Designing for Sustainable Communities: Dialogue

And another way of looking at things.....

2010-04-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

An article sent to me by a real estate friend who knew I'd be interested....

Matusik Missive – Eco waffle
24th March 2010

Most government ESD initiatives involve rebates for apparently environmentally friendly things like ceiling insulation; rain tanks; solar hot water systems and heat pumps. Being environmentally friendly these days essentially equates to adding more to our homes, not less. I think we have the wrong end of the stick.

In recent weeks, I have been writing about making the most of what we have – using under-utilised housing; reducing HECS debt or using superannuation in lieu of the FHOG, and maximising development around our existing infrastructure. In short, we need to start running our cities like a business – “waste not, want not,”

“a dollar saved is two less you need to earn,” and all that.

The same applies to environmentally sustainable housing. Apparently, every dollar spent in Australia creates 1kg of CO². A 25 year old tree, by way of comparison - and again, this is what I am told - absorbs the same amount of CO² every year.

As an example and as attractive as the idea of harnessing the sun’s power might be, solar PV panels are the most expensive way – bar none – to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It costs between $10,000 and $15,000 upfront to put a standard 1.5 kilowatt system on your roof (except perhaps if you go through a community buying scheme like Local Power - ES). Under the new Renewable Energy Bonus scheme, announced last month by the federal government, a rebate of up to $1,000 is available for ceiling installation and solar hot water systems. Yet spending a couple of hundred dollars with your local sparky will save you the same amount of energy as new solar panels.

How? By installing a master kill switch at the front door, which shuts down all but the essential electrical items in the house, and also by placing an LED light in the laundry, which lights up when off-peak power is available. Running your washing machine, clothes dryer and dishwasher at that time can save the average household up to $600 per year. Killing the non-essential power each time you leave home can save over $400 per year. But I suppose it is hard to show off, and keep up with the Joneses at the same time, if no one can see how environmentally friendly you are.

This same attitude needs to apply to how we build new houses. Up to 20% of all building material that arrives on a typical residential building site is thrown away. We need to design our houses around building products, rather than the other way around. Less time and wastage on site would do wonders for reducing our urban footprint.......

Michael Matusik
Brisbane real estate strategist

Slideshows

2010-03-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

Last night's inaugural event at the Australian Institue of Architects was a great success and hopefully has started stimulating discussions and broadening sustainable ideas for future projects. Here are some of the slideshows in pdf format:
Emma Scragg COHOUSING

ENERGY - Russ Holmes - local power

2010-03-09T19:59:00.000-08:00

Practical options for decentralised alternative energy available in Brisbane now

Russ Holmes has a background in the construction industry, however he became increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of the industry he was working within. Visits to European countries, amongst others Germany, brought to his awareness how under utilised sustainable and renewable energy sources are in Australia compared to other countries. Germany in particular inspired his passion to make PV solar energy, a valued, more accessible source of energy in Australia.

Living in the community of West End, South Brisbane, has inspired the beginning of Local Power. Russ is a co-founder of the successful not for profit group Local Power who pioneered the community PV Solar bulk buying model in Australia. Local Power has installed 350 PV Solar systems in Brisbane homes with an additional 100 PV Solar systems about to be installed as a result of their fourth buying group.

Russ is passionate about decentralised energy production & promoting a more self-sustaining community through an ethical business framework.

Summary

Russ will talk about the shift to a decentralised model for energy production sharing overseas examples along with the example of Local Power.

WATER - Chris Tanner

2010-03-08T19:55:00.000-08:00

Chris is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland with 25 years experience in the Land Development and general Civil Engineering Industry. Chris has a professional background in town planning enabling a broader grasp of the range of issues associated with land development. He has focused on integration of civil engineering solution with the environment and natural landforms and is regarded as a leader in the field of Water Sensitive Design. Chris has presented a number of papers on this subject at local and National conferences.
Chris was a former board member of the Australian Green Development Forum.

LANDSCAPE - Arno King

2010-03-07T21:04:00.000-08:00

Combining the professions of urban design, landscape architecture and horticulture, Arno enjoys a collaborative approach to landscape architecture and urban design, including facilitating community workshops and working with a diversity of design professionals.

He is interested in the development of engaging and useable environments, which enhance the qualities of place. Arno regularly provides assessments for local and state government departments and frequently gives evidence in the Planning and Environment Court.

A prolific writer, his articles are featured in many specialist journals and popular magazines.

FOOD - ROBERT PEKIN - Urban food production

2010-03-06T17:41:00.000-08:00

Former dairy farmer and market gardener, Robert Pekin is founder of Brisbane-based Food Connect, Australia’s largest and most successful Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) scheme. This social business model provides dignified and secure livelihoods for small farmers and employees and develops local food resilience within communities. Robert's business replication system has seen the Food Connect model spread autonomously throughout Australia and NZ.

Robert is on the world committee of URGENCI (the global organisation for fostering local solidarity partnerships between producers and consumers). He is also a founding member of Ecological Agriculture Australia and is on many food, fibre and agriculture working groups. Robert is also on the Leadership Council of the Social Enterprise Coalition and is a mentor for the emergence of the Social Business Concept.

Robert has formed the Food Connect Foundation to oversee the formation of a Farmland Trust and a new Farmers' Development Pathway as well as support replication of the Food Connect business model.

Food Connect won the Banksia Peoples Choice Award and the QLD Gov Climate Smart Leadership Award in 2009

TRANSPORT - Design for walkability - ROBYN DAVIES

2010-03-05T17:31:00.000-08:00

Robyn Davies is a transport planner. For the last ten years, she has specialised in sustainable transport policy and planning. She is currently the President of PedBikeTrans, a professional development and networking association for people who work on walking and cycling.

In her day job, Robyn currently works at the Transport and Main Roads department, but her comments at the AIA Dialogue should in no way be interpreted as those of the department.

Robyn recently returned from London after working for 8 months on sustainable transport projects. She came home via a 4 month international study tour including Paris, Amsterdam Berlin and New York.

TRANSPORT
Robyn will talk about the value of walkability and public space to real estate value using some recent international research and photos. She'll also talk briefly about new developments in sustainable transport for longer trips.

PLANNING - Marci Webster Mannison - Sustainable retrofit of an inner urban Brisbane neighbourhood

2010-03-04T19:27:00.000-08:00

Dr Marci Webster-Mannison

Senior Lecturer, Director, Centre for Sustainable Design

BDesSt Qld., BArch Canberra, PhD Qld.

COMMUNITY - Cohousing - EMMA SCRAGG

2010-03-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

Emma works with Riddel Architecture in building conservation and sustainable design projects and as a sole practitioner. She has had a passion for sustainable design and living since starting her studies at QUT, and her thesis, "Urban Ecovillages – Principles of Sustainable Design” has been a useful reference tool for many projects over the years. She has recently finished, with Riddel Architecture, a landmark sustainable home in Hill End (www.hillendeco.blogspot.com).

Emma has travelled extensively in Australia and overseas learning about sustainable buildings and communities. On last year’s cycle journey of North America from Alaska to Eugene she visited many inspiring sustainable communities, building projects and cohousing developments forms the basis of her presentation at the Sustainable Communities Dialogue and are recorded in her blog of the journey.

COMMUNITY AND COHOUSING
Community is an element of design which has not been a focus of mainstream developments over the last few decades. Houses have continued to grow in size and cost, offering more spaces dedicated to solitary activities (media rooms, parents’ retreats, studies, playrooms, ensuites). Not only does this trend reduce opportunities for interaction and sharing, our buildings have large ecological footprints.

The cohousing model has many features which encourage social interaction and richer communities whilst maintaining some level of privacy. Common facilities, gardens, ownership and the planning of cohousing developments all contribute to this.

HOUSING - Chris Walton - Currumbin Ecovillage

2010-03-02T19:56:00.000-08:00

Sustainable Housing models

Chris reckons he grew up with a “nail bag” on his belt with his hard working builder/developer family. Chris undertook tertiary business studies in Property Valuation and then worked throughout the state as a Land Inspector and Registered Property Valuer. He later was involved in a variety of private sector property roles including valuation, agency, property management and development.

14 years ago, in response to their concern about the rapid growth of poorly conceived urban developments, Chris and his wife Kerry started researching around Australia and the world to establish a model residential estate that exemplified “World’s Best Practice" in sustainable development. Their small private company, Landmatters Pty Ltd implemented The Ecovillage at Currumbin, a residential community of 144 homes, which has now won 26 local, state, federal and global awards for Industry and Government. In Amsterdam in 2008 Chris was awarded the highest honour in world real estate, the International Real Estate Prix d’Excellence for Environmental Development.

Chris’s expertise in property, his efforts in sharing sustainability and his learnings through public and industry education have earned him the inaugural Queensland State Minister/Premier’s Award for Leadership in Business Sustainability and the City of the Gold Coast’s Mayor’s Award for Environmental Achievement.

BUILDING - Steph Zannakis

2010-03-01T21:05:00.000-08:00

Social Enterprise in Construction - local West End examples of an alternative approach to construction.

Healing self/societal and human/nature relationships is central to Steph’s journey and in particular his practice of architecture. Developing an ethical practice of being in the world relative to the context of climate change, peak oil, planetary resource consumption and a meaningful lifestyle is the path Steph is seeks.

In 1993 Steph started his studies in architecture, focussing on healing and restorative dwellings which also heal the local environment. Very quickly this search evolved to include the broader perspective of culture and lifestyle alongside art and architecture. In 1996/7 and 2000/01, Stephconnected design with construction, craft, resource management, people and community through working as a carpenter.

In 2001 Steph started his own design and construct enterprise recycling building materials into architecture often constructed offsite in a workshop. Since 2004 Steph has been an active member of SPIRAL Community Hub, a community development cooperative based in West End. Designing and running construction training projects with SPIRAL, Steph works with marginalised people added another layer of understanding to the role that architecture and building has in creating community.

It is in partnership with SPIRAL, Steph is developing GreenBlack, sustainable design and construct as a social enterprise, which utilises modular construction as both a design and a construction tool, tonight’s topic of conversation.