Change in life is a constant. After 9 years in our office we found the landlord didn’t want to renew the lease this time around! I guess he had a better offer. So we’ve moved to the office next door. It happens to be more modern, bigger and nicer! We can still say “we are […]
After a preliminary examination of the draft in the new code’s proposed changes to Section J, professionals from the commercial and multi-residential sustainable design and construction industries were alarmed. They based their views on Section J – NCC 2016 Volume One Public Draft (V2) and formed a working group to critically analyse the document. Among
Industry Working Group Read More »
Since 2007 the public/political debate around sustainability degenerated into polarized political positions which appear to be separated from reality. Yet at an individual level people have the good sense to ignore the politics and get on with life. Adoption of solar PV systems has continued unabated with roof top systems contributing more than 3MW of
We typically see a lot of projects at Construction Certificate Stage and when we review the plans at this phase the design is finished. So often we say, “if only we had had a look at this at concept stage” because at that point you make decisions that save energy/money for the life of the building. There is no
Energy Master Planning Read More »
Preparing NABERS ratings and BEEC (Building Energy Efficiency Certificate) under the CBD Scheme has continued to be an active area of our work. We still receive many enquiries about it and going back through our newsletters we realised there are a number of articles regarding the subject. So for those of our readers wanting to brush-up, following are a
Our long term collaborator, Matthew Parnell, has moved to Melbourne and taken a position as Senior Lecturer and Coordinator, Master of Design Strategy + Innovation at Swinburne University of Technology. Matthew is still involved in consulting work but some aspects have changed. We are now looking after some of his clients in the general ESD
About 18 months ago, a classic Marshall Britannia Steam Engine came out of storage in the hope of being steamed up and put to work. This Steam Engine was beautifully restored by one of our partners and is now nicknamed Antony’s Steam Engine. A group of steam and antique machinery enthusiasts in Maitland NSW, agreed
Steam Engine Put To Work Read More »
Last year we started to host functions for our long term regular clients which gave us the opportunity to spend social time with them. We always appreciate the on-going support from our clients and the referrals we receive from their networks. Yet on a day to day basis it\’s hard to express our sincere gratitude. The first function
Last year our involvement in the medical outreach program in Vanuatu took an unexpected turn. In March 2015 a conference was held in the capital Port Vila to co-ordinate everyone’s efforts for the upcoming year. A few hours into the conference Cyclone Pam hit the island chain. The conference attendees were ushered to cyclone shelters where
Vanuatu – Update on the Medical Assistance Project Read More »
Surprisingly, boarding houses create quite a bit of confusion and often the confusion starts with the local Council. We hope the following comments explain when Section J applies. Section J is the energy efficiency provisions of the building code and it applies to Class 2 to 9 Buildings. These provisions apply at the time of
How Does Section J Apply to Boarding Houses? Read More »
The world is moving toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Australia is looking ahead to becoming a renewable energy leader. Those aspirations are totally
If you are involved in Commercial or Industrial building design, construction, or operation, then you’re probably familiar with Section J reports, which can be done
Are you planning to build or renovate a commercial building and found out that you need a Section J Report? Are there building regulations and energy
As the world continues to act and move toward a more sustainable future, environmentally sustainable design (ESD) is becoming increasingly important. The NSW Department of
