In the news
Paris 2015 UN Climate Change Conference COP21
For the first time the UN Climate Change Conference included a ‘Buildings Day’ as part of COP21’s official program. The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, an unprecedented alliance of countries and organisations, was launched at the conference with the aim to speed up and scale-up the potential of the building sector for climate action. With more than 30 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the building sector, the inclusion of the Buildings Day recognises the contribution this sector can make to reducing emissions and adapting to climate change with cost-effective and renewable solutions available now.
In support of the global alliance, a number of the initiating partners, including the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the World Green Building Council, have made new commitments to act to help bring their stakeholders onto a below 2oC pathway. As a member of the WorldGBC, the GBCA announced the introduction of a ‘net zero’ label in 2016 to recognise buildings that achieve ‘net zero’ impact in energy, carbon and water. A round up of partner commitments can be found here.
Further reading:
Unprecedented Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction to Combat Climate Change IPAA media release, 3 Dec 2015
Buildings Day: GBCA commits to net zero certification The Fifth Estate, 4 Dec 2105
Net zero the next step for green building movement GBCA, 7 Dec 2015
2015 set to be hottest year on record
According to the World Meteorological Organisation, 2015 is set to be the hottest year on record (ABC news). Locally Australia experienced its warmest October on record, accompanied by a devastatingly early start to the bushfire season in Victoria, SA and WA.
In WA, bushfire building reforms are due to take effect next year. Bushfires, heat stress and heat waves all impact on the resilience and adaptiveness of the built environment. A 1 degree temperature rise has previously been likened by the Bureau of Meteorology as equivalent to moving Australia’s southern towns 100kms north.
Further reading:
Global warming and El Nino set to make 2015 the hottest year on record, WMO says, ABC News,
25 Nov 2015
October blew away heat records for any month of any year: Bureau of Meteorology, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 Nov 2015
Bushfire planning reform, Department of Planning, Western Australian Planning Commission
The UNSW Scorcher website tracks heatwaves in Australia
Publications: Battery storage
A number of recent reports have been released in relation to domestic battery storage, signalling their increased uptake as costs fall: ATA’s ‘Household Battery Analysis’; The Climate Council’s ‘Powerful Potential: Battery Storage for Renewable Energy and Electric Cars’ and the Clean Energy Council/CSIRO ‘Energy Storage Safety’ report.
The Alternative Technology Association’s (ATA) ‘Household Battery Analysis‘ report focused on an economic analysis of grid-connected solar with battery storage for typical household types across 10 Australian locations, concluding that such a system should become economically feasible for many households by 2020, given projected falls in battery costs.
The Climate Council’s ‘Powerful Potential: Battery Storage for Renewable Energy and Electric Cars’ report predicts strong growth for battery storage in Australia and that within three years, going off-grid with battery storage installation ‘could be cost-competitive with staying connected as the price of battery storage falls and grid electricity remains expensive’.
Energy for the People weighed into the debate with their post ‘Three common mistakes when assessing going off grid (solar and storage)’
Common to each of the reports is the undisputed increased uptake of energy storage technologies in the Australian market. Concurrent with this uptake is the need for standards and installation practices to keep pace. Supported by the Clean Energy Council, the CSIRO has released the report ‘Energy Storage Safety: Responsible installation use and disposal of domestic and small commercial energy storage systems’. Among the report’s recommendations is to ‘Align Australian and international standards, and improve local regulatory and building codes’.
Further reading:
Communities going off-grid Choice Magazine 16 Nov 2015
Household batteries still five years from making financial sense for Australian homes The Age,
16 Nov 2015, (Also reported in The Sydney Morning Herald)
First domestic energy storage safety guide released The Fifth Estate, 25 Nov 2015
Events & Training: Other events
Events publicised in this section are not necessarily endorsed by the Institute. Information on these events is provided for the interest of EDG readers.
Asia Pacific Architecture Forum
Over two weeks, the Asia Pacific Architecture Forum will promote architecture’s pivotal role in the culture, sustainability and economy of the region and will explore the way new world cities are responding to the opportunities and challenges of the Asian century.
When: 1-14 Mar 2016
Where: Brisbane
AIRAH’s Solar Heating and Cooling Workshop
The event will cover the status of the industry, practical solar manufacturing experience, latest industry developments, and case studies.
When: 17 Mar 2016
Where: University of Melbourne
How Soon is Now? National Architecture Conference
A global view of architecture’s transformative power. People, practices and projects addressing the future. Investigating resilience, society, equity and agency.
When: 28-30 Apr 2016
Where: Adelaide