August 9, 2020
Criteria for the Vinyl Council of Australia’s Best Environmental Practice (BEP) PVC product verification scheme will be reviewed and updated following discussions with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). Best Practice PVC products, independently verified as fully compliant with the scheme, are recognised in Green Star building rating tools, as well as other public and private
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July 6, 2020
You might think cars and other forms of transportation in a big city like Vancouver, BC, would be responsible for the lion’s share of carbon emissions. You’d be wrong.
June 1, 2020
Aggregated and concrete supplier Holcim has received certification from Climate Active to sell carbon-neutral products. Administered by the Australian Government, Climate Active is a program to support businesses committed to sustainability, innovation and industry leadership to drive voluntary climate action. Climate-neutral certification confirms that a carbon-neutral claim is based on best
...May 27, 2020
Despite living in a country full of wide-open spaces and beautiful rural landscapes, most Australians opt to live in cities. Indeed, even if the COVID-19 pandemic and the confinement of populations around the world makes it difficult for some people to live in cities, urban populations will continue to grow at such a rate that only a smart city strategy will improve the lives of all residents. According to the
...May 17, 2020
Archimats are ‘architectured’ materials that have an organised intertwined or interlocking inner architecture that can be engineered to have superior strength, a high tolerance to damage and good thermal insulation compared with other conventional composite materials such as concrete. Archimats can also better absorb energy and provide improved compliance and flexibility. Led by
...May 14, 2020
Inner Sydney’s Central Park has been announced the Environmental Excellence Award winner in the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Wingate National Awards for Excellence at a special virtual awards announcement this week. Selected from five finalists in the Environmental Excellence category, the sustainable precinct by Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia is an
...April 7, 2020
Stronger concrete can be made from a by-product of steel creation, according to new research. This by-product can also be used to make stronger concrete, in a zero-waste approach to help advance the circular economy. Engineering researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, examined whether slag that had been used to treat wastewater could then be recycled as an aggregate material for
...April 2, 2020
For the sector to play its part means adopting aggressive energy efficiency, zero-carbon and grid-interactive strategies, especially for existing structures.
March 4, 2020
Using photovoltaic elements on facades could be a useful way to supplement solar energy supply, new research suggests. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP have discovered that if they are appropriately designed, these elements can be attractively integrated and deliver 50% more energy than existing types of wall-mounted PV elements. Even concrete walls are
...February 24, 2020
A new fund has been announced by Qualitas to finance the construction and management of energy-efficient, low-emissions, build-to-rent (BTR) residential buildings. Backed by up to $125 million from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the initiative aims to boost clean, green rental stock and extend the benefits of clean energy to Australian renters. The Qualitas Build-to-Rent Impact Fund
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