Business Sustainability in the Building and Construction Industry

Presentation Prepared for Environment Australia

Cert IV in Business Sustainability Assessment

Prepared by Jessica Osborne wwwjoshdevelopcomau

There are a number of unsustainable activities in the Building and Construction Industry namely

bull Tree Clearing

bull Product Solutions amp Design

bull Council Costs Inflation with no end game

bull New Land Estate Design

The industry talks of lsquosustainabilityrsquo as a dirty word either as a fear based objective or simply as an unknown

The lack of knowledge and information is preventing the industry from moving forward While there are examples of excellent initiatives the industry still has a long way to go

Building amp Construction Industry

Builders amp Developers tend to think in smaller terms

What is the best way to

make a profit

An enormous amount of tree clearing occurs in designing a new land estate By clicking the news article picture you can see while EPA goes to an extent of protecting the established ecosystems big business always seems to win over It is the responsibility of the new generation of developers to consider ways to integrate and enhance environmental considerations It is of great wonder when standing in a cleared land space grasping the enormity of what has just occurred and why we have not yet come up with other solutions or initiatives

Without first understanding what buyers want rather designing a home with profit in mind often creates wasted space which in turn puts pressure on wasted product Clever design can help to minimise waste

FOR EXAMPLE

There are a number of unsustainable activities in the Building and Construction Industry namely

bull Tree Clearing

bull Product Solutions amp Design

bull Council Costs Inflation with no end game

bull New Land Estate Design

The industry talks of lsquosustainabilityrsquo as a dirty word either as a fear based objective or simply as an unknown

The lack of knowledge and information is preventing the industry from moving forward While there are examples of excellent initiatives the industry still has a long way to go

Building amp Construction Industry

Builders amp Developers tend to think in smaller terms

What is the best way to

make a profit

An enormous amount of tree clearing occurs in designing a new land estate By clicking the news article picture you can see while EPA goes to an extent of protecting the established ecosystems big business always seems to win over It is the responsibility of the new generation of developers to consider ways to integrate and enhance environmental considerations It is of great wonder when standing in a cleared land space grasping the enormity of what has just occurred and why we have not yet come up with other solutions or initiatives

Without first understanding what buyers want rather designing a home with profit in mind often creates wasted space which in turn puts pressure on wasted product Clever design can help to minimise waste

FOR EXAMPLE

Builders amp Developers tend to think in smaller terms

What is the best way to

make a profit

An enormous amount of tree clearing occurs in designing a new land estate By clicking the news article picture you can see while EPA goes to an extent of protecting the established ecosystems big business always seems to win over It is the responsibility of the new generation of developers to consider ways to integrate and enhance environmental considerations It is of great wonder when standing in a cleared land space grasping the enormity of what has just occurred and why we have not yet come up with other solutions or initiatives

Without first understanding what buyers want rather designing a home with profit in mind often creates wasted space which in turn puts pressure on wasted product Clever design can help to minimise waste

FOR EXAMPLE

Councils impact by using the building and construction industry as a fundraising activity The inflationary costs of tax and contributions in a land development gives no incentive for a developer to think outside the box Council requirements continue to put emphasis on lsquocostrsquo as a development tool rather than innovative solutions to reduce costs and enhance innovative development Only up until recently for example councils and developers would not approve a design of a home if it did not meet a set of aesthetics (ie gabled or skillion roof dark coloured paint etc) It was on the introduction of the Building and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2009 that allows a home to be built within reason as a function for sustainable design rather than aesthetics While it is developers social responsibility to continue to revolutionise the current playing fields it is also the Councils role to foster this and support innovation Current climates would suggest somewhat of a stand off between both parties in this regard

Legislation

bull Building and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 - The ldquoban the bannersrdquo policy aims to stop bodies corporate and developers from restricting the use of sustainable building elements and features

bull Sustainable Planning Act 2009 ndash managing the effects of development on the environment and ensuring delivers sustainable outcomes

bull Environmental Protection Act 1994 - protect Queenslandrsquos environment while allowing for development that improves the total quality of life both now and in the future in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends (ecologically sustainable development)

bull Building Act 1975 ndash regulates building development approvals water catchment sustainable functions

Builder Best Practice Initiative Developer Best Practice Initiative

All homes within The Ecovillage include complete water autonomy and energy self-sufficiency Smart design and top energy rating assist the homes to be comforable all year round with low environmental impact The estate has grid connected solar power edible landscapes permaculture waste minimisation and recycling (click picture to link)

InsulLiving was conceived and constructed as the next phase in the journey towards zero energy housing A revolutionary building system builds 34 faster reduces trades and materials simplifies design and construction improves energy efficiencies and savings (click picture to Link)

Moving Forward - While most builders are lsquostuck in their waysrsquo there are a

chosen few who are pioneering new technologies as shown on last slide This must continue

- Councils should see the benefit in treating each development as a closed loop system giving back contribution costs to the developer who is now responsible for these aspects (ie parks water sewerage amp electricity)

- Environmental Responsibility means taking the dollar figure out of the equation Design land estates to incorporate the existing environment rather than see it as an objection

- Any environmental feature withdrawn such as tree clearing must be replaced in other areas If 6000 trees are knocked down then they must be replanted and replenished elsewhere

Benefits amp Barriers - Builders may experience trial and error phases in finding new building systems that work In order to support new productstechnologies government funding needs to open up and recognise lsquobuilding constructionrsquo to promote the transformation of priority Industries - In doing so the cost of building goes down and we increase our economical future Home Buyer activity will flourish and perhaps the housing sector lsquocorrectionrsquo lies in lowering build cost with new tech rather than lsquovaluationrsquo - Government departments are over compartmentalised and moving forward tends to happen at a snails pace In order for it move quicker the sooner they can let go of financial realisation and pass this responsibility on to the developer the developer is then forced to enact efficient methodology or closed loop systems Councilrsquos role then inherits back to a local level enhancing knowledge and initiatives to communities leveraging through these new systems

Benefits amp Barriers - Builders may experience trial and error phases in finding new building systems that work In order to support new productstechnologies government funding needs to open up and recognise lsquobuilding constructionrsquo to promote the transformation of priority Industries - In doing so the cost of building goes down and we increase our economical future Home Buyer activity will flourish and perhaps the housing sector lsquocorrectionrsquo lies in lowering build cost with new tech rather than lsquovaluationrsquo - Government departments are over compartmentalised and moving forward tends to happen at a snails pace In order for it move quicker the sooner they can let go of financial realisation and pass this responsibility on to the developer the developer is then forced to enact efficient methodology or closed loop systems Councilrsquos role then inherits back to a local level enhancing knowledge and initiatives to communities leveraging through these new systems

Improving Environmental Outcomes While we find a lacklustre of initiatives

within the land development industry and

recent council reports that infrastructure

subsidy will no longer be available after

(any extensions or) Dec 2011 implementation

of sustainable features on new and existing buildings still flourish with incentives such as

- Feed in tariff on PV up to 44c per KW for PV systems up to 5KW

- Free native plants to households and community groups

- Consideration of sustainable housing projects in Queensland

In Summary With the increased noise on being green continues sifting out the junk is not a task for the faint hearted

Numerous schemes and programs are currently available through local and state councils however a shift in focus is required Reminding governments that an ecological sustainable development is not the way in which an economic paper is handed down from one to another At some point natural environmental processes need to be enhanced both for stability in the market place and to protect our future

Control mechanisms are currently focused through financial gains Letrsquos dilute this focus and encompass

- environmental abilities through technologies that give back

- educate builders amp support next generation of builders to create sustainable homes and

- fund and recognise trial and error processes both for builders and developers

The environment will actually support this process if we work with it not against it