Read time: 25 minutes The residential building sector is a significant contributor to carbon footprint and climate change. This is primarily due to operational energy consumption derived from fossil fuels, and the impact of embodied carbon in ...

This note was reviewed and approved for currency by the Author in September 2018. Without the virtually free services of nature like clean air and water, humans would not last long. Natural systems can be incorporated in existing urban structures or ...

This note was reviewed and approved for currency in November 2018. There are a number of environmental rating tools for non-residential buildings in the Australian market. Some rate a project based on its design features, whereas others focus purely ...

This note was reviewed and approved for currency in August 2018.  With increasing world population, urbanization, and climatic changes impacting liveability there is a growing awareness of the urgent need for more sustainable and ecological ...

Designing for place that considers the environmental characteristics specific to the locale such as climate, topography, vistas, soils, ecology and green infrastructure. Read more - introductory note block ...

Building design and the selection of materials, appliances, equipment and technologies can all contribute to the minimisation of both operational and embodied energy, while contributing positively to a building’s rating and performance. Read more - ...

Read time: 4 minutes The careful selection of building materials and products and their use in design has the potential to reduce life-cycle environmental impacts — including resource depletion and consumption, habitat and biodiversity loss, ...

Strategies and systems for creating, implementing, managing and maintaining sustainable and regenerative outcomes. Read more - introductory note block ...

Individual built projects critically examined in terms of their actual performance against various social, economic and environmental criteria. Further resources: AIA COTE® Top Ten Awards: The COTE® Top Ten program highlights projects that meet the ...

This glossary has been reviewed and updated by the Environment Advisory Group for the 2021 edition, with the assistance and input of numerous members and external contributors. The definitions relate to built environment sustainability and are ...