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Commentary
Think Brick Australia recently attended and presented at two conferences: The RMIT Green Building Conference 2009 and the Australian Building Codes Board “Building Australia’s Future” Conference. It was interesting to note that despite agendas that were ultimately geared toward new buildings and their sustainability, the audience was more interested to CONTINUE READING
A recent article by architect Tone Wheeler argues that buildings built slowly – according to the three L’s of Long life, Loose fit and Low impact – produce the greenest outcomes.
Fundamentally, I agree!
Putting aside the current disconnect in the market place between the desire for companies to promote their product CONTINUE READING
The Australian Building Codes Board recently released the draft provisions for BCA 2010 which, as previously discussed, was interesting for the position they took on the cost of greenhouse gas to the community as opposed to the community. Another interesting point that has emerged is who should pay for cost CONTINUE READING
A recent Newspoll survey of 1700 people shows a disturbing trend: 59% Australians believe that to make a house comfortable the #1 solution is air conditioning. Not only is the expensive to buy and install, but it means that Australians have large, on-going cooling (and heating) running costs (and let’s CONTINUE READING
Recently Think Brick Australia conducted a small study to compare how the 2nd generation thermal modelling software programs AccuRate (developed by the CSIRO) and BERSPro (developed by Solar Logic Pty Ltd) rated various walling constructions in Australia’s capital cities.
The purpose of the research was to better understand how different walling CONTINUE READING
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and in this case, Think Brick Australia is sincerely flattered, but even more excited!
Potomac Valley Brick, A brick company from the East Coast of the United States, recently announced an international design competition to rethink brick. In the same vein as CONTINUE READING
The past 6 weeks in Australia have been terrible; in Northern NSW and Queesland there have been disatourous floods while in Victoria there have been devasting fires: the worst in living memory.
On top of this, we have the Global Financial Crisis that has had its greatest impact in Australia over CONTINUE READING
‘Energy Efficiency’ has almost become synonymous with the Global Financial Crisis thanks largetly to the Rudd Government’s second stimulus package where it will provide rebates for 2.7 million homes to receive free ceiling insulation and increased rebated for landlords and investors.
There are a couple of reasons why the Government has CONTINUE READING
Energy efficiency – especially when sales are struggling and there is a greater focus on cost cutting – is a key area of opportunity for businesses and households alike because it saves money. (And is definitely a motive behind the Federal Government offering free ceiling insulation to 2.7 million homes CONTINUE READING
To many people, this question seems like a no-brainer: either you would build such a house because of the market advantage it provides, or alternatively, you wouldn’t build it because the extra costs reduce your competitiveness in the market.
Actually, I don’t think it’s either of these ‘no-brainer’ answers. Instead, I CONTINUE READING