Did you know we undertake a wide range of building simulation modelling?
We do this to test and confirm key design parameters to satisfy planning and building code requirements, optimise building performance or reduce environmental impacts.
We regularly undertake to modelling demonstrate compliance with town planning permit conditions and provide expert evidence in VCAT. Can we help YOU? Contact our expert team today.
On 8th June 2023 the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) released their Final Report No. 400 – Delivering sustainable apartment housing: new build and retrofit.
AHURI investigated how Australia can supply new and retrofit older apartments so that they are sustainable, that is they are comfortable; deliver cost reductions for householders while minimising consumption and waste; and maximise energy efficiencies and energy management, both in their construction and throughout their lifecycle (including through the adoption of renewable energy technologies).
There is demand from residents for more sustainable apartments, but speculative strata titled development means what gets built is not necessarily what consumers want.
One key problem is that there are different stakeholders between the development and use phases of the building lifecycle. Design and construction decisions, impacting sustainability, are made by the speculative developer whose priorities for short-term project success differ from those of long-term residents, often perceiving sustainability features as value-add items rather than essential attributes of apartment buildings.
There are also issues for owners considering retrofitting building for sustainability, including that they often only prioritise immediate issues (such as repairs and maintenance) and do not have the capacity to allocate time to forward planning, including planning for sustainability retrofits. Successful sustainable retrofits in strata buildings need to be driven either by an individual owner champion or a sustainability sub-committee made up of interested owners.
The research identified six key shifts that are needed in order to produce more sustainable apartments: development teams embed sustainability in project feasibility; the design and construction of delivered apartment buildings reflects what was designed and approved; property valuation reflects building performance; the potential benefits of physical inter-dependence and shared services are realised; consumers have access to adequate information about building performance; and sustainability initiatives influence all joint decision-making.
See the full report here:
https://www.ahuri.edu.au/sites/default/files/documents/2023-06/AHURI-Final-Report-400-Delivering-sustainable-apartment-housing-new-build-and-retrofit_0.pdf
In today’s world, the issue of climate change has become one of the most pressing challenges we face. The increase in greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants, has led to a rise in global temperatures, resulting in various environmental and socio-economic consequences. To combat this issue, organizations and individuals are adopting measures to reduce their carbon footprint and strive towards carbon neutrality. One such initiative is the Climate Active Carbon Neutral program.
Climate Active Carbon Neutral is an initiative developed by the Australian government to encourage businesses, communities, and individuals to take action against climate change. It provides a framework for organizations to measure, reduce, and offset their greenhouse gas emissions to achieve carbon neutrality.
Carbon neutrality refers to the state where an entity’s net emissions of greenhouse gases are balanced by removing or offsetting an equivalent amount of emissions from the atmosphere. It involves a comprehensive approach that includes measuring emissions, implementing reduction strategies, and investing in projects that remove or offset emissions.
Carbon neutrality plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change and its adverse effects. By achieving carbon neutrality, organizations and individuals can significantly contribute to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Here are some reasons why carbon neutrality is important:
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is vital for preserving the environment. Carbon neutrality helps to minimize the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, thereby mitigating global warming and climate change. It also helps to protect ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources.
Taking responsibility for carbon emissions is an ethical choice. By striving towards carbon neutrality, organizations demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. It enhances their reputation and contributes to building a more sustainable future for generations to come.
With increasing consumer awareness and demand for sustainable products and services, carbon neutrality can provide a competitive advantage to businesses. It allows organizations to differentiate themselves in the market, attract environmentally conscious customers, and build long-term customer loyalty.
As governments worldwide are implementing stricter environmental regulations, carbon neutrality can help organizations stay compliant with current and future legislation. By proactively addressing their carbon emissions, businesses can avoid potential penalties and legal issues.
Climate change poses significant risks to businesses and economies. By adopting carbon neutrality measures, organizations can mitigate these risks, such as the physical impacts of extreme weather events, supply chain disruptions, and increased resource scarcity.
Implementing carbon reduction strategies can lead to cost savings through improved energy efficiency, waste reduction, and streamlined processes. Additionally, investing in carbon offset projects can provide financial returns and support sustainable development initiatives.
In the following sections, we will delve deeper into the various aspects of achieving carbon neutrality, including understanding greenhouse gas emissions, measuring carbon footprint, reducing emissions, and offsetting emissions through the Climate Active Carbon Neutral program.
Achieving carbon neutrality requires a comprehensive approach that involves understanding and addressing greenhouse gas emissions. By measuring, reducing, and offsetting emissions, organizations can take significant strides towards becoming carbon neutral. In this section, we will explore the key steps involved in achieving carbon neutrality.
To effectively tackle carbon emissions, it is crucial to understand the concept of greenhouse gases and their impact on the environment. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases, trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
It is essential to identify and quantify the sources of greenhouse gas emissions within an organization’s operations. This includes direct emissions from activities like burning fossil fuels or using certain industrial processes, as well as indirect emissions from purchased electricity, waste disposal, and transportation.
By conducting a greenhouse gas inventory, organizations can gain insights into their emission sources, identify areas for improvement, and set reduction targets. This inventory serves as a foundation for developing effective carbon reduction strategies.
Measuring the carbon footprint is a crucial step towards achieving carbon neutrality. A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, or product throughout its lifecycle. It provides a quantitative measure of the impact on climate change.
To measure the carbon footprint, organizations need to consider emissions from various sources, including energy consumption, transportation, waste generation, and supply chain activities. This can be a complex process that requires data collection, calculation methodologies, and the use of carbon accounting tools.
Once the carbon footprint is measured, organizations can identify hotspots, areas with the highest emissions, and prioritize their reduction efforts. This data also helps in setting emission reduction targets and tracking progress over time.
After understanding and measuring greenhouse gas emissions, the next step is implementing effective strategies to reduce carbon emissions. This involves adopting sustainable practices, improving energy efficiency, and transitioning to renewable energy sources. Here are some key approaches to consider:
Improving energy efficiency is a fundamental step towards reducing carbon emissions. Organizations can conduct energy audits, identify energy-saving opportunities, and implement measures such as upgrading equipment, optimizing processes, and promoting energy conservation practices among employees.
Transitioning to renewable energy sources is crucial for reducing reliance on fossil fuels and decreasing carbon emissions. Organizations can install solar panels, invest in wind energy, or purchase renewable energy certificates to offset their electricity consumption.
Transportation is a significant contributor to carbon emissions. Organizations can encourage the use of public transportation, promote carpooling, and provide incentives for employees to choose low-emission vehicles or electric cars. Implementing telecommuting and remote work policies can also reduce commuting-related emissions.
Addressing waste generation and disposal is another important aspect of carbon reduction. Organizations can implement recycling programs, composting initiatives, and waste reduction strategies. By diverting waste from landfills, methane emissions can be minimized.
Collaborating with suppliers and partners to optimize the supply chain can help reduce emissions. This includes choosing vendors with sustainable practices, minimizing transportation distances, and encouraging the use of eco-friendly packaging and materials.
By implementing these and other carbon reduction strategies, organizations can significantly decrease their carbon footprint and move closer to carbon neutrality.
While reducing carbon emissions is crucial, it is often challenging to achieve complete elimination. In such cases, organizations can offset their remaining emissions by investing in high-quality carbon offset projects. Carbon offsets are investments in projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere, effectively balancing out the emissions produced.
Carbon offset projects can include activities like reforestation, renewable energy projects, methane capture programs, and energy-efficient cookstove distribution in developing countries. These projects not only help in mitigating emissions but also contribute to sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and social benefits.
When choosing carbon offset projects, it is essential to ensure their credibility and quality. Certifications like the Gold Standard, Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), and Climate Action Reserve provide assurance that the projects meet rigorous criteria and deliver real and additional emission reductions.
By investing in carbon offsets, organizations can compensate for their remaining emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. It is important to note that carbon offsets should not be seen as a substitute for emission reductions but rather as a complementary measure to address emissions that cannot be eliminated directly.
In the next section, we will explore the Climate Active Certification Program, which provides a framework for organizations to achieve and demonstrate carbon neutrality.
The Climate Active Certification Program is an initiative developed by the Australian government to support and recognize organizations in their journey towards carbon neutrality. This section will provide an in-depth overview of the program, its benefits, and the steps involved in obtaining Climate Active certification.
Climate Active is the Australian government’s carbon neutral certification program. It is administered by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy, and Resources and provides a robust framework for organizations to measure, reduce, and offset their greenhouse gas emissions. By achieving Climate Active certification, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to climate action and contribute to Australia’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Climate Active program offers certification for various entities, including businesses, government agencies, community organizations, and events. It covers a wide range of sectors, from manufacturing and agriculture to tourism and events.
Obtaining Climate Active certification can bring numerous benefits to organizations. Here are some key advantages:
Climate Active certification provides organizations with a credible and recognized validation of their carbon neutrality claims. It demonstrates their commitment to transparently measuring and reducing their emissions and investing in high-quality carbon offset projects.
In an increasingly environmentally conscious market, Climate Active certification can differentiate organizations from their competitors. It signals to customers, partners, and stakeholders that the certified entity is actively addressing climate change and taking responsibility for its carbon emissions.
Climate Active certification enhances an organization’s reputation as a sustainable and socially responsible entity. It can attract environmentally conscious customers, investors, and employees who value organizations that prioritize climate action and demonstrate a commitment to reducing their environmental impact.
Being Climate Active certified provides access to government initiatives and support programs that promote carbon neutrality. This includes accessing funding opportunities, participating in climate-focused events, and showcasing certified organizations as examples of best practices.
Climate Active certification opens doors to collaboration and partnership opportunities with other certified organizations, industry networks, and sustainability-focused associations. It allows organizations to connect with like-minded entities and share knowledge and experiences in carbon reduction strategies.
The process of obtaining Climate Active certification involves several steps. While the specific requirements may vary based on the type of entity seeking certification, the general process typically includes the following:
Organizations interested in achieving Climate Active certification must first commit to measuring, reducing, and offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions. They need to register with the program and express their intent to work towards carbon neutrality.
The next step involves conducting a comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory to measure the organization’s carbon footprint. This includes collecting data on emissions sources, calculating emissions using approved calculation methodologies, and preparing a detailed emissions report.
Once the carbon footprint is measured, organizations need to develop and implement strategies to reduce their emissions. This may involve energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy adoption, waste reduction initiatives, and sustainable transportation practices. These reduction measures should align with the Climate Active program’s guidelines and best practices.
To achieve carbon neutrality, organizations must invest in certified carbon offset projects to balance out their remaining emissions. These projects should meet the stringent criteria set by the Climate Active program, ensuring their credibility and contribution to emission reductions.
After implementing reduction strategies and offsetting emissions, organizations must undergo an independent verification process. This involves engaging a third-party auditor who assesses the organization’s emissions data, reduction efforts, and offset investments. Upon successful verification, the organization is awarded Climate Active certification.
To maintain Climate Active certification, organizations are required to submit annual emissions reports that demonstrate ongoing commitment to carbon neutrality. They must continue implementing reduction measures, offsetting emissions, and engaging in continuous improvement to meet the program’s requirements. Recertification is required every few years to ensure ongoing compliance and progress.
By following these steps and meeting the program’s requirements, organizations can obtain Climate Active certification and showcase their commitment to carbon neutrality.