insulation and the ceiling and roof have a
total added insulation of R3.5.
The computer model generated for Building
Two used Australian Building Greenhouse
Rating (ABGR) simulation protocol values
for lighting, tenant
equipment and
occupancy. These are
default values
commonly used in
simulation.
This building has two
separate electricity
meters, typical of
Australian office:
• The base
building meter -
this measures
the power used
by the heating
and air
conditioning, car
park ventilation, exterior lights and
lighting in non-tenanted parts of the
building, such as plant rooms. This
power is paid for by the building
owner.
• The tenancy meter – this measures
the power used by lighting and
equipment in the space occupied by
the tenant. It also includes the use of
tenant controlled supplementary air
conditioning as used in meeting
rooms. This power is paid for by the
tenant.
In exploring the differences between the
simulated energy consumption and the
actual recorded energy consumption this
separate metering of the base building and
tenant components provides a good
indication of the sources of differences.
Electricity data available from the retailer
of both the tenant and building owner
accounts gives a breakdown of electricity
usage in fifteen minute intervals.
Figure 2 shows the modeled base building
electricity consumption compared with the
actual base building consumption for a year.
Overall the actual base building electricity
consumed was approximately double the
modeled base building electricity. Particularly
in the winter months the actual electricity
used by the base building services was very
much higher than the amount predicted by the
modeling.
Figure
2:
Comparison
of
actual

and
modeled
base
building

electricity
consumption.
!
A major source of disparity is apparent from
comparing the pattern of actual and modeled
base electricity use over one day as shown in
Figure 3 below (Note the hour of the day
shown on the horizontal axis is solar hour and
does allow for daylight saving). The actual
consumption for 6th June shows the greatest
consumption of electricity between 11:00pm
and 8:00am, and this seemed to be typical of
the daily winter pattern of electricity use for
building services in this building in winter.
After several enquiries to the building owner
and building services maintenance contractor,
it was found that the building had been
running its heating overnight without the
tenant or owner knowing. This appeared to be
due to an overreaction by the maintenance
contractor to complaints from occupants who
arrived early in the morning and felt that the
building was cold.
4
Another possible source of difference between
actual and modeled usage may have arisen
from the EnergyPlus software having no
specific modules to model a VRF system. An
approximate equivalent system was devised
using a direct expansion system with
altered part-load efficiencies. The close
match of the modeled early February data
with actual data indicates that this
approximation has been accurate, and is
unlikely to have contributed to the
differences.
The tenant meter in this building measures
approximately 75% of all energy used in the
building. The tenant proportion is higher
than usual for an office building because the
building contains a small computer server
room. The computer equipment and
dedicated cooling units in this room
consumed approximately 20% of the
tenants’ metered energy. The tenant data
discussed below includes the server room
consumption.
!
Figure
3:
Base
building
electricity
‐
 The
pattern
of
consumption
all
 actual
Wednesdays tenant
energy
use,
shown in Figure 4,(next page) is
approximately 31% higher than that assumed
by the modeling. This may indicate that the
tenant equipment and lighting had been
underestimated for the simulation.
Alternatively the contribution of the server
room equipment and cooling may have been
underestimated. The difference between
actual and modeled tenant consumption is
least during the months November to January
when occupants could be expected to be on
holidays, suggesting the cause is equipment
over which occupants have control, for
example, personal computers, rather than the
server room equipment. An inventory of the
server room equipment was completed to
verify the load assumptions in the simulation
(it is very difficult to determine what exact
proportion of the equipment is operating at
full rated power).
The daily pattern of
tenant energy use shown Figure
4:
Electricity

in Figure 5 gives an used
for
tenant

indication of possible light
and
power
sources of discrepancies.
In February, the actual
tenant light and
equipment load starts to
rise earlier than
assumed in the
simulation and in both
February and June, the
loads remain higher
until later in the day
than the simulation
assumed. Between
8:00pm and 6:00am
!
when the building is
Building simulation also considers the
unoccupied, the averaged load is
contribution of human occupants to the heat
approximately 60% above that assumed by the
generated in the building and consequently

Figure
5:
Tenant
electricity

‐
daily
pattern
of
use
‐
all

Wednesdays

modeling; during the day however this
difference is reduced to approximately 5%.
This indicates that in this building much more
of the office light and equipment is left on
overnight than assumed for simulation in
accordance with the ABGR protocol. It also
indicates that the source of the discrepancy is
not likely to be the server room as this load
would be expected to be fairly uniform
throughout the course of the day.
!
assumed occupancy levels form part of the
input data. As this building had only one main
entrance, it was possible to check arrivals and
departures and so calculate the number of
occupants in the building. The outcome of a
morning and an evening check is shown in
Figure 6. The green area shown in this graph
shows how the level of assumed occupancy
from the ABGR protocol for simulation
purposes was substantially greater than the
actual occupancy level over the whole day.
 Figure
6:
Occupancy
check

‐
morning
8/5/08
and

evening
27/5/08

Clearly this is a single case study and my

research is in its early stages. My purpose here
has not been to draw conclusions but to
demonstrate some of the issues arising with
the use of building simulation to predict the
energy efficiency of office buildings. The
sources of difference between modeled and
actual building performance include, for
example, unusual time settings of HVAC
controls, and inaccurate estimations of
occupancy and tenant light and office
equipment usage patterns. My research will
continue to explore which of these and other
differences make energy efficient design
appear better or worse relative to energy
inefficient design.
Any comments, thoughts or queries
would be most welcome:
annie.egan@anu.edu.au.

Annie Egan is a Research student in the

Faculty of Engineering and Information
Technology, Australian National University
Her supervisors are : Dr Mike Dennis, Dr Paul
Bannister (Exergy Australia), Dr Keith Lovegrove,
and Dr Keith Garzoli

7
 Going
Better
and
Beyond:
 orientation it would seem has
Excellent
Sustainable
Design
A national seminar series of best-practice
building case studies was co-presented by
Garry Baverstock AM, with local
presenters last October. Garry summaries
the lessons to be learnt from the
discussions held with the architects and
other practitioners present.
It was obvious from the tour that the
architectural profession wants to move forward
and adapt their methods and outputs as
architects, to help solve the deadly
consequences of Global Warming. The aim of
the tour was to excite and challenge attendees
in their Ecologically Sustainable Development
(ESD) journey. Although the climate change
issue may be conveniently seen by some as a
technology or technical problem, the reality is
not that simple. In the seminars, we
attempted to clarify that ‘business as usual’
with a little bit of tweaking of light globes and
air-conditioning systems, is not likely to deliver
success. Global warming is a holistic problem,
just like architecture as a discipline has always
been.
The attitude and the social philosophy of
architects as agents of change, needs to be
comprehensively addressed. Many of the
speakers obviously realised that fact during
the tour, as did many in the audiences. The
way forward is just as much about culture
change as it is a technical competence problem.
Architects need to come up to speed – and fast.
Overwhelmingly, throughout the country there
was an expressed desire to change the role of
architects and divert from the ambivalence of
many in the architectural profession that has
been clearly evident over the last 20 years, to
one of rapid change. The result must be to
make our profession more of a leader and be
more effective in supporting and encouraging
the next generation of architects.
Brisbane
–
Don
Watson,
Queensland
 Innovation as shown in the CH2 building
Department
of
Works
 demonstrates that the public sector has a high
level of responsibility to the community and
Brisbane and Queensland had many decades of recognises that risk capital for such projects
neglect of ESD influences in the built will be very rarely supplied by the commercial
environment generally. For instance, the use of
been very spasmodically applied.
The use of natural ventilation has
ceased to be a basic principle in
housing and the use of air-
conditioning has rapidly expanded
Queensland’s ecological footprint over recent
years. Don Watson imparted the basics of
orientation, natural lighting maximisation and
ventilation principles. He made a call for a
‘back to basics’ approach; and for architects to
regain the effective technical knowledge and
rules of thumb that were an integral part of the
architect’s education after WWII.
Newcastle
–
Tone
Wheeler,
Environa
Studio
The workshop session was energetic and a
lively discourse resulted, in which it was felt
that regulatory compliance for architects
needed to be made easier, to allow for the
complexity that the rating systems do not
accommodate well at present. More science
was considered necessary as part of the
architecture schools’ education, and the
practicing members felt that architects need
ongoing monitoring and evaluation of their
built examples.
Sydney
–
Tone
Wheeler,
Environa
Studio
Tone Wheeler’s presentation placed energy
efficiency and solar design in residential
settings into perspective. His criticisms of so-
called sustainable developments were
highlighted as examples of what not to do.
Tone’s case study fitted the street architecture
and urban setting as well as giving the
homeowner the opportunity to operate and live
a climatically connected lifestyle, within the
practical design of a courtyard house on a
small block. Integration with the courtyard
lifestyle meant that a culture/lifestyle change
occurred which has energy and water
conservation consequences beyond that which
the technical design could achieve.
Melbourne
–
Prof.
Rob
Adams
AM,
Melbourne

City
Council
sector. Apart from the expected analysis of they engaged the client and led them in an
what went right and what did not go so right, ESD direction, by convincing them that it was
the strengths and some of the weaknesses were commercially sensible. It was calculated that
discussed. This building has opened up a source the rental returns on the building would be
of knowledge to future architects, builders and higher for longer if the building addressed the
developers who have a goal of establishing ESD concerns of tenants – way into the future.
as mainstream thinking.
Perth
–
Dominic
Snellgrove,
Cameron
Chisholm

Canberra
–
Kevin
Miller,
Collard
Clarke
Jackson &
Nicol

Kevin Miller explained how he used a very In WA the hectic speed with which
detailed brief to produce a visually interesting, development occurs and the domination of the
recycling of a 1980s building. It focussed on political agenda by many wealthy ‘fast money’
reuse of as many materials as possible as well entrepreneurs has made it difficult for
as water conservation and enhancement of architects to apply ESD principles. The
natural light, night-ventilation, insulation, and unfortunate perception is that no one has the
shading, to enhance the energy efficiency and time to do it right.
minimise air-conditioning. The use of opening Dominic Snellgrove’s presentation of a
windows completed a clever, practical relatively small enterprise for his firm was
commercial retrofit. very significant, one of leadership and taking
responsibility for our commercial future; their
Hobart
–
Detlev
Geard
architect systematic thinking and process was just as
Detlev Geard reinforced the need for solar important as the solutions offered and
design in all new houses and additions, and for implemented.
energy efficiency to become mainstream in
Hobart. He showed a number of his detached Conclusions
houses that were good examples of passive This tour represented a positive start to new
solar design that works. All of his houses either approaches and an ongoing long-term
eliminated the need for artificial heating or commitment to excellence in architecture and
cooling, or reduced it to minimal levels. His the built environment generally.
analysis of the use of thermal mass for
There is always a risk that such a program
Tasmania was particularly educational.
will result in a perception of ‘preaching to the
converted’ however, this was certainly not the
Darwin
–
Greg
McNamara,
Troppo
 intention. Interest in ESD that will truly solve
Architects
 our drastic ecological and climate problems
This local presenter was very focused on will not be enough in itself. It will need
eliminating the need for air-conditioning in mainstream action, that is: a change in
residential buildings. The passive techniques of direction, a paradigm shift, a journey of
orientation, shade and cross/attic ventilation discovery and one that keeps the lines of
were solid principles applied to his enquiry open. Then we may increase the speed
architectural case studies, which included a of evolution in delivery of outcomes that save
refit and conversion of a Kerry Hill designed water and energy, preserve our natural world
building to become an exhibition/arts complex. and produce future buildings that become part
of our heritage, and contributions to coming
Adelaide
–
Chris
Watkins,
Hassell generations. It is not going to be easy: we will
definitely make many mistakes, but we need
A major high-rise building recently awarded a
to quickly learn from them, adapt, move on
5 Star Green Star rating by the Green
and deliver the outcomes that will help solve
Building Council was the case study. The use of
our local, national and international ESD
double-glazed ‘smart windows’ on its largely
challenges.
un-shaded facades was a technical way of
The path of our Institute in delivering a
achieving the rating, albeit not necessarily the
program through 2008 on sustainability must
cheapest or the most architecturally pleasing.
be applauded and hopefully will stimulate
It was refreshing to hear Chris discuss how
more architects to make sustainability a way of
life and design philosophy. As Bawdin said “if
we always see what we have always seen we
will always be what we have always been.”
We need to embrace a certain future in a
presently uncertain world.
Following is a list of what was offered at the
short workshop at the end of the session. This
has been based on notes from the meetings and
summarised from comments made by
attendees who contributed to the discussion.
The following were thought needed:
Educational
• more rigour was sought in architectural courses
for the science and technology content
• up-skilling of the profession will make it more
effective in improving ESD outcomes
• better ongoing education and training for
architects
• more information via web resources
• organisations like the Australian Institute of
Architects could play a greater role in educating
the public about ESD
Competency
 cities in the world
• architects need to be accepted as design ‘experts’
• architects need to 'raise the bar'
• more information about viable solutions
• more coordination with other disciplines
• architects are frustrated that their expertise was
often called upon ‘after the event’ for damage
control
• the contents of the Environment Design Guide
needed review to confirm they were up to date
• architects need to team with creative builders
who can demonstrate their ESD work in cost
effective ways
Media/Communications
• better local and national networks for architects
to share information with each other
• better networks with industry for sharing ESD
knowledge
• eco-villages for demonstration purposes in re-
urbanisation strategies
• it was felt that if the Australian Institute of
Architects had a larger media profile it could
more effectively educate the public on the value of
ESD
• similarily if individual architects had stronger
media profiles they too could aid build public
awareness
• government policy might be influenced with
stronger Institute of Architects advocacy
implemented in the political process
• increased energy and water prices will increase
interest in ESD
• clients need increased incentives for greater
uptake of ESD
• tougher legislation was favoured as an economic
driver for improving ESD standards
• improved communication with developers
Compliance
• compliance for architects needs to be made easier
• compliance systems need review
• rating systems should allow for greater
complexity of designs
• the computer thermal performance modelling
tools need to properly take into account local
climatic conditions
• there is scepticism that modelling tools perform
accurately for all climates, particularly tropical
climates
• better education of assessing agencies about ESD
Research
and
Development
• ongoing monitoring and evaluation of our built
examples is required
• more ESD examples are needed from successful
• architects very much appreciate state-of-the-art
demonstration
• greater incentives or grants should be available
for people who apply ESD principles
Architecture
Awards
• architectural awards should be screened by
recognised ESD experts
• all categories in the awards should require a high
level of ESD, which could be assessed over a
period of, say, 4-5 years
• awards for building design should acknowledge
individual climatic zones, and building types, as it
seems illogical to have buildings of different type
and climates competing against each other
Adjunct Professor Garry Baverstock AM is a
practising architect and manager of the Built
Environment Program of the Research Institute
for Sustainable Energy, (RISE) at Murdoch
University.
In his tour, Garry presented two project case
studies of his own, along with a case study from
separate speakers invited for each of the 9
locations.
Of the projects presented, 2 have been
developed into Continuum online continuing
professional development courses, and 3 have
been developed into the EDG case studies Further
Information:
included in this edition.
SCOTT
WILLEY
The programme of lectures, online learning, Sustainability
Manager
&
Managing
Editor
and EDG papers was supported with the of
the
BEDP
Environment
Design
Guide
generous assistance of the Australian
Government – Department of the RAIA
Knowledge
Services
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Melbourne
Tel:
03
8620
3877
The views expressed herein are not necessarily the
views of the Commonwealth, and the E:
sustainability@raia.com.au
Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for W:
architecture.com.au
the information or advice contained herein. W:
environmentdesignguide.net.au
Similarly the views expressed above do not
necessarily represent those of the Australian
Institute of Architects, however current initiatives
within the Institute address some of the concerns
noted.

See
page
32

for
details
of
the

Society’s
constitutional
review
Twentieth
century
planning
alive

and
well
in
Canberra?
A
detailed
solar
rights
critique

By Derek Wrigley
the demolition of apparently sound building
structures which could have been recycled by
Properly considered solar access is critical at
appropriate retrofitting? The demolition was
the planning level if we are to combat global
20th century thinking and the redevelopment
warming. Such ill-considered proposals as the
is certainly not 21st century thinking.
one described here must be carefully
scrutinised before being approved. A very
strong, long term stand is needed if we are to
resolve the trauma of global warming, fuel cost
increases with high rise development
mixtures.

The Burnie Court redevelopment proposal

recently released for public comment in the
ACT demonstrates that neither the
Hindmarsh designers nor the ACT Planning
and Land Authority are putting energy saving
measures into practice. Instead, it would seem
that short-term economics are receiving a
higher priority than long term sustainability,
ignoring the need to neutralise global warming
and the reduction of pollution from energy
consumption. This redevelopment proposal is
yet another lost opportunity that will create
shadowed buildings, gloomy and largely
sunless rooms (hence energy consumptive,
creating more pollution), and inefficient and
reduced value buildings in the long term.
The fact that this concept plan has developed
to this stage shows that the developer and
ACTPLA place little importance on the value
of solar access or has little understanding of
the relationship between building and roof
forms and the economics of applying solar
technology. This lends much more urgency to
the current demand by ANZSES members in
Canberra for Solar Rights legislation to be
enacted in the cool temperate regions.
Was the demolition of the original Burnie
Court housing a sustainable act?
The
original
Burnie
Court
(picture
courtesy
of
the

National
Library)
The comments here are directed mainly to
solar access issues and in general this 'paper'
planning shows little or no regard to the
maximisation of solar ingress to promote the
wellbeing of the occupants. In reality it may
well be re-creating the same living conditions
and social consequences which caused the
degradation and demolition of the original
housing.
If a ten storey building (block P) (see over)
must be placed on this site, then from an
urban massing point of view and its shadow
pattern, it could be far better placed on a site
at the north end of block A (delete block A)
where its shadow would fall on a roadway
without seriously affecting block B
(Community Facilities) or the Freycinet
apartments. If, however, P stays where
shown, it will shadow block Q practically all
day in winter, which is most undesirable,
increasing the energy usage within Q.

Were the social and management problems of

the original Burnie Court so large as to cause
12
See
next
page
for

a
detailed
critique
Q is a'thick' building with only east, west and
sunless south aspects and prospects from the Blocks D,F,G,H appear to be suitable for the
apartments and is overshadowed by block P for economic placement of BIPV (Building Integrated
most of the day in winter. Photo Voltaic) installations and represent a good
opportunity to demonstrate this logical technology
Block N appears to have some south facing (no examples yet in Canberra, but available in
apartments with probably no northern aspect at Sydney).
all. This too, is not good solar optimising design in
a solar age. In Canberra's winter climate, all new
habitable rooms must now have access to
Blocks A,C,L,K,J,M are almost as bad as Q from a warming northern sunlight. Another
solar access point of view, maximising east and
fundamental principle should be that the
west sun penetration and minimising northern sun
placing of garages should not be regarded as
access. Surely they could have echoed to advantage
the Freycinet apartments with an east-west axis? more valuable than the solar wellbeing of the
owners.
Blocks Q,J,K,L,A exhibit an old 'face the street'
mentality which maximises the internal This critique lacked access to detailed internal
penetration of traffic noise and hot, undesirable planning and roof forms in the public release.
eastern sunlight in summer. I appreciate the fall of In future all publication of development
the land puts initial economic pressure on N-S axis proposals should show these important aspects
planning, but the Freycinet apartments overcame so that the potential for assistive solar
this problem. The dilemma of energy usage technologies can be properly assessed by the
(pollution) now requires us to reconsider the community.
holistic, long term consequences.
The days of cheap fuels and cheap energy are
Blocks D,E,F,G,H are all single storey villas,
needing re-design to make northern solar more gone. This planning might have been
effective. These are considered in more detail: acceptable in the past, but global warming,
sustainability issues and rising energy prices
D - the northern unit looks to be solar effective, but are changing all that.
the southern unit will receive little or no northern It is almost culpable that this re-development
sun, increasing its energy usage. proposal does not contain 21st C thinking.

E - these 11 units are of an inherently non-solar The fact that our planners are still continuing
orientation. Only one has northern exposure to the with energy consumptive designs such as this
sun (at the northern end); the others will be suggests strongly that Solar Rights legislation
depressing to live in and cannot be heated by the
has now become absolutely necessary if we are
sun, with consequently energy consumptive
to overcome global warming and give house
operation over their lifetimes.
buyers value for their money. (The US is the
F - narrow end faces north, apparently with only country in the world to have enacted
garages/carports blocking 50% of their winter solar these rights and they are now under
access. (This could be partially rescued by the use consideration in the ACT government. (Vic.,
of external reflectors on their south side.) SA., WA., take note)

G - these two units are the best planned units in
the whole complex - their proportions are better for
solar reception, but could be improved with
southern reflectors.Why couldn't this quality of
thinking be carried out over the rest of the site?
H - 6 units have their smallest exposure to the
north. They could be made more effective if turned
90° (or southern reflectors used to obtain more
southern solar gain). The 3 units with their garages
on their north side would be more effective if
reversed to match the 6 units.
The fact that the ACT government has had the
wisdom to enact a 3.88 gross Feed In Tariff
shows that solar is now taking its rightful
place in the energy stakes.
Further information
Derek Wrigley OAM
LFDIA, FRAIA, ARIBA, DA(Manchester)
Solar architectural consultant
dwrigley@cyberone.com.au
14
A
Californian
Local
Government
leads

Palm
Desert,
California

Celebrates
Passage
Of

Energy
Independence
Act
lighting systems, water-heating equipment,
Sponsors
unprecedented
state
bill
 refrigerators, or pool pumps; and installation
allowing
cities
to
provide
low‐ of solar panels, white roofs, or insulation—
interest
loans
to
residents
making
 anything that will reduce electricity
consumption and is considered a permanent
energy‐saving
improvements
to

fixture. The city will provide low-interest loans
homes
or
businesses;
 requiring no credit
strengthens
citywide
 checks or other
commitment
to
solar
 qualifications other than
a property title. The
energy loans will be paid back
as part of the residents’
Already an innovator in tax bill—meaning if the
its efforts to reduce its home or business is sold,
carbon footprint, the city the loan stays with the
of Palm Desert in July property.
got one step closer to
realizing its goal of “Two years ago, we set a
reducing citywide lofty goal of reducing
energy consumption by our energy use by 30
30 percent before 2011. percent, and now we
Governor have the means to
Schwarzenegger accomplish it,” said
signed Assembly Bill Councilman Jim
811 into law as an Ferguson, who
“urgency measure,” for spearheaded the
the first time allowing passage of the Energy
city governments Independence Act.
throughout California to “During the summer
provide loans to months, when
property owners temperatures regularly
planning home or reach over 100 degrees,
business improvements Palm Desert residents
that will reduce energy can pay up to $1000 a
consumption. The bill, month for electricity.
termed locally the This program will
Energy Independence empower them to
Act, was written and explore renewable
lobbied for by Palm Desert’s civic leaders. energy sources and make meaningful changes
for the environment as well as their own
Palm Desert’s City Council is working to finances.”
formulate a strategy to put the bill into effect
locally as quickly and simply as possibly.  The Classifying the reduction of a city’s energy
city plans to provide loans for as little as consumption and carbon footprint as “public
$5,000, with no upper limit, for improvements good” is a groundbreaking approach, and opens
such as efficient air-conditioning systems, the door for cities across the state to adopt
similar programs. AB811 updates sections of Palm Desert also passed a law requiring all
California’s Streets and Highways Code that new construction to surpass state energy
allow cities to set up assessment districts to requirements by 10 to 15 percent. It’s also
pay for public improvements such as sewers banned drive-through restaurants, waived
and roads. Mindful of the far-reaching permit fees on the installation of photovoltaic
possibilities, Palm Desert will work to create a solar systems in homes and businesses and
program that can be easily replicated declared electric golf carts street-legal.  Palm
elsewhere. Berkeley, Santa Monica and Palm Desert has the only LEED-certified visitor
Springs are also researching similar programs, center in the United States and opened the
which will likely be modeled after Palm country’s first environmentally sound public
Desert’s Energy Independence Program. golf course 10 years ago. For more
information, visit www.cityofpalmdesert.org.
Besides creativity, another major asset in
Palm Desert is sunshine. With 350 days of
sunshine each year and an average of 5.5
hours of high-quality solar insulation per day,
the city far outperforms the national average
and is an ideal site for sun-powered energy
systems. Home solar systems last up to 40
years, so the Energy Independence Act allows
homeowners to finance systems – using the
good credit of the city – with long-term loans to
match the long-term benefits of solar.

In a city so dependent on electricity for

features such as air conditioning and pool
pumps, energy-efficient improvements
represent a long-term investment and increase
the value of homes and businesses. Palm
Desert aims to begin providing loans by the
end of August, and plans to bring funding to
the Energy Independence Program through
the sale of municipal bonds—allowing
investors across the country to bring a new
level to their socially responsible investment
plans.

The Energy Independence Program is just one

more way Palm Desert is thinking green. In
2006, the city introduced a new government
division, the Office of Energy Management,
and unveiled Set to Save: its unprecedented
plan to cut energy consumption by 30 percent
—or 215 million kilowatt hours of electric
energy—in five years. The plan is the most
ambitious of its kind in California and
provides incentives to businesses and residents
engaging in energy-saving behavior. Palm
Desert has since then opened 141 energy-
efficient apartments for low- and middle-
income families, including several that are
partially fueled by solar energy.

16
The
90:90:90
rule
put
into
practise:
the

Young‐Paul
house,
Armidale
New
South

Wales
twelve
months
on
By Mahalath Halperin Designing to best-practice principles, within
the limitations of site and budget, the
This house exemplifies our 90:90:90 approach resultant house far exceeds minimum
to overall best practice with minimal footprint. mandatory requirements for energy, water and
That is, rather than excelling in one area only, thermal performance.
we aim to achieve 90% efficiency to 90% of the
project for 90% of the time……… BASIX produced a water result of 66 (target
40) and energy 76 (target 25). The actual
The Young-Paul House in Armidale, NSW may results are in fact even higher due to BASIX’s
not be leading-edge architecture. Nor is it inability to recognise some of the innovation
necessarily highly innovative with high-tech and design features in the house. This includes
environmental solutions. However, it is a net the solar-heated hydronic heating system
exporter of energy, it works well and it is (BASIX only acknowledges gas systems);
affordable, and after 12 months of running, insulation levels in excess of the BASIX
could be legitimately deemed sustainable. minimum requirement; co-location of plumbing
to reduce wastage; and WELLs ratings in
The brief was for a small and compact yet light excess of minimum requirements, to name a
and spacious house, fitting within the few. It also achieved the maximum 5 Star
NatHERS rating,
though extrapolating
the actual results is
more like a 7-8 star
rating.

General solar passive

and energy efficient
design principles
ensured maximum
use and benefit of
solar access,
especially critical in a
climate with cold
winters, hot summers
and a diurnal range
in spring and autumn
of 20-25°C. The
result is a house that
neighbourhood but offering the best possible needs minimal
solution for a solar passive, energy efficient heating and negligible cooling, especially when
and environmentally responsible residence compared to its contemporaries in the
within the constraints of neighbourhood, neighbourhood.
budget and the client’s personal tastes.
‘Standard’
Solar
passive
design
principles
included
–
The small site required slight angling away Orientation - maximising northern solar
from true north in order to fit the building onto access for winter to habitable rooms;
the site. The small lot size also restricted the Shading / Glazing – maximising northern
amount of rainwater storage available. solar access for winter to habitable rooms
whilst also limiting it for summer (orientation,
eaves and awnings); minimising western and
eastern solar access and negligible southern
access; Double-glazed composite windows
(metal and timber) to all habitable rooms; Use
of glass blocks to bring light into
southern walls without heat loss;
Insulation – R3.5 bulk batts
plus sarking to ceiling and raked
roof areas; R2.0 bulk batts and
sarking to external walls and to
walls between garage and
habitable areas; Styrofoam
insulation under slab;
Appropriate blinds/curtains with
pelmets; Door seals to external
doors and to non-habitable
rooms;
Zoning – air lock to entry to
prevent winter heat loss; Good
cross ventilation for summer
cooling;
Beyond the ‘standard’ solar passive design
principles, the house also includes the
following added features –
Solar-heated hot water and hydronic heating
system;
Clerestory windows for internal daylighting
and excellent cross ventilation in summer,
with appropriate shading for summer and
solar penetration for winter;
Light-coloured building materials
to reduce unnecessary heat gain;
Composite window systems –
powdercoated aluminium
externally for zero maintenance,
with stained timber on the inside
for thermal benefits and
aesthetics, all double-glazed to
habitable rooms;
Minimal maintenance (face brick
and Colorbond walls) and use of
Miniorb for eaves lining and
exterior surfaces for minimal
maintenance (no painting);
Appropriate blinds/curtains with
pelmets; Door seals to external
doors and to non-habitable rooms;
Draught excluders to external
doors;
Grid-connected 2 kW photovoltaic
system.
Energy efficiency
The design is solar passive
ensuring a reduced demand for
energy usage, retention of thermal
gain for winter and reduction for
summer. Additionally to those
items listed above, energy use is
reduced by -
All appliances are maximum star
rated;
Fluorescent and/or compact
fluorescent lighting throughout;
Ample daylighting to reduce the
need for artificial lighting;
Solatube to internal hallway;
To top this all off, there is a grid-
connected 2 kW photovoltaic
system on the roof, which
consistently exports more energy
into the grid than the house
imports back. This consists of 12
x 165W panels mounted on the western
half of the north-facing roof (the
evacuated tubes are on the eastern half
of the north-facing roof).
Since installation, the system has
exported a net of 2.676 MWh (from
21-06-07 to 04-07-07). For the period as well as kitchen sink; Despite some
02-10-07 to 02-04-08, total import was serious dry spells since completion, the
789 kWh with total export 1,226 kWh. tanks have not run dry, although mains
The last quarter, however, with the backup is connected just in case (Council
cooler weather and less daylight (so requirement) – though has never been
therefore pump use for the heater and needed.
more lighting needed) as well as less Water-friendly garden with climate-
daylight (therefore less generation) the appropriate plants, suitable mulching
import and export have been equal (436 and minimal maintenance;
vs 437). The saving is therefore obvious
as overall, this is far less use than the Resource demands
‘average’ house (with an average daily Use of environmentally responsible
use of between 4.1 and 5.2 kWh), products e.g. polyester insulation (in lieu
combined with the fact that the net of fibreglass), plantation-only timbers (in
difference is an export to the grid (1.3 lieu of endangered rainforest timbers),
MWh excess generation exported to the etc; Termimesh protection system in lieu
grid since installation to 04-07-08). of chemical and inadequate visual
barriers; General non-use of chemicals
There is still some fine tuning to be done throughout;
with the heating system – the No rainforest or imported timbers;
temperature was originally at 17°C Materials were sourced locally as a first
which meant it was switching on point of call, then regionally then state-
unnecessarily during the night, but now wide;
that has been reduced to 15, it does not The site is adjacent to Clients’ offices,
come on till very late evening and then and walking distance to other nearby
only for a short time, services.
and is staying off the
rest of the night. The
house
is
designed
with
a
simple
 ESD principles
This should reduce approach
to
overall
best
 rather than high-
import usage for the practice
with
minimal
footprint
 tech
next quarter. Note This is not a
also that curtain
–
the
90/90/90
rule.
That
is,
 particularly high-tech
installation was still rather
than
excelling
in
one
 house. Its success is
not complete at the area
only,
we
aim
to
achieve
 more about the overall
commencement of consistency of ESD
90%
efficiency
to
90%
of
the

winter. And principles applied
unfortunately, we throughout the project.
have not resolved However, the solar
reduction of energy use for the water-bed hydronic heating system does stand out
heater which requires considerable as one specific item. The heating system
power to keep the water warm; uses solar heated hot water run through
wall radiators throughout the house,
Water efficiency has also been considered including towel rails in the bathroom. A
Co-location of plumbing to reduce single tank provides both hot water to
wastage, minimize pipe runs and wet areas as well as heating water. The
increase hot water efficiency; split-system evacuated tube hot water
’Poor man’s ensuite’ – i.e. only one allows for mounting of the 2 x 36 tubes
bathroom but with access from both Bed on the roof, with the tank located
1 and the hallway, reducing the need for internally providing the additional
unnecessary wet areas (but 2nd WC benefit of an airing/drying cupboard.
located nearby); This also ensures the tank is well
Extensive rainwater storage (within the insulated away from the cold external
limitations of a small suburban block) for weather. The use of an evacuated tube
all irrigation and laundry and toilet use system provides 40% more efficiency
 than a flat-plate system for this climate
(up to –10 in winter) and altitude (~985
m).
There is still some fine tuning to be done as
this is the first winter in residence, and the
lowering of the thermostat by 2°C has already
made a significant difference to the running of
the pump and the gas usage.
Despite its compact size, the house has a
feeling of spaciousness and is full of natural
light and fresh air. It is still effectively a 3
bedroom home with double garage and two
toilets. It works both for an Armidale winter
and summer, proof in the fact that it is a net
exporter of energy and this with the intangible
feeling of the residents being comfortable all
the time, no matter what the weather outside.

The net effect is far more beneficial than
simply focusing on one aspect at the sacrifice
of other areas - and more affordable.
Our philosophy is to firstly reduce demand,
secondly ensure that demand is efficient and
then thirdly source the demand renewably –
viz the 2kW system on the roof, the proof being
the net export of energy from the system.
While no recycled materials were used during
construction (although most of the furniture
has been brought along from the last house),
recyclable building practices were
implemented on site. During construction
anything admissible to Council’s recycling
services was done so – this included plastic,
paper, rubble and so on.
Further, design parameters took into account
standard sizing of materials (eg plasterboard
in 300 mm increments) to reduce unnecessary
off-cuts and wastage.
The house is spacious, light and airy, and
although perhaps not ‘leading-edge’
architecture, it is quality design and reinforces
that environmentally responsible housing does
not have to look outlandish or unusual, can ‘fit
in’ with the neighbourhood, is comfortable and
homely, and is highly affordable.
This is an important message to get out to the
public who often falsely equate ‘environmental’
with ‘expensive’. This house exemplifies our
90/90/90 approach to overall best practice with
minimal footprint. That is, rather than
excelling in one area only, we aim to achieve
90% efficiency to 90% of the project for 90% of
the time. The net effect is far more beneficial
than simply focusing on one aspect at the
sacrifice of other areas. This house reinforces
that message that the public need so urgently
to understand.

Costs
In regards to costs, while there were no real
restrictions to this project - the Clients’
priorities were to get it right, and willing to
forego things if being environmentally
responsible cost more up front, but they are
also aware of the long-term cost saving they
will have - this has not been an expensive
project. The Building contract, less
landscaping and PV system, was well under
$300,000 –including the heating system –
making it highly affordable for the return in
benefits, both cost and environmental.

The house is deemed ‘carbon neutral’ as over

the first year of running it has averaged an
export of energy in excess of import – proof
that it works. Its success reinforces that good
environmental design is not rocket science,
using low-tech solutions and common sense.

20
Renovation
of
a
1942,
timber
 about minimising our footprint,
through the building process
framed,
asbestos
clad
house
in
 and beyond.

Eden
Hills,
Adelaide The
renovation
process
:
We hired architect Jasmine
Palmer to provide the design
By Nat Elliot
and drawings. This cost around $8,000 but
was well worth it, we constantly changed the
Why
we
renovated
drawings which was a lot cheaper than moving
After living in the house for a year we found
walls. We wanted thermal mass in the house
that it was very cold in winter and very warm
(for both heating and cooling) and decided that
in summer. Also the internal layout did not
the best option for us would be mud bricks –
utilise the space well.
easy for me to lay, great thermal mass, great
In winter it was very hard to warm up, our
character, very low embodied energy, very
natural product. We
sent the plans off to
Trevor Howe, an
architect with much
mudbrick experience, for
his input, the cost was
minimal and his input
invaluable.
The main features of our
reno are :
Increased size of house
from 120m² to 170m².
Larger north facing
windows – allow in
winter sun and easy to
shade in summer.
Smaller south windows
– no winter sun gain
only heat loss.
Minimise east, west
facing windows – hard
reasons for this where : no ceiling/wall to shade in summer.
insulation, drafts, 6meters of south facing North facing clerestory windows to south
glass and minimal north facing glass for facing lounge, kitchen/dining, - for light and
winter sun. winter heat.
In the summer it heated up quickly and was Louvre windows for excellent ventilation.
hard to cool, even at night, our reasons for this Internal mudbricks in lounge, dining for
were: no ceiling/wall insulation, sash windows thermal mass (stores heat beneficially both in
with fixed top, no good cross ventilation to winter and summer).
utilise gully breeze. Dry compost toilet to save our precious
rainwater.
What
we
wanted
to
achieve Rainwater tanks plumbed to whole house,
Better use of space, be warmer in winter and (plumbed to whole house is critical to
cooler in summer. We also wanted to be maximise benefits).
sustainable on rainwater and solar power, i.e. Water efficient shower head in order to
using the sun and rain that falls on our block. minimise water usage and justify longer
We tried to use natural products which meant shower.
products with low embodied energy, it was Native garden to bring in native wildlife/birds
plus uses minimal waste, plus looks natural.
Solar hotwater to reduce electricity use and
maximise suns free energy.
Solar power to use the suns free energy, also
minimises transmission losses.
Radially sawn external timber cladding, it is
natural, durable, minimises wastage, and
trees can be milled younger.
Old red bricks for external/internal wall plus
external paving for southern fire protection
and rustic charm.
Extensive use of recycled timber for pergola,
Conclusion
We are very satisfied with our ‘new’ house, the
layout is much better suited to our way of life,
the winters are warmer, the summers are
cooler, when the suns out we’re making power/
heating water, and when it rains our tanks are
filling – life is great!
Our house has been open for the past 2 years
on the sustainable house days and we’ve had
650 people through.

internal shelves and tables, old timber is

more characterful!.

Main
hurdles

Our biggest issue was with the compost
toilet :
The architect found it awkward to place
i.e. It needs 1m ground clearance below
it. Further Information–
The builder asked us why – as it was going to www.greennut.com.au – trying to help educate
cost $3-4,000 more than just plumbing in a people in better ways to use energy and water
normal pan and would create ongoing more efficiently.
maintenance. The Mitcham council didn’t like
the sound of it – basically ignorant. However
the EPA and Dept of Health were supportive of
it and after various letters to various depts we
got the approval and it has been great. We
have 25,000litres of rainwater plumbed into
the house which provides us with 95% of our
water –we used 4,000litres of mains water in
the last year. A big reason for this is we don’t
flush!
GREEN
GUIDE
FOR
HOME

IMPROVEMENTS
Australians can help fight climate change and
reduce their energy bills at home with a new
green home renovations guide launched by
Environment Minister Peter Garrett on World
Environment Day.
The Your Home Renovator’s Guide is a new
free resource. The guide will help you to make
your home healthier and more comfortable
with stylish ideas that will save you money
through reduced household energy expenses.
As well as helping to reduce our carbon
emissions, transforming your house through
sustainable renovation also has the added
advantage of increasing the value of your
home.
Although the Renovator’s Guide is designed
primarily to provide environmental home
improvement ideas for renovations, it also
contains helpful information about a variety of
subject matter from greening your garden to
sustainable shopping and transport
alternatives.
Also recently released is an up-to-date Your
Home Technical Manual which provides
smart design ideas for new homes, as well as
cost effective sustainable home improvements.
Written by architects, designers and builders,
the Your Home Technical Manual provides
information on topics such as passive design,
water and energy use, materials selection and
landscaping for biodiversity.
Transforming your home by using solar power
and catching water, has the added advantage
of helping to reduce your running costs and cut
household bills, which generally increases the
value of your home, and its level of comfort.
The decisions we make on our homes can have
a long-term impact on our environment. If
you’re building, designing or renovating, you
can find practical solutions within the Your
Home suite of products that will limit the
impact of your home on the Australian
environment.
Living sustainably is the best weapon we all
have in fighting climate change. Your Home
Renovator’s Guide and Technical Manual
allow us to do this from the comfort of our
living rooms. They are essential reading for
everyone concerned about climate change.
The Your Home Renovator’s Guide can be
downloaded for free on the Your Home
website -www.yourhome.gov.au
The
Q&A

What is the purpose of the Renovator’s
Guide?
• The Your Home Renovator’s Guide is
designed to assist renovators concerned with
combining value for money, style and
environmental sustainability, by guiding them
through their home improvements at the start
of the renovation process and create awareness
of the benefits of creating a sustainable
renovation.
What information is provided in the
guide?
• The Your Home Renovator’s Guide provides
information and tips for planning or designing
a renovation. The information will help home
renovators create a healthier and more
comfortable home, save money and help to
save our environment.
Examples of some of these are:
• facing living areas to the north for easy solar
control by maximising warm winter sun and
minimising hot summer sun;
• grouping wet areas together to minimise the
length of hot water piping to save both water
and energy heating the water;
• installing less down lights or more efficient
lighting to reduce the amount of energy used
when they are turned on;
• enabling natural ventilation and day
lighting to reduce energy use;
• choosing interior products that are healthy
for you and the environment; and
• using insulation with a high R value and
which insulation types work best in what
parts of the home.
The guide covers: in the home, in the garden,
choosing food and shopping, and choosing
transport options. It is an important resource
to assist households to improve the
sustainability of their homes.
This guide also forms part of the initial
development phase of the Green Loan Program
and will be used for extensive research to
ensure the information provided to households
as part of their home environmental
assessment is practical, effective and
understandable.

How can the general public get a copy of

this guide?
• The guide is available free on the website
www.yourhome.gov.au
• The public can order a printed copy of the
guide online at www.yourhome.gov.au
• Copies of the Guide will also be available
through the state partners, community
organisations, advisory centres, industry
members and renovation expos.

Was it developed specifically for

environmental reasons ie any commercial
interest?
• The Your Home Renovator’s Guide was
developed specifically for environmental
reasons, to fill the gap that currently exists in
the information available to renovators and to
continue to improve the Your Home suite of
resources in providing the most up-to-date and
comprehensive information to the public.
• The guide was researched and written by the
Centre for Design at RMIT University and the
Institute for Sustainable Futures at UTS. The
Centre for Design at RMIT is a research centre
that has been working to reduce the impacts of
the built environment through targeted
research and consultancy over the past fifteen
years. The Institute for Sustainable Futures at
UTS is a research centre that works to create
change towards sustainable futures through
independent, project-based research and have
been the lead author of the Your Home suite of
resources. Don’t
 forget
 Sustainable
 House

Day!

 
You
 can
be
of
great
help
as
a

How will the renovation guide encourage
volunteer
 ‐
 helping
 people
 to

change in behaviour – won't you need
understand
 the
 principles
 as

stronger incentives such as regulation?
• Building regulations provide the minimum described
 above
 ‐
just
 contact
your

standard only. local
ANZSES
branch.
• Best practice guides like Your Home and
Your Building provide up-to-date
resources to encourage industry and
community to strive toward greater
sustainability. 24
 Just
what
would
this
form
or
eco‐
Positive
 retrofitting
entail?
Development To meet a true ‘sustainability standard’,
development would need to add natural and
social capital beyond that which existed prior
to development. Eco-retrofitting would mean
By Janis Birkeland modifying buildings and infrastructure to
improve overall human and environmental
Currently, green buildings do not contribute to health, as well as to reduce resource depletion,
net sustainability. At best they reduce relative greenhouse emissions, and so on. It is now
resource consumption. They still consume well established that buildings can be
vast quantities of materials, energy, water and retrofitted to improve human health and
ecosystems during construction. Moreover, productivity, while gaining significant
green buildings replace land and ecosystems economic benefits. At most, however, we still
with structures that, at the very best, only only design with the welfare of building
‘mimic’ ecosystems(1). Mimicking nature is occupants in mind. Green buildings do little,
little compensation when we have lost a third for example, to reduce the urban heat island
of species that are integral parts of our life effect - which results in many needless deaths
support system. Already, development has every year. Thus, eco-retrofitting implies a
exceeded the Earth’s ecological carrying whole system or ‘eco-logical’ design approach,
capacity, so even ‘restorative’ design is not not just the installation of energy saving
enough. Urban areas must be retrofitted to equipment. It also implies planning strategies
increase net bioregional carrying capacity - that uses the spaces within and between
just to support existing or reduced population structures to add value to the bioregions. That
levels in cities. The eco-retrofitting of our builtis, Design for Eco-services.
environment is therefore an essential pre-
condition of achieving a sustainable society. How
does
Design
for
Eco‐services
differ

But we need to eco-retrofit cities in ways that from
green
design?
increase net sustainability, not just relative
efficiency. Design for Eco-services would aim for more
than just restoring or remediating urban
Why
don’t
new
green
buildings
increase
 environments. It would increase the region’s
sustainability? ecological carrying capacity, ecosystem
services, appropriate biodiversity habitat and
There will always be a need for some new nature corridors. It is theoretically possible for
buildings. However, sustainability could not urban areas to create surplus eco-services.
be achieved by replacing existing buildings There is, for example, a surplus of solar energy
with new green ones. The amount of material that could be captured through passive design
flows, embodied waste, time and ecological principles while reducing heating, cooling,
damage new buildings entail makes the lighting and ventilating costs. Simple plastic
current hype about green buildings unrealistic. cones can draw clean water out of dirty, humid
Existing cities account for about three fourths air. Bacteria can reproduce as required to
of greenhouse gas emissions, and about half of treat sewage. But Design for Eco-services
the energy consumed by buildings occurs would also aim to increase the space and
during the construction process. If all new infrastructure to support appropriate
buildings were ‘green’, for example, the biodiversity and ecosystem integrity and
acceleration of energy consumption would still resilience in absolute terms. Planning and
be miniscule. This is because only about 2% of design can support the intrinsic as well as
the building stock is new each year, and the instrumental value of nature.
operating energy of buildings is 20% of total
energy. To reverse the impacts of previous
development, we must learn to design for
nature, not just ‘with’ or ‘like’ nature.
25
How
can
we
possibly
increase
urban
 Where
do
these
biases
against
eco‐
ecosystems
and
eco‐services?
Development needs to over-compensate for
both embodied and ecological waste in
production through positive offsite impacts.
Urban areas afford the opportunity to provide
the infrastructure for eco-services beyond that
which existed on site before development. The
problem is that we have not integrated these
eco-solutions with urban structures
themselves in order to achieve eco-productivity
and system health with less total resource
flows. Our decision tools and design methods
do not contemplate net positive impacts.
Positive Development is defined as that which
expands both the ecological base (eg life
support system) and the public estate (eg
equitable access to means of survival). The
aim of Positive Development is to take
affirmative action to make environmental
improvements beyond remediation and
restoration by adding social and ecological
value, both onsite and offsite, not just reducing
relative future damage.
But
how
would
we
pay
for
Positive
 impact mitigation.
Development
projects?
Eco-retrofitting could be achieved at no extra
cost if we re-think our forms of architecture,
urban design, energy supply, and so on.
Currently, in some places, renovations account
for a third of construction activity, and
renovation and demolition waste accounts for
over 90 percent of (often toxic) construction
debris each year. Little renovation is
undertaken with sustainability in mind. The
ongoing renovations of buildings could be
turned from problems into sustainability
opportunities. In fact, cities could be
retrofitted for less cost to society than doing
nothing. Investments in retrofits compare
favourably with stocks and bonds, and one can
buy securities in eco-retrofitting without being
directly involved in development. However,
the many biases toward new buildings in our
green building tools mean that we are still
spending 90% of our effort on 10% of the
problem.
retrofitting
come
from?
Our environmental management, planning
and design methods focus on modelling and
predicting the damage we will do, at the
expense of stimulating the design skills
required for transforming existing
environments. Even our sustainability
assessment and rating tools prioritize
accounting, and account for the wrong things.
To enable our cities to become eco-productive,
bio-diverse, multi-functional environments
that integrate human and natural systems, we
need to frontload eco-logical design. Our
myriad, ‘manageriatric’ measurement methods
militate against creative design. First, they
are largely ‘negative’, as they only aim to
reduce damage relative to standard buildings.
More fundamentally, they are premised on the
presumed inevitability of negative impacts
overall. Second, our computer modelling and
rating tools are also based on ‘typical’
buildings, so they reinforce the non-
sustainable ‘box’. We cannot have net positive
design with tools that focus our attention on
But
haven’t
these
tools
made
a
big

difference?

The ability to predict negative impacts,
resource flows and embodied energy in
development has helped to verify important
ecological insights. However, the fact that
green building tools have been increasingly
utilized (by a small fraction of developers),
does not prove that methods supporting
transformative design would be less effective.
Measurement is essential to eco-innovation,
but only if we measure the right things in the
right way. For example, current tools treat
nature as a mere ‘resource’, conceived as
material or energy inputs and outputs. This
has contributed to sterile human-centred
environments that are sub-optimal from an
ecological as well as social perspective. Thus,
green buildings still segregate human and
natural functions, which create ‘dead’, single-
function interior spaces. Often, green
buildings just add on things like double skin
exteriors that increase the urban heat island
effect. These are lost opportunities.
What
would
be
some
criteria
for
Positive
 cycles is discussed further in Positive
Development.
Development?
To enhance sustainability, development would Further Information
need to foster human and ecosystem health, Professor Janis Birkeland
and expand ecosystems and future social QUT School of Design, GPO Box 2434
options. Along with standard ‘green’ design Janis.Birkeland@qut.edu.au
criteria, therefore, Positive Development
would also: Notes
• Meet
a
‘sustainability
standard’,
where

development
leaves
the
ecology
(not
just
society)
 (1)
For
more
on
biomimicry,
see
Beattie,
A.
and
Ehrlich,
P.
2004

better
off
after
construction
than
before. (2nd
ed),
Wildsolutions,
Yale
University
Press,
New
Haven,
USA.


• Add
value
by
using
space
for
multiple
social
and
 Benyus,
J
1997,
Bimimicry:
Innovation
Inspired
by
Nature,
William

ecological
functions.

Atriums
can
support
multiple
 Morrow
and
Co.
eco‐service
functions
as
well
as
human
activities.

 



UNEP
2005,
Millennium
Ecosystem
Assessment:
Strengthening

Living
walls
and
vertical
wetlands
can
do
more
than
 Capacity
to
Manage
Ecosystems
Sustainably
for
Human

just
clean
the
air
and
water.

 Wellbeing.
Download:

http://ma.caudillweb.com/en/
about.overview.aspx
• Be
‘reversible’
(demountable,
compostable
and/or

highly
adaptable).

Reversibility
is
a
necessary
 



For
further
information,
see
Birkeland,
J.
2005,
‘The
Case
for

component
of
intergenerational
equity,
as
future
 Eco‐Retrofitting’,
Solar
Progress,
pp.
7‐9,
Vol
26,
No
2.
generations
should
be
able
to
make
responsible
life
 



Birkeland,
J.
2003,
‘Retrofitting:
Beyond
Zero
Waste,
Societies

style
choices.

 for
a
Sustainable
Future’,
Third
KLM‐UC
Conference,
University
of

Canberra.
• Ensure
individual
access
to
the
means
of
survival,

such
as
heat,
food,
water
and
energy.

Genuine
 



Droege,
P.
2006,
Renewable
City:
A
Comprehensive
Guide
to
an

democracy
(social
sustainability)
cannot
exist
 Urban
Revolution,
Wiley‐Academy,
Chichester,
UK.


without
resource
security.

 


Todd,
N.
J.
and
J.
Todd
2002,
‘Principles
for
designing
living

machines’
in
J.
Birkeland
(ed)
Design
for
Sustainability:
A

A list of criteria are provided in Positive
Sourcebook
of
Integrated
Eco‐logical
Solutions,
Earthscan,

Development. London,
p181.
Are
there
any
examples
of
net
Positive
 


Birkeland,
J.
2007b,
‘GEN
6:

Ecological
Waste:
Rethinking
the

Nature
of
Waste’,
BEDP
Environmental
Design
Guide,
The
Royal

Development? Australian
Institute
of
Architects,
Canberra.

There are probably as yet no developments 


Birkeland,
J.
2007a,
‘GEN
4:
Positive
Development:
Design
for


Eco‐Services’,
BEDP
Environmental
Design
Guide,
The
Royal

that both expand the ecological base and the
Australian
Institute
of
Architects,
Canberra.
public estate. However, a constellation of




Romm,
J.
1999,
Cool
Companies:
How
the
Best
Businesses

NGOs are proposing an Australian National
Boost
Profits
and
Productivity
by
Cutting
Greenhouse‐Gas

Sustainability Centre in Canberra that aims to Emissions,
Island
Press,
Wash.
DC.
demonstrate net positive design concepts for



EPA
1998,
Market
Values
for
Home
Energy
Efficiency
(by
Nevin

new and retrofitted buildings. The plans and
Watson),
Washington
DC.
integrate ecospheres with the structure itself



Biases
against
sustainable
development
in
existing
building

to provide a range of eco-services and assessment
and
rating
tools
are
listed
in
Birkeland,
J.
2008a,

amenities, as well as provide living resources Space
Frame
Walls:

Facilitating
Positive
Development.



for environmental education. Students at the Sustainable
Building
08,
Melbourne,
September.


Queensland University of Technology are 


See
Birkeland,
J.
2008b,
Positive
Development
from
Vicious

involved in the extensive design research and Circles
to
Virtuous
Cycles
through
Built
Environment
Design,

development required for the project. As Earthscan,
London,
UK.
suggested above, however, better design alone 


Birkeland,
J.
2008b,
Ibid
will not suffice. We need to transform the
complex intellectual and institutional
constructs that impede common sense, positive
solutions. How to change our planning,
management and design concepts, methods
and structures from vicious circles to virtuous
27
National
sustainability
program
gets
 “It is of course
fitting the
Property
Council
endorsement CitySwitch should
be launched on
World Environment Day and we encourage
In July, the City of Sydney Council launched business owners and operators to get behind
the national CitySwitch Green Office Program, CitySwitch” concluded Ken Morrison, NSW
formerly known as 3CBDs and based only in Executive Director of the Property Council of
Sydney. Australia.

CitySwitch is designed to assist commercial

office tenants achieve energy efficiency
improvements. It is at no cost to the tenant to
join the program and works within the
framework of the National Australian Built
Environment Rating System (NABERS).
“CitySwitch is under a tremendous example of
how the property industry, their tenants and
Local Government can work together to bring
about real environmental change” said Ken
Morrison, NSW Executive Director of the
Property Council of Australia.
“We congratulate the City of Sydney for their
role in launching this initiative which should
result in a significant reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions over time.
“With energy consumption accounting for
almost 50% of the energy use in a building, it
makes sense for tenants to do what they can to
reduce their energy use and maintain a high
NABERS rating.
“And a savvy business operator can use their
membership to CitySwitch to reposition
themselves as environmentally sound.
“Property owners have been early leaders in
sustainability through the uptake of NABERS
for base buildings. Giving tenants the
opportunity to contribute in this way means
we will be greening buildings from the inside
out”.
“The Property Council of Australia has long
advocated sustainable building and workplace
design. In the late 1990’s we co-launched the
NABERS and today’s announcement that
CitySwitch is going national, is another
important step forward for our industry’s
commitment to sustainability.
The
facts
• Worldwide
it
is
estimated
that
40
per
cent
of
energy
use

is
in
buildings
(International
Energy
Agency)

• As
much
as
50
per
cent
of
total
energy
demand
in
cities

is
attributable
to
stationery
energy
usage,
which

includes
office
equipment,
lighting
and
computers.

• In
Australia,
the
commercial
property
sector
generates

8.8
per
cent
of
national
greenhouse
gas
emissions,
and

has
the
fastest
growth
of
emissions
of
any
sector
(DECC

2000)

• In
Australia,
commercial
buildings
produce
8.8
per
cent

of
national
greenhouse
emissions
and
have
a
major
part

to
play
in
meeting
Australia's
international
greenhouse

targets
(Australian
State
of
the

Environment
Committee,

2001).

• Stationary
energy
is
the
largest
and
fastest
growing

sector
in
terms
of
greenhouse
gas
emissions
[National

Inventory
Report
2005
(Revised)].


• Office
tenants
account
for
almost
50
per
cent
of

electricity
consumed
in
buildings
(Australian
Greenhouse

Office,
2005)
CitySwitch
Green
Office
is
aiming
to
have
700
signatories

by
2012.


Current
signatories
include
56
businesses
which
cover

over
600,000
m2

of
office
space,
representing
9
per
cent

of
Sydney’s
total
commercial
office
tenancy
space.


If
all
of
the
existing
signatories
were
to
improve
their

NABERS
Energy
tenancy
rating
by
just
two
stars,
the
result

would
be
a
saving
of
$36.5
million
in
energy
costs
and
over

329,000
tonnes
of
CO2
every
year.


This
saving
would
be
the
equivalent
of
taking
nearly

68,000
cars
off
the
road.



With
the
inclusion
of
Adelaide,
Melbourne,
Perth
and

Sydney
CitySwitch
Green
Office
has
the
potential
to
save

nearly
$67
million
in
energy
costs
every
year.


If
all
capital
cities
were
to
join
CitySwitch
Green
Office,

Australia
could
reduce
its
energy
consumption
by
778,000

tonnes
of
CO2,
costing
$86.5
million
every
year.

 $75
MILLION
CLIMATE
READY
PROGRAM

OPENS
FOR
BUSINESS

Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, efficient projects with a focus on productivity
Industry, Science and Research, announced in and innovation," Senator Carr said.
July that the Government’s $75 million
Climate Ready program was open for
applications. Further information visit AusIndustry’s
Climate Ready will support Australian website at www.ausindustry.gov.au, call the
businesses developing new products, processes hotline 13 28 46 or email the hotline at
and services to tackle climate change by hotline@ausindustry.gov.au.
providing dollar-for-dollar support for research
and development, proof-of-concept and early-
stage commercialisation activities.
Applicants can apply for grants ranging from
$50,000 to $5 million.
“It is vital that the Australian Government
work in partnership with our innovative
companies to address the challenge of climate
change," Senator Carr said.
"Innovative products and processes that help
tackle global warming can also create high-
wage, high-skill jobs for the future, which is in
all our interests.
"A huge global market is developing for clean
and green technologies. Australian industry
has the creativity and drive to deliver to world
markets in this area," he said.

Senator Carr said that applications for grants

are welcome for any company developing
innovative solutions to address climate change
impacts.
“A broad range of applications are expected in
areas as diverse as water recycling, waste
recovery, small scale renewable energy
technologies, green building materials, and
other products, processes or services to
monitor emissions or reduce energy use," he
said.
"Australian businesses can also apply for
grants involving enabling technologies like
nanotechnology and biotechnology that
address the effects of climate change on people
and the environment.
"Climate Ready is part of the Government’s
Clean Business Australia initiative, a $240
million commitment to working in partnership
with business to deliver energy and water- 29
 Apart from sheer size and its drawcard status
(and it was to be replicated in San Francisco,
USA, a month later) three things stood out for
me in overview - PV, combi-systems and solar
trackers.

Entering through the outdoor display area, the

extraordinary range of sun trackers was very
much in evidence. And they were
unexpectedly large. But, to my surprise, the
biggest one was actually set up in one of the
halls. Substantially bigger than the average
Intersolar
Expo,
Neue
Messe,
Munich,
Germany,
 house, it ran on a circular steel rail rotated by
June
2008 a rack-and-pinion mechanism with tilt being
controlled by linear actuators to keep the flat
By Trevor Lee plate PV array always tilted approximately
toward the sun. It is evident that the deep
Even before deciding to go to the Intersolar European market for PV supported by a feed-
Expo in Munich, I was aware that it was being in-tariff was driving the economics of these
held in Munich for the first time
because it would no longer fit in the
Messe (exhibition centre) in
Freiburg, the actively pro-solar
provincial city in southern
Germany which houses the world
HQ of ISES. However, this did not
prepare me for the sheer size of this
event. With five filled expo halls
and a vast outdoor section as well,
it was better than three times the
quantity of display that I
anticipated.

Despite this vastness, though, I

still managed to chance upon Alex
Zhand, a Swiss engineer working in
installations
Nepal who has been a speaker on third-
with product
world aspects of RE implementation at
being available
several recent ANZSES conferences.
from many
Both Alex and my companion Will Logie
countries within
(engineer from ANU but now a staffer
the EU. And, of
at SPF Institut fur Solartechnik in
course, the
Rapperswil, just out of Zurich in
further from the
Switzerland) were well at home here as
equator, the
the text in the expo was very
more advantage is to be had from solar
predominantly in German. My expectation
tracking, so these had extra advantage in the
that a European event would be thoroughly
northern climes of Europe.
trilingual was unfounded, however, although
many of the staff in the stands were able to
Similarly, the range of PV manufacturers ran
converse in English so I was not entirely
three times as deep as the more famous names
dependent on my companions to make good
from a decade ago. There were simply too
use of the event.
many to count. And given the economies of
scale in PV production, this had to represent a
ten-fold increase over my last impressions of such machines were on display performing
only a few years ago. With the market apparently abstract tasks with high speed and
growing at over 30% per year, this should not dazzling complexity. In effect, such stands
surprise me but to find so much variety in were touting “let us design and program/
Europe with its generally lesser solar control a machine to treble your output with
availability suggests a growth dominance well the same staff and space”. Nothing remotely
beyond what a resource base would lead one to like that has ever appeared in a solar and/or
expect. Such is the power of government energy efficiency expo in Australasia.
support for new technologies - a support which
we see so little of in Australasia. It really seemed that the solar industry has
arrived here in Europe, with Australasia
Finally, there was also a deep range of combi- relegated to a rather distant second if there is
systems with product coming from every not the finance and vision to take our
country in central Europe. These
are the expanded solar water
heaters optimised to serve home
space heating as well as domestic
hot water needs with an integrated
but carefully stratified larger tank -
often over 1000 litres although the
1000 litre size was the most
common on display. Mostly these
were cut away to show the merits of
the diffusers and stratification
devices within the tank which were
the individual
manufacturers’
claims to
performance and/or
economic
superiority. While
hardly used in the
Australasian
market due in part
to low energy prices
and in part due to
the shorter heating season, these were Will’s
“bread and butter” as his recent work at SPF
has been focused on the visualisation and
evaluation of the flow systems within these
large and stratified tanks (http:// industries to this next, high volume, level.
www.solarenergy.ch/publ/systeme/
testfaci.PDF). The
footnote
that
says
it
all:
“One
trade
show,
three
days,
seven
halls
full
of

After a day and a half, I had seen well under innovations
in
the
areas
of
photovoltaics,
solar

half of the stands on display. But one further thermal
technology
and
solar
architecture
–
four
days

key point emerged late in my wanderings: that after
the
end
of
Intersolar
2008,
the
figures
of
this

there is now an industry servicing the solar year’s
industry
meeting
point
are
official.
manufacturing industry with clever high- and The
trade
show
for
solar
technology
broke
all
records.

low-tech specialised machinery for production The
exhibition
area
was
76,000sqm,
which
was
larger

line enhancement. Robotics was finding its than
ever
(124%
growth),
while
the
number
of

way into panel and system manufacture to exhibitors
had
grown
by
65%
to
a
grand
total
of
1,053

increase throughput and sometimes to exhibitors
–
another
record.
The
final
poll
counted

enhance quality assurance. In a few cases 51,861
visitors
(+62%)
from
140
countries.”
 31
 SOCIETY
NEWS participate in our on-line survey please do so.
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Please be assured that your email is entirely
Constitutional
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sampling on-line.
Good progress is being made by a small sub-
committee composed of Artur Zawadski, Mike The outcome of the whole process will be a
Dymond, Albert Thompson, John Rolls, series of motions to be voted on at the AGM in
Howard Pullen and Bill Parker. November. ALL members will be asked to
vote, whether you attend the national
Meeting regularly by telephone conference, the conference or not.
committee has been addressing a range of
ideas that have emerged from our main task of Bill Parker
reviewing the present constitution document
(a Memorandum and Articles of Association –
which you can read in the Members Resources
section of the our website if you wish).

Branch vitality
The major issue beyond arriving at a modern
document that will better suit our purposes is
that of branch vitality and how we can ensure
that the branches have incentive to grow. At
present, society derives its income from
membership fees, its annual conference and
sustainable house day. The question we posed
is - how to arrive at a model that will enable
sustainable growth at branch level? There are
many and varied answers, and we have taken
ideas from within ANZSES and looked at other
similar associations.

Professional membership
We have also considered the concept of
accredited professional
membership. This would be based on
contribution to the furtherance of solar
technologies and practises, and not necessarily
on academic qualifications. Perhaps this could
be an opportunity for a consultative role for
members. The membership fees would be
higher, but would you ask from the society in
return?

Survey
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