Exploring synergies with innovative Green Technologies for Advanced Renovation: Redefining a Bioclimatic approach for multi residential and office buildings in warmer climates. Building energy consumption accounts for nearly 27% of all energy related greenhouse gas emissions. By 2010, emissions' from buildings is estimated to increase by 48% above 1990 levels. This projected trend is alarming given that Australia's obligation under the Kyoto Protocol is only 8% above 1990 levels. Renovation of e ....Exploring synergies with innovative Green Technologies for Advanced Renovation: Redefining a Bioclimatic approach for multi residential and office buildings in warmer climates. Building energy consumption accounts for nearly 27% of all energy related greenhouse gas emissions. By 2010, emissions' from buildings is estimated to increase by 48% above 1990 levels. This projected trend is alarming given that Australia's obligation under the Kyoto Protocol is only 8% above 1990 levels. Renovation of existing buildings is necessary to achieve this target. Research will address this problem by providing principles, strategies and solutions demostrating improvement of environmental performance and cost benefits. The application of new principles will assist with transforming the building industry to meet Kyoto targets.Read moreRead less
Towards a Quality of Life Model for Sustainable Housing in South East Queensland. Current reports, on Quality of Life in South East Queensland and the Queensland Governments State of the Environment demonstrate a paradox, - high quality of life but also increasing environmental impact. How to address this paradox is a major research question addressed in this project. Through examining examples of best practice sustainable housing it is possible to address this question. The key factors of quali ....Towards a Quality of Life Model for Sustainable Housing in South East Queensland. Current reports, on Quality of Life in South East Queensland and the Queensland Governments State of the Environment demonstrate a paradox, - high quality of life but also increasing environmental impact. How to address this paradox is a major research question addressed in this project. Through examining examples of best practice sustainable housing it is possible to address this question. The key factors of quality of life will be identified for housing, which will assist policy makers plan for a sustainable future. Read moreRead less
Integrated Autonomous Housing for Remote Australian Communities: Analysis, Synthesis and Testing. At remote mining communities, little consideration is given to comfort or energy efficiency in housing - services have not been optimised to minimise greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and solid waste. This project will address these environmental issues and the associated social problems by combining the resources of BHP Billiton and the University of Newcastle to develop a model for remot ....Integrated Autonomous Housing for Remote Australian Communities: Analysis, Synthesis and Testing. At remote mining communities, little consideration is given to comfort or energy efficiency in housing - services have not been optimised to minimise greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and solid waste. This project will address these environmental issues and the associated social problems by combining the resources of BHP Billiton and the University of Newcastle to develop a model for remote housing. The project aims to design and test an integrated low impact or autonomous transportable house. The results of this research are applicable to remote defence sites, small rural townships and Aboriginal communities as well as for international export.Read moreRead less
Improving thermal performance of low-cost houses for better health of occupants and to reduce costs of temperature control. Recent projects in rural and remote Australian Indigenous communities show that internal house temperatures can vary from accepted temperature ranges that promote well-being, particularly in young children, by up to 20ºC in both summer and winter.
Low-cost housing with poor thermal performance often results in reliance on 'active', often costly-to-run, heating and cooli ....Improving thermal performance of low-cost houses for better health of occupants and to reduce costs of temperature control. Recent projects in rural and remote Australian Indigenous communities show that internal house temperatures can vary from accepted temperature ranges that promote well-being, particularly in young children, by up to 20ºC in both summer and winter.
Low-cost housing with poor thermal performance often results in reliance on 'active', often costly-to-run, heating and cooling appliances.
Measured internal temperatures, energy and water-use data from Indigenous houses will be analysed to demonstrate the link between low-cost house design and poor thermal performance. A methodology and prioritised guidelines for improving temperature control in existing and new low-cost housing will be formulated.
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The Ageing of Aquarius: Designing new housing solutions for Australia's baby-boomers. The economically most powerful demographic group in Australian society is the relatively wealthy baby-boomer cohort as it enters a period of unprecedented and extended retirement activity. This period will create unique housing demands and require new insights into the nature of dwelling provision and preferences for this group. The housing industry is historically hampered by an inability to innovate and prov ....The Ageing of Aquarius: Designing new housing solutions for Australia's baby-boomers. The economically most powerful demographic group in Australian society is the relatively wealthy baby-boomer cohort as it enters a period of unprecedented and extended retirement activity. This period will create unique housing demands and require new insights into the nature of dwelling provision and preferences for this group. The housing industry is historically hampered by an inability to innovate and provide these types of solutions. This research will establish design-based methodologies and practices that would enable industry to discern and provide for the future housing needs of this group, and contribute to the development of innovation in the industry generally.Read moreRead less
The character of urban intensification: Protecting and Creating Place Identity in Activity Centres. This project will contribute to the improved environmental and social sustainability of Australian cities and to an enhanced sense of place and community. It will raise awareness and understanding of social factors associated with urban change and provide theoretical and practical tools to facilitate more effective policy development, urban regulation and urban design. Although based in Melbourne, ....The character of urban intensification: Protecting and Creating Place Identity in Activity Centres. This project will contribute to the improved environmental and social sustainability of Australian cities and to an enhanced sense of place and community. It will raise awareness and understanding of social factors associated with urban change and provide theoretical and practical tools to facilitate more effective policy development, urban regulation and urban design. Although based in Melbourne, the methodology and findings can be applied to other Australian cities and internationally. Read moreRead less
Planning for Socially Sustainable Urban Renewal in Suburban Sydney. This project will address the emerging issue of socially sustainable higher density residential renewal in suburban areas of Australian cities, with a specific focus on the post-war middle and western suburbs of Sydney. Within the context of new state strategic planning proposals, the research will explore the process of urban renewal in these areas, establish their capacity to deliver higher residential densities and assess th ....Planning for Socially Sustainable Urban Renewal in Suburban Sydney. This project will address the emerging issue of socially sustainable higher density residential renewal in suburban areas of Australian cities, with a specific focus on the post-war middle and western suburbs of Sydney. Within the context of new state strategic planning proposals, the research will explore the process of urban renewal in these areas, establish their capacity to deliver higher residential densities and assess the likely social and urban design outcomes. It will then develop new urban planing policy options that are likely to optimise socially sustainable outcomes at the local scale, working closely with local Council officers and the NSW Department of Housing in a number of study areas.Read moreRead less
Lifetime Affordable Housing in Australia: Integrating environmental performance and affordability. Existing dwellings and the locations of suburban housing with respect to employment centres result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Water and other environmental issues are also important in housing performance, and there is currently a perceived trade-off between these factors and the affordability of housing. For the first time in Australia, this study will focus on overcoming this appare ....Lifetime Affordable Housing in Australia: Integrating environmental performance and affordability. Existing dwellings and the locations of suburban housing with respect to employment centres result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Water and other environmental issues are also important in housing performance, and there is currently a perceived trade-off between these factors and the affordability of housing. For the first time in Australia, this study will focus on overcoming this apparent policy dilemma. The research will inform future housing policy in strengthening Australia's economic and social fabric, while contributing towards Australia's National Research Priority 1 'Environmentally Sustainable Australia'. Outcomes will provide significant national economic, social, water use and greenhouse gas benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Finding new economic drivers for Sea Change (coastal) and similar rapidly growing communities. This project is of major benefit to developing more environmentally sensitive but diverse economies for coastal communities. Coastal communities are commuter or tourism dominated, each of these issues generate both current and future liabilities for the communities and the nation.
Transnational and temporary: place-making, students and community in central Melbourne. Fostering a community in a place is place-making. When many residents are temporary and new arrivals, like tertiary students in central Melbourne, place-making acknowledging current and past residents is complex. This project will develop an innovative place-making strategy in central Melbourne, centred on enhancing the public-private interactions residents have in built spaces and social relations. For tempo ....Transnational and temporary: place-making, students and community in central Melbourne. Fostering a community in a place is place-making. When many residents are temporary and new arrivals, like tertiary students in central Melbourne, place-making acknowledging current and past residents is complex. This project will develop an innovative place-making strategy in central Melbourne, centred on enhancing the public-private interactions residents have in built spaces and social relations. For temporary residents, public-private interactions have greater significance than for long-term residents more settled in their networks of belonging. Outcomes will be: new policy frameworks of institutional partnerships, building morphology and public space design; workshops with stakeholders; and articles in scholarly journals.Read moreRead less