The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinarsUrbanity
Industry Excellence
Urban Leader
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Urban Leader Awards Logos RGB White
NOMINATIONS CLOSE SEPTEMBER 12 RECOGNISING THE INDIVIDUALS BEHIND THE PROJECTS
NOMINATIONS CLOSING SEPTEMBER 12 URBAN LEADER AWARDS
LEARN MOREDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
6
print
Print
ResidentialEditorial DeskFri 25 Sep 20

Architects Rally to Reduce Built Environment Emissions

6875785c-9a16-4a19-b2bc-912dacd089fb

The federal government is being urged to back a national plan towards zero carbon buildings, incentives for the private sector and adopt minimum standards for the energy performance of buildings in a bid to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.

The call comes as the government announced a new $64.2 million in funding to be included in the upcoming Federal Budget, which the Australian Institute of Architects says is the first step towards improving energy efficiency and seeing the full potential of the built environment reduce emissions.

The peak body welcomed the investment in improving energy productivity in both residential and commercial buildings.

The funding comprises $52.2 million to increase the energy productivity of homes and businesses, including a sector-specific grant program for hotels and facilities upgrades.

The new energy productivity measures include dedicated programs to help community organisations lower their energy bills and the hotel sector to achieve an energy uplift.

“The architectural profession is leading the drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while working to ensure the built environment is able to adapt and respond to new climate norms,” professor Helen Lochhead, Immediate Past National president and chair of the Climate Action and Sustainability Taskforce said.

“Design plays a critical role in integrating systems, including energy, water and waste management as well as local ecologies and culture, to promote human health and well-being.”

“Growth in our urban and rural cities means increasing pressures on our natural environment and the crucial ecosystem services they provide such as clean air and cooler urban areas,” professor Lochhead said.

Globally, the building and construction sectors are responsible for 39 per cent of all carbon emissions, with operational emissions from energy used to light, heat and cool buildings making up around 28 per cent.

Australia’s built environment opportunity

Research by ASBEC and ClimateWorks has shown that the built environment can deliver more than a quarter of the emissions reductions needed to meet the Paris Agreement target.

The institute’s chief executive Julia Cambage says there is a clear opportunity for the federal government to harness a growing commitment to achieve economy-wide net zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.

“But there is also scope to accelerate the pace of change in high-performing sectors like the built environment by setting an earlier 2030 target. This would create dual benefits by increasing jobs while reducing emissions.

“In the residential space alone we know there is an enormous gap between the average energy efficiency of new, 6.1 stars, versus existing homes, 1.7 stars.”

Cambage said The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), which manages the government’s renewable energy programs, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) which invests in a range of projects but must produce less than half the emissions of the grid average, ruling out coal, but not gas—were “two critical vehicles” government has at its disposal to drive large-scale change.

With the federal budget due to be handed down in parliament on 6 October, Cambage added there was scope for greater stimulus that could deliver lower energy costs for consumers, while also enhancing public amenity, employment opportunities and better climate outcomes.

Ahead of the government's release of its technology roadmap, Scott Morrison said he did not believe the zero-emissions target was achievable by 2050, but that the government planned to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions “in the second half of the century”.

Energy minister Angus Taylor released the federal government's Technology Investment Roadmap on Tuesday, which aims to guide $18 billion of Commonwealth investment.

Recent Oxfam research shows the world’s wealthiest 1 per cent of the population were responsible for the emission of more than twice as much carbon dioxide as the globe’s poorer half.

The Oxfam report spans from 1990 to 2015, and found that annual emissions grew by 60 per cent in the 25-year period.


HotelRetailResidentialAustraliaArchitecturePolicySector
AUTHOR
Editorial Desk
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Stockland bumps up its apartment pipeline in melbourne and sydney
Exclusive

Stockland Re-Enters Density in $5bn Apartment Play

Renee McKeown
4 Min
Woolloongabba Precinct Vulture St
Exclusive

Brisbane Developer in Cross River Rail Compensation Tussle

Clare Burnett
4 Min
The Mondrian Gold Coast hotel's food and beverage is driving profits
Exclusive

Touch, Taste, Theatre: What’s Driving Mondrian’s Success

Renee McKeown
6 Min
Fortis’ display suites are designed as brand environments first, with tactile details and curated design to build buyer confidence before project specifics.
Exclusive

Relevant or Redundant: Will Tech Kill Display Suites?

Vanessa Croll
7 Min
Exclusive

Missing Heart: Why The Gold Coast Needs a CBD

Phil Bartsch
7 Min
View All >
South Melbourne social housing precinct
Affordable & Social Housing

South Melbourne Housing Precinct Revamp Takes Next Step

Leon Della Bosca
Stockland bumps up its apartment pipeline in melbourne and sydney
Exclusive

Stockland Re-Enters Density in $5bn Apartment Play

Renee McKeown
Aerial view of Caboolture and Bruce highway to Brisbane with Bribie Island Road crossing, Queensland, Australia
Policy

Queensland’s $2bn Push Opens New Housing Front

Vanessa Croll
First projects named in a statewide plan to fast-track supply, including thousands of homes in a major growth region…
LATEST
South Melbourne social housing precinct
Affordable & Social Housing

South Melbourne Housing Precinct Revamp Takes Next Step

Leon Della Bosca
2 Min
Stockland bumps up its apartment pipeline in melbourne and sydney
Exclusive

Stockland Re-Enters Density in $5bn Apartment Play

Renee McKeown
4 Min
Aerial view of Caboolture and Bruce highway to Brisbane with Bribie Island Road crossing, Queensland, Australia
Policy

Queensland’s $2bn Push Opens New Housing Front

Vanessa Croll
2 Min
The Adelaide purpose built student accommodation market is about to increase by 1058 beds with the State Commission Assessment Panel supporting two towers in the making.
Student Housing

Highrise Approvals Add 1000-Plus PBSA Beds in Adelaide

Renee McKeown
3 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/architects-rally-to-reduce-built-environment-emissions