Posted 27 November 2015 - 7:13pm
Research, business and industry collaborations are helping Australia take strong strides and positive action towards a low carbon future whilst supporting the Australian emission reductions required to meet projected COP21 targets said CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) Chair, The Hon Robert Hill AC on the final day of the CRCLCL Participants Annual Forum in Sydney today.
“On the eve of COP21 in Paris where Australian government, interested groups and business will meet to discuss action on climate change, we believe the CRCLCL is on track to deliver its 10Mt carbon reduction target. This is a significant contribution to Australia’s overall goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 26–28 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030,” he said.
“To meet Australia’s COP21 low carbon target a large proportion of the reduction must come from improvements in the built environment such as changes to building practices that result in lower carbon cities. We represent the broadest community of researchers in Australia that through our 74 projects to date are significantly contributing to developing the tools and knowledge required to enable industry to deliver on lower carbon options.
“This work includes developing low carbon building products, new design tools for precincts and the community engagement research required to discover what is necessary to change community behaviours, where communities become the drivers of change rather than just the responders to government requirements,” said Mr Hill.
In 1997, when Environment Minister, Mr Hill was leader of Australia’s delegation at Kyoto. Many considered this agreement to be the first step in the ongoing process to stem the climate change threat.
CRCLCL CEO, Scientia Professor Deo Prasad AO said the expertise offered by CRCLCL participants was of great value to Australia covering the range of low carbon activities – from next generation technologies, design planning and policy innovations, while creating momentum for change in the community.
“The CRCLCL is working with industry to improve Australia’s competitiveness in the low carbon global innovations market. Our participants have knowledge in a variety of areas from how to create a zero carbon home through to how to monitor energy efficiencies in the residential and commercial sectors,” he said.
“This year for example, the Josh’s House project showed we can create homes that are energy self-sufficient and can add power to the grid, instead of take from it. This is just a snapshot of what future housing design and regulation can be about and where we should be heading.
“A new project announced at the forum and about to commence, will take the Josh’s House successes and apply them to a precinct which will be monitored by the minute and occupants surveyed providing extremely valuable information on how to create zero carbon suburbs and ultimately cities.
“Our social engagement projects are also linking up researchers with the community to find out how people view low carbon living and give advice on what steps can be taken to make this a reality. On another level we are also finding out how we use power and what can be done to reduce consumption both residentially and industrially,” said Professor Prasad.
The first day of the Participants Forum focussed on how different levels of government can utilise low carbon technologies and tools to reduce emissions in the built environment, with presentations on key projects that provide this support. In the morning attendees heard from representatives of City of Melbourne, Fremantle City Council and Waverley Council about their vision for carbon neutrality and the great work being done at a local level to realise a more sustainable future. The afternoon featured a keynote speech from The Hon Ian Hunter MLC, South Australian Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation who talked about the recent announcement to take South Australia to zero carbon emission targets by 2050 for the state plus the challenges and opportunities this presents.
Today, the final day, attendees heard from John Alexander OAM MP, who spoke on behalf of the first Minister for Cities and the Built Environment, The Hon Jamie Briggs, MP. Following was international speaker Professor Nicole Woolsey Biggart, Research Professor and Dean Emerita of Management, University of California Davis. Professor Biggart provided insights into their research into low carbon buildings and cities plus examples of how working with business can break down barriers to energy efficiencies and create opportunities to utilise the University’s research and innovation.
“We have worked with a dream team of business leaders and innovators like Walmart and Microsoft to develop technologies not just for their own use, saving energy and dollars but also for the general market. Microsoft and UC Davis have in turn developed patent technology to facilitate data sharing, which is key for our energy efficient future,” said Professor Biggart.
The CRLCL’s research projects cover three areas: integrated building systems, low carbon precincts and engaged communities. The results of these projects are increasingly being taken up by industry and government partners, leading to better policy outcomes and a more competitive Australian industry.
