Proponents of energy efficiency and sustainability in the built environment have always understood the importance of the facade as a key element for a building to achieve these aims.  In recent times the multiple roles played by the facade in ...

This note was reviewed and approved for currency by the authors in September 2018. This note is directed to one major aspect of the comfort of building occupants – namely, thermal comfort. Even though it may be difficult to isolate thermal ...

This case study looks at the passive heating design principles adopted in a Tasmanian House, discusses the designers consideration of the interplay between solar aperture, insulation and thermal mass, and analyses the thermal performance for a week ...

This note, originally published in August 2000, was reviewed by Dr Graham Treloar in June 2005. This summary page includes recent updates to the topic since publication. This Note considers the embodied energy of building materials in the context of ...

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 ...

‘Lighting’ is good lighting when it provides adequate illuminance to enable a task to be performed efficiently, is perceived as comfortable, and people have a high level of satisfaction.  Good lighting design is not simply about achieving a required ...

This note provides building design professionals and other green-building stakeholders with an overview of the complex interrelationships which must be managed if green buildings are to deliver improved human productivity.  The note gives a brief ...

This note was reviewed and approved by the Author in September 2018. Filter House design was developed as an entry to the Broome Sustainable Housing Competition, organised by the Western Australian Department of Housing and Works.  The competition ...

The 811 square metre site had been owned by the Mathews family since the early 1970’s, and was used as a car park by nearby businesses up until construction commenced in 2002. In 1998 several family members (including this author) formed a company, ...

Although sustaining biodiversity features in the environment policies of BDP members, few EDG notes have addressed the issue directly, yet buildings and associated structures can have a very direct impact on wildlife. Birds are perhaps the best ...