Filed under: Australia's Challenge, Global | Tags: green building council of australia, green star
In Australia’s increasingly important fight against climate change, the country’s leading green building rating system Green Star is continuing to transform the property industry by going further, becoming easier to use, and certifying buildings faster.
The green building industry continues to go beyond best practice. Over 75% of the Green Star certified buildings have achieved a 5 Star “Australian Excellence” or 6 Star “World Leadership” Green Star rating.
There are now eight 6 Star Green Star certified buildings, with six of these projects achieving their 6 Star rating in the past six months. These include the first Green Star certified shopping centre, Queensland’s Orion, and convention centre in Melbourne.
Proving the Green Star is penetrating further into the market, the Green Building Council of Australia has released Green Star tools for more sectors – existing buildings, hospitals, schools and universities, as well as for shopping centres.
Green Star rating tools for industrial facilities and public buildings, such as libraries and museums, are due for release in 2008, with the Green Star – Multi Unit Residential rating tool to be launched as a PILOT on 15 April 2008.
Although already considered a world leading rating system, which has been recognised internationally by the adoption of Green Star in New Zealand and South Africa, the Green Building Council of Australia continues to redefine best practice through its Green Star tools.
The new version of the Green Star – Office Design and Office As Built rating tools, the third in four years, incorporates stakeholder feedback and changes within the industry to be more robust, relevant and easier-to-use.
Evidence that Green Star certification is becoming easier, two projects recently achieved their desired rating after only one round of assessment, including the most recent project in Queensland to achieve a Green Star – Office Design v2 rating, 25 Montpelier Road.
According to Green Building Council of Australia CEO, Romilly Madew “by using experienced consultants and developing their own knowledge of Green Star, project teams can achieve their desired rating after only one round, saving both money and time.”
“This is proof that the industry is understanding what it takes to go green, and in doing so is positioning Australia as a world leader in sustainable design” she said.
There are now 49 Green Star certified projects across Australia, with a further 500 commercial office projects registered for certification.
Researchers at Swansea University are developing a new, eco-friendly technology that could generate as much electricity as 50 wind farms.
Dr Dave Worsley, a Reader in the Materials Research Centre at the University’s School of Engineering, is investigating ways of painting solar cells onto the flexible steel surfaces commonly used for cladding buildings.
“We have been collaborating with the steel industry for decades,” explains Dr Worsely, “but have tended to focus our attention on improving the long-term durability and corrosion-resistance of the steel. We haven’t really paid much attention to how we can make the outside of the steel capable of doing something other than looking good.
“One of our Engineering Doctorate students was researching how sunlight interacts with paint and degrades it, which led to us developing a new photovoltaic method of capturing solar energy.”
Unlike conventional solar cells, the materials being developed at Swansea are more efficient at capturing low light radiation, meaning that they are better suited to the British climate.
A research grant from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Welsh Energy Research Centre (WERC) enabled Dr Worsley to work with leading metals group Corus to investigate the feasibility of developing an efficient solar cell system that can be applied to steel building products.
The success of the study led to the award of a three-year project worth over £1.5 million by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Swansea University is now leading a partnership with Bangor University, University of Bath, and the Imperial College London to develop commercially viable photovoltaic materials for use within the steel industry.
Paint is applied to steel when it is passed through rollers during the manufacturing process, and it is hoped that the same approach can be used to build up layers of the solar cell system. The researchers’ aim is to produce cells that can be painted onto a flexible steel surface at a rate of 30-40m2 a minute.
Dr Worsley believes that the potential for the product is immense.
“Corus Colours produces around 100 million square metres of steel building cladding a year. If this was treated with the photovoltaic material, and assuming a conservative 5% energy conversion rate, then we could be looking at generating 4,500 gigawatts of electricity through the solar cells annually. That’s the equivalent output of roughly 50 wind farms,” he says.
Dr Worsley will be working closely with Corus to research practical, cost-efficient methods of mounting the system on steel structures, with a view to the eventual commercialisation of the product.
“This project is a superb example of the value of collaboration between universities and industry, and it is definitely important for Wales. We have a genuine opportunity to ensure that Wales remains at the forefront of this technology worldwide, driving the industry and revolutionising our capacity to generate electricity.
“I think it shows great vision from the Welsh Assembly Government that they funded the initial feasibility study. Even if we are only mildly successful with this project, there is no doubt that we will be creating an exciting hi-tech steel product that will preserve the long term future of the Welsh steel industry.”
For more information visit the School of Engineering at Swansea University.
Filed under: Eco-Friendly Tips, Global | Tags: de-forestation, facebook, global warming, lil green patch, marquette turner estate agents, marquetteturner, rainforest
By planting fruit with your friends you can help us all make the world a greener place! As well, we’ll shortly be launching some fun gaming features to constantly keep you entertained while doing good!
Our sponsors contribute money to save the Rainforests as you use this application. After expenses we will donate revenue to funding a portfolio of reforestation projects. Thanks for joining us in this mission! We hope you have fun!
The most recent donation was made March 1, 2008 to the Adopt An Acre program of the Nature Conservancy.
The (Lil) Green Patch community, working together, was able to save 8,368,026 Sqft of Rainforest so far! We are very excited about our progress and are confident we can make an even larger impact in the future!
To learn more about this program, please visiting HERE
Filed under: Australia's Challenge, Eco-Friendly Tips, Facts, Global | Tags: carbon offset, earth hour, environmentally friendly, greenhouse gas emissions, marquette turner estate agents, marquetteturner
Business leaders have gathered in Sydney to support Earth Hour 2008 and its global launch.Earth Hour involves people and businesses turning off lights and appliances for an hour to send a message about curbing destructive carbon emissions.
NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, speaking at the launch accused critics of the event of pedalling ‘utter rubbish’.
‘The critics and sceptics need to get on board,’ he said. ‘It’s utter rubbish to say that symbolism can’t lead to change. Yes it’s about symbolism, but it’s a very powerful one – it’s about saving the planet.’
Mr Iemma announced that all government departments would take part in Earth Hour at 8pm on March 29th, and said he had allocated $100,000 from the state’s Climate Change Fund to support the program.
In 2007, 2.2 million Sydneysiders switched off their lights for an hour, a sight which was broadcast across the world.
In 2008, 24 major capital cities will take part, along with hundreds of other smaller cities.
WWF Australia, which is organising Earth Hour says 75 per cent of the top 100 companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, all of the state’s major property companies, 70 per cent of the state’s one, two and three hat restaurants, the top five banks, 85 per cent of the state’s main hotels and the 50 largest local councils in NSW will also take part.
Back in 2006, Nike generated copious amounts of street cred with techies when it partnered with Apple and released its Nike + iPod Sport Kit, which allowS gadget-loving runners to synch their iPods via a special sensor placed inside their Nike shoes.
Now, the US athletic shoe manufacturer seems determined to win over green-minded customers, too. In January, Nike introduced the Air Jordan XX3, which uses eco-friendly materials. Then in February Nike went a step further with Trash Talk. From the sole to the shoelaces, this shoe is produced not only from ‘environmentally preferred’ materials but also recycled waste, with much of the latter coming from Nike’s own production facilities—scraps that would otherwise have been discarded.
Trash Talk is the brainchild of Nike celebrity endorser Steve Nash.The All-Star guard for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns is a committed green-living advocate. And a retail price of USD 100 aptly illustrates how a company can turn garbage to gold. That’s a lesson which should be well taken by beleaguered manufacturers in the US and other developed nations. As these manufacturers look for ways to compete with lower-cost producers in Asia, they might find the secret to reinventing themselves is stacked up in the trash bins of their own factories. Yet another way for brands to rack up those greenie points 
Website www.nike.com
Filed under: Eco-Friendly Tips, Global | Tags: arka, ecopod, environmentally friendly, marquette turner estate agents, sustainable living
You’ve done everything you can to green your lifestyle, eating and buying the right foods and products, making sure you tread lightly on our earth. But have you thought much about your “return”?
There are a number of international services and products that promote low impact funerals.
Designed in the UK, the Ecopod is a revolutionary design concept to “return to the earth.” Made from 100 % naturally hardened recycled paper ideal for a green burial or a clean cremation.
The Ecopod was designed by Hazel Selina who spent many years working with natural birth. Now that her family have grown up she feels it is time to turn her attention to the primal event of death.
Hazel has had a lifelong interest in Ancient Egypt and the rituals surrounding birth and death. She is also a friend of the earth and concerned about the pressing issues of Ecology.
Hundreds of Ecopods have been successfully used throughout the UK since 1998. The Ecopod is extremely durable – it weighs around 40+ pounds and yet even the small size can carry 200 pounds! It is covered in handmade mulberry leaf and recycled silk paper.
The US also has a variety of services that promote more natural funeral arrangements. The Natural Burial Company in the US offers funeral planning services and also promote the Ecopod. Meanwhile, ARKA offers eco funeral planning in the UK. Because of the pollution involved, many of these services tend to shy away from cremation and suggest burial with tree planting instead.
For more information visit ecopod
Filed under: Eco-Friendly Tips, Facts, Global | Tags: bio-diesel, eco-friendly holidays, eco-living, environmentally friendly, marquette turner estate agents, organic winemaking, wine tasting
Whatever your style, whatever the weather, you can make your US trip green. CALIFORNIA
1. Go wine tasting
You thought the movie Sideways told you all you need to know about Santa Barbara? You thought wrong. There is, for instance, the Sustainable Vine Wine Tour that we’re guessing you haven’t tried. The six-hour, behind-the-scenes look at organic winemaking might include a visit to Demetria Winery, lunch with the owners of Ampelos Cellars, and a grand finale at Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards, run by eco-minded wine pioneer Richard Sanford.
Why it’s green You learn about water-saving vineyard techniques and biodynamic practices. And the tour vans run on biodiesel, of course.
Details $125, including tastings, lunch, and transportation to and from the Santa Barbara area; reservations required; 805/698-3911. –Matt Kettman
MEXICO
2. Be a beach bum
The villas at Playa Las Tortugas, 70 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, share 5 miles of creamy beach with nothing but a coconut plantation. When beach-bum fatigue sets in, volunteer to rescue turtle eggs on the beach or to place baby turtles on wet sand, and watch as moonlight sparkling off the waves guides them to the sea.
Why it’s green Your help — and tourist dollars — protects turtles at their most vulnerable time.
Details Nightly turtle releases Jul–Jan; villas from $149; 877/287-8905. –Laurel Delp
UTAH
3. Go spring skiing
Next time you’re planning a ski trip with your ski-hating spouse, consider this: In Salt Lake City, you get sublime skiing plus the fun of a big-city stay. With the Ski Salt Lake Super Pass, you can enjoy all-day access to lifts at the area’s top four ski resorts and base yourself right in town, taking advantage of the best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, and culture.
Why it’s green The pass includes shuttle transportation from downtown — no car required.
Details Buy the pass at most hotels. From $52 per day; 800/541-4955. –Amy Wolf
CALIFORNIA
4. Ground yourself at a spa
At Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary in Sonoma County, bury yourself under a huge mound of fragrant, fermenting mulch made of ground cedar, rice bran, and plant enzymes. The mixture, which heats naturally, sends you into a warm dream state that’s oddly exhilarating. To prolong the sensation, follow an attendant up a wooded trail to an outdoor pagoda for a massage.
Why it’s green Can it get much more green than a mulch bath? Plus, all paper goods are composted by red worms (“global worming”), which turn waste into garden fertilizer that’s used on-site.
Details From $80 for a standard 1½-hour treatment; from $95 for a 75-minute massage; reservations required; 209 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone; 707/823-8231. –A.W.
UTAH
5. Raft a river
Make like an early explorer: Discover southern Utah’s Cataract Canyon from the vantage point of a raft. The canyon’s red-rock cliffs are every bit as beautiful as the much more crowded Grand Canyon’s.
Why it’s green River outfitter O.A.R.S. has an extensive carbon-offset policy.
Details All-inclusive six-day trip from $1,506; 800/346-6277. –Susan Crandell
Filed under: Eco-Friendly Tips, Global | Tags: carbon emissions reductions, marquette turner estate agents, reuters
A Norway shopping mall is offering customers carbon offsets for purchase on its shelves. John Acher from Reuters reports that the Stroemmen Storsenter shopping centre outside Oslo began selling the certificates on Saturday, at 165 Norwegian crowns (US$30.58) per tonne for shoppers to pick up with their weekly groceries.In one weekend, more than 300 Carbon Emissions Reductions (CERs) had been sold, and store managers were considering stocking up with more.
The store, partnering with CO2focus (a carbon management firm in Norway, is hoping to make sustainability more accessible to its consumers and is not receiving any return from the sales. “Many people want to buy reductions, but until we started this in the shopping mall, they haven’t known where to get them, but now they are available to everybody,” said Ole Herredsvela, the shopping centre’s technical manager.
Read more from Reuters.
Filed under: Facts, Global | Tags: eco-friendly, environmentally friendly, marquette turner estate agents, marquetteturner, nokia
Nokia has unveiled ReMade, a revolutionary mobile phone made of 100% recycled materials.
The idea behind the “ReMade” concept was to see if it was possible to create a device made from nothing new. It has been designed using recycled materials that avoid the need for natural resources, reduce landfill, and allow for more energy efficient production.
It is made out of metals from recycled aluminum cans, plastics from drink bottles form the chassis, and its rubber key mats are provided by old car tyres. Inside the phone are new more environmentally friendly technologies such as printed electronics, and the graphics used on the display save energy without compromising on style.
Remade is a concept that explores potential new ideas for the future, and is part of Nokia’s ongoing work looking at how it can help people make more sustainable choices. It is designed to help inspire and stimulate discussion on how mobile devices might be made in the future.
Nokia has been leading the way in its environmental endeavours, where 65-80% of its phones can be recycled and use the latest technology to promote energy efficiency.
Simon Turner simon@marquetteturner.com.au
Filed under: Australia's Challenge, Eco-Friendly Tips, Global | Tags: energy saving, household energy monitors, marquette turner estate agents, marquetteturner
Household energy monitors have been around for some time. A few new entries into the space, however, add a splash of colour and style to make understanding energy consumption more intuitive.
Wattson, first of all, is a sleek, aesthetically pleasing device that shows homeowners through both numbers and colours how much energy they are using in their home. Consumers begin by attaching to their electricity meter or fuse box a transmitter device, which can measure both single and 3-phase systems. That, in turn, beams information directly to the freestanding wattson device elsewhere in the house, where it instantly displays current usage.
Wattson’s LED display can represent energy use in euros, dollars, yen or pounds, while its pulsing, coloured light also reflects the amount of electricity being used, ranging from cool blue for small amounts to red for high energy consumption. The wireless wattson display is portable, and when appliances are switched on or off, it indicates how much energy they use.
Homeowners can store up to 4 weeks of energy-use history on the device and download it for analysis on software that comes included; a forthcoming community feature will let wattson owners compare their usage. Wattson was listed in Stuff Magazine’s “Cool List” of the top 10 gadgets of 2007. It is priced at GBP 149.50 from UK-based DIY KYOTO.
The Home Joule, meanwhile, resembles a nightlight and plugs into any outlet in a home. The device displays not just energy usage, broadcast wirelessly by the consumer’s energy meter, but also the real-time cost of energy, which comes wirelessly from the energy company. The colour of light emitted by the device represents the costs of the moment, with yellow and red light indicating expensive energy costs, while green means energy is cheaper. The idea is that consumers can then modify their consumption accordingly, switching off discretionary appliances at peak times of the day. The Home Joule is from Ambient Devices and is currently available only to customers of Consumer Powerline’s demand-response program.
Finally, though not truly an energy monitor, we can’t resist mentioning Ambient‘s beautiful Energy Orb, which also emits different colours of light to represent pricing information. This time, however, the device emitting the light is an egg-shaped orb that plugs into an outlet. The Energy Orb has been adopted by Pacific Gas & Electric and other US energy companies, and is priced at USD 149.99.
With energy prices heading nowhere but up, so, too, will demand for devices like these. One to get in on early, especially outside the US!
Websites: www.diykyoto.com — www.consumerpowerline.com — www.ambientdevices.com
Contacts: info@diykyoto.com — hwong@consumerpowerline.com — drose@ambientdevices.com
