Construction
New research from UNSW Sydney shows greenery coverage on rooftops can help cool down a major city while reducing energy demand. Extensive greenery coverage on building rooftops could significantly reduce temperatures at the city scale and decrease energy costs, according to a new study. The research, led by Indira Adilkhanova and Professor Geun Young Yun from Kyung Hee University and co-authored by UNSW Sydney Scientia Professor Mattheos (Mat) Santamouris, found that green roofs could cool South Korea’s capital city by around one degree Celsius during summer and slash the energy demand associated with cooling by almost 8 per cent under maximum…
MPA NSW issues warning about unsafe heat pumps
The Master Plumbers Association (MPA) of New South Wales has issued a statement urging quick action to rectify the allocation of government grants for heat pumps. The New South Wales state government and the Australian federal government have approved grants for inferior heat pump models. MPA CEO Nathaniel Smith said: “These inferior overseas models, heavily promoted through social media platforms at suspiciously low prices under $100, have raised red flags. “It has come to our attention that these inferior units are sourced in bulk from overseas by organisations that may exhibit phoenix-like characteristics, stirring memories of past debacles.” Expressing deep…
Cement industry partnership to speed up low carbon goal
A historic agreement to hasten the global cement industry's decarbonisation has been signed by two major bodies of the industry. China Cement Association (CCA), which represents more than 50 per cent of the world’s cement production and the Global Cement and Concrete Association, whose members account for 80 per cent of cement production capacity outside of China, have signed a historic partnership pledge. The pledge includes an agreement to work together on sustainability, and the low-carbon development of the cement and concrete industry. Concrete is the world’s most used material on earth after water, and cement is the key binding…
Queensland misses out on funding to improve energy efficiency
New analysis shows Queensland is the only eastern Australian state that has yet to receive federal funding to improve the energy efficiency of social housing, prompting calls from researchers and community groups for immediate action. So far the Federal Government has partnered with Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and the ACT to fund schemes under the Household Energy Upgrades Fund that will increase the energy efficiency of social housing and help tenants access rooftop solar to reduce their electricity bills. Griffith University Professor Susan Harris Rimmer said: “Many Queensland tenants are living in unhealthy energy inefficient homes that get unbearably…
Study finds construction materials can cool one of the world’s hottest cities
A new study by UNSW Sydney reveals that it is possible to significantly reduce the temperatures of a major city in a hot desert climate — while lowering energy costs. Researchers discovered that a combination of cooling construction materials, technologies and techniques could reduce the temperature and energy needs of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The findings recently published in Nature Cities, detail a multi-faceted strategy to cool Saudi Arabia’s capital city by up to 4.5 degrees Celsius combining highly reflective ‘super cool’ building materials developed by the High-Performance Architecture Lab with irrigated greenery and energy retrofitting measures. Conducted in collaboration with the…
Sustainability a major growth opportunity in construction sector
A recent study has highlighted the top growth opportunities for the building construction market in 2024, with solutions driving a sustainable future one of the biggest markets necessitating progression. A major theme of the report by ResearchAndMarkets is the focus the construction sector is placing on improving sustainability performance, which includes green buildings, buildings with a low carbon footprint, and green construction practices. Sustainability will become part of market participants' business resilience and key performance indicators (KPIs). Therefore, market participants will need to invest in technologies, including digital applications, to support sustainable construction processes and partner with relevant industry leaders…
Grants totalling $175 million to reduce emissions in NSW
According to Rewiring Australia, a recently announced household electrification program will reduce energy bills for low-income households in New South Wales while tackling the climate crisis. More than 24,000 social housing tenants will receive grants for upgrades including solar PV, hot water systems, ceiling fans, reverse-cycle air conditioners, insulation and draught proofing. The grants worth a total of $175 million over four years will be jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth governments. Rewiring Australia Executive Director Dan Cass has expressed that Rewiring Australia was delighted that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns had taken up their policy…