Cooling hot suburbs, low tech ways to save energy in pools and breakthroughs in wastewater treatments were highlights at the recent CRC for Low Carbon Living conference last week in Adelaide. Each pointed to the sound body of evidence underpinning good urban planning decision.

The Fifth Estate's exploration of how Australia can deliver innovative, sustainable urban developments, featuring a high-profile Salon on Sustainable Precincts. 

Urban policymaking, plan-making and place-making in Australia could be about to get smarter, writes Peter Newton and Mark Burry.

Australia’s landscapes are dotted with mature eucalypts that were standing well before Captain Cook sailed into Botany Bay. These old trees were once revered as an icon of the unique Australian landscape, but they’re rapidly becoming collateral damage from population growth. Mature eucalypts are routinely removed to make way for new suburbs.
Read the full article on The Fifth Estate

As extreme heat comes our way and threatens to impact on our buildings, it’s time to acknowledge that the quality Australia’s urban fabric is not on a par with other parts of the world.

Plans have been revealed for an off-grid high rise project on Sydney’s Lower North Shore that will be powered entirely by human waste and use design inspired by the wings of an owl to reduce wind load.
An update on the NevHouse project is provided.

When progressive developers and early adopters attempt to push boundaries and test innovative new approaches to delivering precinct-scale eco-infrastructure,they invariably hit a range of obstacles.

The Tomorrowland summit brought together architects, engineers, academics, scientists, investors and industry around the future of the built environment: resilience and net zero carbon buildings.

Comfortable, affordable and low-carbon housing is possible, but according to experts at Wednesday’s National Forum on Low Carbon Housing for Low Income Households, there are multiple challenges that need tackling to get there.

Article shows interior and progress on a 45-metre, nine-story building – constructed with cross-laminated timber (CLT) floors and walls, and glulam structural beams and columns at at 25 King Street Brisbane, which is set to become Australia’s tallest engineered timber building when complete.
“Compared to a traditional concrete and steel construction, the pre-formed engineered timber construction means no waste and an energy saving of at least 40 per cent,” Mr Connor said.