Su-Fern Tan

Infrastructure Australia has released a new report called the 'Embodied Carbon Projections for Australian Infrastructure and Buildings'. This report establishes a baseline for upfront embodied carbon in Australia's built environment, covering projections from 2022–23 to 2026–27. Key points: ✅ Buildings and infrastructure directly account for a third of Australia's total carbon emissions and indirectly for over half. Construction activities are projected to produce 37-64 Mt CO₂e annually for the next five years, totaling 247 Mt CO₂e. ✅ Upfront emissions (A1-A5) account for 7% of Australia’s national emissions in 2022-23, primarily from the manufacture of construction materials. The report suggests that 23% of these emissions can be abated by 2026-27 with practical decarbonisation strategies. ✅ Immediate action is crucial! Reducing embodied carbon emissions offers significant and immediate abatement. Additional reductions are achievable through design optimisation and less-build strategies. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gB5uKRRh. #InfrastructureAustralia #SustainableInfrastructure #CarbonReduction

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🔊 "This report underlines the importance of inclusive investment strategies that unlock capital for the majority of buildings, ensuring that no part of the #builtenvironment is left behind," said BRE Deputy CEO, Jane Goddard. 📄 BRE joins a coalition of global green building organisations, including the Green Building Council of Australia, the Singapore Green Building Council, the U.S. Green Building Council and France’s Alliance HQE - GBC to unlock finance to bring more buildings up to environmental standards. The coalition's new report, "Building Transition: How to Scale and Finance an Inclusive Transition for the Built Environment" deals with the financing gap between top-performing green buildings and the broader #buildingstock. Outlining recommendations to make #sustainable finance more inclusive and effective, the report specifically targets the estimated 75% of lower-performing buildings that have yet to adopt #sustainable practices. Full story by Sidhi Mittal in edie: https://lnkd.in/ewQGVcsm #sustainability #netzero #zerocarbon

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🔔 Attention South Australian Architects 🔔 We’ve recently received significant updates from the South Australian Government and SA HIA regarding the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022. To help you navigate these changes, I’ve just published The Ultimate Guide to Navigating the South Australian National Construction Code (NCC) for Architects. This guide breaks down the most critical updates and exemptions that will affect your projects in the coming years. We have received further clarity regarding some of the more well-known exemptions such as, exemptions relating to the date of both planning and development applications, allotment size and geographical exemptions. But... The newest, biggest and most surprising announcement came on the 2nd of August 2024. "The Malinauskas Labor Government has provided greater certainty to the building and construction industry by ensuring there won’t be any further changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) for the next decade following the implementation of the new standards." These updates, but in particular this announcement, will no doubt kick-start significant discussions within our local industry. I invite you to read the full guide and share your thoughts. https://lnkd.in/g6D6bRab How do you see these changes impacting your projects and the future of architectural design in South Australia? ARKATA #architecture #energyefficiency #healthyhomes #sustainability #sustainablehomes #resilienthomes #comfortablehomes #sustainablearchitecture #betterbuilding #energyefficienthomes

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SUSTAINABILITY // Built Environment Key Sector in Transition to Circular Economy The Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group's interim report highlights the built environment's crucial role in Australia's transition to a circular economy. Despite its potential for circularity, barriers like fragmented policies and limited information on recycled materials exist. Recommendations include integrating end-of-life considerations into building codes and promoting circular practices in public procurement. This follows a CSIRO study revealing Australia's circularity rate lags behind the global average. Additionally, a new Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy will require sustainability outcomes for businesses bidding on large government construction projects starting July 1st 2024, including circularity. Read more here: https://hubs.li/Q02zMv5n0 #Fairview #CountonFairview #Sustainability #BuiltEnvironment #CircularEconomy

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REMINDER: Upcoming Webinar: "The Role Buildings Play in Accelerating Australia's Circular Economy Transition" on 28 November at 12pm Brisbane. As part of the 2024 AWRE Seminar program, NABERS (the National Australian Built Environment Rating System) curated Built Environment Speakers Series stream titled with Global GreenTag's involvement. It has been decided to update the findings from the program and bring the speaking team back together for a webinar you don't want to miss. During the AWRE seminar program, NABERS, GECA (Good Environmental Choice) and Global GreenTag International shared data, case studies and real-world insights to help decision makers understand how every building, regardless of size and budget, has the potential to implement meaningful change by connecting the dots between design and construction, fit out, operations, collections and resource recovery. For the benefit of stakeholders who could not attend AWRE and asked for the topic to be reprised, it was decided to extend the program to a broader group. We now invite you to attend a Waste Industry Webinar and join the team of Alexandra Lomo Melian from NABERS, David Baggs from Global GreenTag and Josh Begbie from GECA - returning to talk more on the following topics: What have we learned and what's on the horizon? Using 5 years of NABERS Waste data and our unique position in the resource recovery space to look back at what the last few years have taught us and what lies ahead. Recent and upcoming policy movements impacting the waste and resource recovery industry. The role that buildings are currently playing in Australia's transition to a circular economy and how we can accelerate this transition. REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR BELOW https://ow.ly/2MmZ50UgmCC

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🌏 "Building Transition: How to Scale and Finance an Inclusive Transition for the Built Environment," a new report by a global coalition of green building organisations, aims to extend #sustainable funding to lower-performing buildings. BRE joins Green Building Council of Australia, Singapore Green Building Council, U.S. Green Building Council and Alliance HQE - GBC to produce the report, which specifically targets the estimated 75% of lower-performing sites yet to adopt #sustainable practice. 🔊"This report underlines the importance of inclusive investment strategies that unlock capital for the majority of buildings, ensuring that no part of the built environment is left behind," said Jane Goddard, BRE Deputy CEO. 📄 More by Sean Ashcroft in Construction Digital: https://lnkd.in/e4h-sDfc #netzero #zerocarbon #builtenvironment

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According to Renew, "Australian homes are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and the energy ratings we use to design them are not yet responding to the threat." Their modelling says newly built, thermally efficient homes will outperform older homes in resilience to heat, but the changing climate is going to put this resilience under pressure. In fact, their modelling found that by 2070, a 7-Star home built in 2024 will face similar indoor temperatures during hot summer conditions as a 1.1-Star uninsulated home does today. Meanwhile, if left unrenovated, that 1.1-Star home will face even more extreme indoor temperatures. It is essential we take urgent action rehabilitate the thermal performance of our worst performing homes, and to better address future needs when building new homes. Read more from Renew here: https://lnkd.in/gs_v6GAS #insulation #thermalperformance #climateresilience #adaptation #energyefficiency

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#Decarbonisation in the building sector has traditionally focused on operational efficiency through better-performing building envelopes, climate-sensitive design and switching to renewable energy sources, but the focus is quickly turning to the role of #upfront #carbon. We've worked together with Architecture & Design (Australia) to bring you our latest whitepaper: "Understanding Upfront Carbon in Green Star: A guide for Architects, Designers and Specifiers". Topics covered include: 🌏 What is upfront carbon? 🌏 Upfront carbon requirements in achieving Green Star ratings 🌏 Ways to reduce upfront carbon 🌏 How Siniat's #Opt2Act carbon neutral program can help customers to reduce their building’s upfront carbon emissions by up to 7% To download the whitepaper from the A&D website, click here: https://lnkd.in/gvhwP69s To find out more about Siniat's Opt2Act program, click here: https://lnkd.in/ez-XgUQS #sustainability #letsbuildbettertogether #inspiringwaysofliving

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#Decarbonisation in the building sector has traditionally focused on operational efficiency through better-performing building envelopes, climate-sensitive design and switching to renewable energy sources, but the focus is quickly turning to the role of #upfront #carbon. We've worked together with Architecture & Design (Australia) to bring you our whitepaper: "Understanding Upfront Carbon in Green Star: A guide for Architects, Designers and Specifiers". Topics covered include: 🌏 What is upfront carbon? 🌏 Upfront carbon requirements in achieving Green Star ratings 🌏 Ways to reduce upfront carbon 🌏 How Siniat's #Opt2Act carbon neutral program can help customers to reduce their building’s upfront carbon emissions by up to 7% To download the whitepaper from the A&D website, click here: https://hubs.li/Q02VYq7j0 To find out more about Siniat's Opt2Act program, click here: https://hubs.li/Q02VYtqG0 #sustainability #letsbuildbettertogether #inspiringwaysofliving

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The challenge is not to add #carbon input into an asset, and one way of doing this is through refurbishing rather than demolishing #buildings https://lnkd.in/gRBAvAPs

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One of the many architecture, energy efficiency, & low-carbon services we offer: 'What to know: how to use energy modelling as a design tool" #energymodelling #design #sustainabledesign #lowcarbon

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The Green Building Council of Australia launched an update to its Responsible Products Program in late 2023 and LCI Consultants took the opportunity to delve deep into the sustainability practices of our suppliers and technology providers. In our white paper, we explore the intricate network of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and vertical transport systems that form the backbone of modern buildings. While these systems are hidden behind walls and floors, their impact on sustainability is significant. Our research, involving nearly 50 suppliers, highlights the urgent need to optimise building systems not just for operational efficiency but also to address resource consumption, environmental impact, and carbon emissions. Key findings include: 📗 The challenges suppliers face in achieving sustainability certifications. 📗 The importance of selecting eco-friendly materials and adopting sustainable manufacturing practices. 📗 Recommendations for improving energy efficiency, waste management, and public disclosure. Download our white paper and join us in advancing sustainable building practices. Need guidance on these topics? Reach out to our ESD team at LCI Consultants. https://lnkd.in/g3mEtTaA #Sustainability #SustainableBuilding #LCIConsultants #GBCA #GreenStar #ResponsibleProducts 

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🔊 How can stronger policies and taxonomies help underperforming buildings? While high-performing buildings have access to green finance and resources, the majority of existing buildings remain locked out due to a lack of capital. 📄 BRE's new report with the Green Building Council of Australia, the Singapore Green Building Council, the U.S. Green Building Council, Alliance HQE - GBC, calls for stronger policies and taxonomies to direct capital toward underperforming buildings. It advocates for context-specific, performance-oriented criteria tailored to diverse building types, ensuring investment reaches all buildings. With the built environment responsible for a significant share of global emissions, unlocking investments for the underperforming majority of buildings could help us decarbonise at scale. Read more about the opportunity for better taxonomies to transform the sustainability of the built environment: https://lnkd.in/eRSNQQqF #Greenbuild #sustainablefinance  

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The missing middle in inclusive residential-grade mid-rise apartments and townhouses is a challenge in Australia due to the lack of "inclusive policies" governing the use and sale of surplus land by the Federal, State and Local Governments across Australia Public Land suitable for residential use. In contrast, the Mayor of London mandates up to 50% of such land for affordable housing, resulting in over 30,000 affordable dwellings on surplus land sold off suitable for residential use. As a proven "Placemaker" with a track record of winning tenders for major urban projects, I have voluntarily set aside 30% to 50% for affordable housing, leading to above-average capital growth and long-term value retention in all my previous major urban projects with no mandatory requirements, just through my initiative and sense of "social responsibility." All my previous major urban projects have achieved above-average capital growth for decades and are tightly held. Also missing across Australia today is a fast-track solution, a fast-to-market solution instead of relying upon slow, inefficient custom construction methods with vast shortages of tradies, a more sustainable solution in advanced modular construction platforms built from Renewable plantation forest trees into Cross Laminated Timber construction with great design, detailing and finishes minimising expensive building materials waste going to landfills which is unsustainable. The Thrive Alliance's expertise is over 100,000 CLT major urban reference projects worldwide, all of which use Engineered wood in Cross-Laminated Timber construction. #Harropfactor #Placemaker #SocialResponsibility #Inclusiveness #residentialgrade #midrise #townhouses. #ThriveAlliance #AffordableHousing #CLT #SydneyHousingCrisis #fasttomarket #sustainability #ThriveConstruct #EssentialWorkers

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It's fantastic to see Infrastructure NSW taking bold steps towards a sustainable future with the release of the National Embodied Carbon Measurement for Infrastructure: Technical Guidance. This document provides a consistent approach to measuring embodied carbon in infrastructure projects developed in close collaboration with other Australian jurisdictions—a crucial move towards effective carbon management. At MI Engineers, we couldn't agree more that consistent measurement is the key to driving meaningful progress in infrastructure decarbonisation. While navigating these new standards might feel overwhelming, we're here to help. With extensive experience working alongside large asset owners in the UK, we've developed comprehensive carbon libraries covering PAS 2080 Modules A, B and C for whole-of-life assessment. If you need help figuring out where to start or need guidance in implementing these standards, MI Engineers is ready to support your journey to a lower-carbon future. Please get in touch with us via our website for more information: https://lnkd.in/gt3MY8YY #InfrastructureDecarbonisation #Sustainability #CarbonManagement #MIEngineers #NetZero

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