How can we design eco friendly homes if they are powered by dirty energy, and are potentially undermined or overcome by toxic emissions? We can design the home, it can be eco friendly,

The Climate Council have just published a report card on Australia’s performance in policy and investment in renewable and solar energy (RE), which factors into building design. It’s a fascinating read, although not

“Don’t vote – it only encourages them” is the typically irreverent and slightly anarchic joke about politicians. People are often heard to say, “I have no interest in politics.” The problem is, politics

LJ Hooker has made a change that will revolutionise the way real estate is bought and sold in Australia. Finally, there is a mechanism for agents to recognise, understand, and value a home’s

Last week, we attended the national conference of Building Designers Australia, on the shores of Lake Macquarie, NSW. It was labelled the ECOnomical conference, and there were some really outstanding presentations. I will

Travel broadens the mind – and help makes good architecture They say travel broadens the mind, and it is undeniably true. They also say that a change is as good as a holiday,

A new take on the eco-village idea is on the scene at Kew, just south of Port Macquarie NSW. Like all eco-villages, it looks after its own resources, and makes great use of

We are edging ever nearer to the goal of total renewable power in Australia. The ACT is installing Australia’s largest solar farm (ironically supplied by a Spanish firm!) which will move it closer

Envirotecture is really pleased to have received two awards on Friday 31 August, at the Building Designers Australia NSW Chapter Design Awards. Two separate projects received design awards from two major manufacturers, recognising

Never mind the cynics: “oh it can’t make power after dark” or “what about when the sun’s not shining?” Solar power really is the answer to human race’s long term energy needs. Enough

As we slide from the wet of a La Niña into what will probably be another El Nino year ahead, the eastern half of the continent will dry out again. Already Sydney has

No Baillieu backflip into stupidity STOP PRESS: PREMIER BAILLIEU DENIES PLANS TO DUMP 6 STAR GREEN RATINGS FOR VICTORIAN HOMES This is an amendment to the previous post, below. “The six-star ratings will

The design and construction industry was given a preview of proposed upgrades to the BASIX sustainability regulations this week. The changes look good on the whole, and are long overdue, bringing something like

…but it’s worth reading. We are often asked about the carbon tax and its expected affects on what we build, and how we build. While there are some unknowns at the fine level

Sick of the shock-jocks and deniers being the source of your ‘information’ on climate change? Want to get your information on climate change first hand? Try these links… GENERAL INTRO: http://www.skepticalscience.com/ – a

Once again the solar energy industry has been kicked about the head like a political football. NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell’s retrospective unilateral reduction of the gross feed in tariff for rooftop PV systems

I have just had a very profoundly moving moment. And it was on the internet… who would have thought? It has been an argumentative time in Australia this lat year or so. Working

Seargent Schulz has a lot to answer for… I just returned from a long weekend in and around the Macquarie Marshes, in northern NSW. These are unique in the world, in that the

Envirotecture – and our building designer Tracy Graham in particular – picked up a BDA NSW Design Award last Friday evening, for a growing fleet of public facilities across Fairfield City Council’s jurisdiction.