This note was reviewed in September 2018 and retained for legacy. This note, originally published in November 1996, was reviewed by Harry Partridge in November 2001 and republished in November 2003. Straw bale construction has achieved considerable ...

This note, originally published in 1997, was reviewed by John Gelder in October 2002. This Note reviews a number of issues which arise out of consideration of the natural environment and human health, and which affect the content of National Master ...

Bushfire has long been a part of Australian landscape ecology and mythology, but climate change is now driving an increase in fire emergencies and a greater regulatory response. There are new levels of bushfire frequency, severity and ...

Transit oriented development is a way of redeveloping a city to reduce car dependence.  This paper outlines its basic tenets by examining four strategic policy questions: why we need centres throughout the city and of what kind of density and mix; ...

The principles of erosion and sediment control are said to be at the cutting edge of common sense.  These principles have been around for decades, but in many areas current practices fall well short of the proper application of these common sense ...

This note was reviewed by co-author as approved to retain for legacy in October 2018. There is now widespread recognition among government and industry that environmental impacts are best avoided rather than treated. In relation to waste ...

This paper summarises a study that looked at the factors that influence both energy and water efficiency for commercial office buildings. Using NABERS ratings for both of these, comparisons were made of various grades of buildings, with the ...

Read time: 11 minutes Welcome to the Jungle House (WTTJH) is a home designed to fit within the existing building’s reconstructed masonry fabric and is an archetypal model of future sustainable carbon neutral living. It is located on a 98sqm ...

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 ...

Wood products are a staple of the construction sector, and are important in delivering environmentally preferable projects. However the sustainability of many wood products remains difficult to assess.  This note overviews key issues and considers ...