GREX now GreenTECH

Thank you to everyone who made GREX 07 a great success and we hope to see you all again at Green TECH 08. Please review our website for more details http//www.greentechshow.com.au

Eco House of the
Future Competition 2008

Students vs Designers, Green Builders and Eco Architects

Eco House of the Future Competition is a special feature of Green TECH Australia and is the sole initiative of Mick Turner the Green TECH Show Founder . The inspiration for this design competition came from the House of the Future Exhibition held at Sydney Olympic Park http://www.housesofthefuture.com.au

The Challenge: Design a ecologically sustainable home for your own city, town or rural location, wherever it is, whatever the environment, climate or society.

Overview: A great majority of Australians live in homes that work against the climate, rather than with it.

These houses are energy inefficient, too cold or too hot and comparatively expensive to run. Similarly, most homes use far more water than necessary, and are made of materials that can damage your health and the environment. Building a home using good design principles can save energy, water and money, while creating a more enjoyable and comfortable home. The cost of implementing good design ranges from a net saving through to a significant up-front investment that will be repaid throughout the life of the home but increase its value in the future.

Australian households on average produce more than 15 tonnes of greenhouse gas per home each year. Our 7 million households produce over 105 million tonnes annually, which contributes over 20 percent of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are produced from activities such as heating, cooling, cooking, lighting, driving the car, running appliances and rubbish disposal. Additional emissions are created in the building and furnishing of our homes.The 'embodied energy' or energy used to create materials generates greenhouse gases.

These emissions are contributing toward global climate change. Global climate change manifests as an increasing frequency of extreme weather events (storms, drought) leading to higher living costs, including insurance premiums.

Other impacts of ill considered building design are the loss of community, reduced natural habitat, increased water pollution and continuing soil erosion. Good design can help you contribute to a healthier, safer and more environmentally conscious society, while saving you money.

Source: Your Home Technical Guide
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs00.htm

Eco House of the
Future Joint Winners 2007

Kevin Starling - The ‘Convertible Building’ is intended primarily as an ‘alternative’ dwelling for remote rural and coastal locations and incorporates a strong focus on sustainability.

Factors such as durability, affordability, embodied energy, security, storm & fire resistance as well as the ability to flat pack (or semi - prefabricate) have all been considered. The ‘prototype’ double storey dwelling is under construction in Newbury - Rural Victoria which is located approximately one hour from Melbourne and includes a workshop / studio on the lower floor. Presently the steel building framework is being erected and trialling of various construction methods underway in order to establish the easiest and most economical option/s.

The modular design principle of the ‘Convertible Building’ provides great flexibility with the size and internal layout as the internal walls are all non-load bearing and the construction system is simple to erect, extend and even dismantle if required, with relatively unskilled labour. The design incorporates an effective and economical way of securing the building from nature’s elements without compromising the liveability also making it suitable for crisis housing in remote locations. An alternative single storey three bedroom urban concept incorporating similar construction methods is presently being developed in response to the need for more affordable housing solutions.

Peter Hickson - This prototype house was built in late ‘06 as a low cost sustainable solution to housing needs of Gingoog City, Mindanao the Philippines. It could be considered the “House of the Future” for Gingoog City and other similar places.

It is locally inspired and uses a tropical designed, attic style that combines bamboo reinforced cob earth with as much locally available indigenous materials as possible.

The house was designed and built by Peter Hickson, Australian Business Volunteer Advisor with the help of 10 local trainees. Peter is a Green Builder, from South Coast NSW, who specialises in earth building. The home would stand out in Australia for its tiny size, tiny budget and tiny footprint both physical and ecological. Its impact in Gingoog could be great but its importance here at GREX is for its use of appropriate, sustainable and renewable technology and its relevance as a reminder of how little we really need to be happy. This is a dream home for the 10 Filipino trainees who built it.

Supporters Showcase:
SRD ChangeX 08 returns to GreenTECH

Responsible Design inspiration...

Since the industrial revolution we have become architects of our own future to an astounding degree. Our stunning technological achievements have been mirrored by many undesirable environmental changes and repercussions of which we are now beginning to discover the full consequences.

It has been shown that most of these issues relate to bad habits and practices rather than things we cannot change. It would then seem pretty counter-productive if we don’t pursue better thinking, habits and best practice as a global imperative. But exactly what are these? Many are not yet fully defined and require significant research and development to confirm appropriate habits and practice to be utilised now to secure our future. Collectively, advances or new knowledge in these areas especially relating to economic, environmental and social equity, are now often referred to as sustainable or Responsible Design. Quite simply, a lot of small changes and improvements, when applied together and in a continuous stream, can add up to significant change. If you think about it as a form of balance or lack of it, isn’t that how we “ran off the rails” in the first place? We can do better... 

The Society for Responsible Design Inc. (SRD) is a not-for-profit REO (Registered Environmental Organisation) that, since 1989, has continued to promote thinking and practice that collectively can create real change for the better. Our main annual project to advance discussion and education in this area is now in its fourth successful year. 
SRD ChangeX 2007 :: graduate sustainable design exhibition: Final year projects from across Sydney’s top Universities that feature Responsible Design. Concepts and ideas to inspire and challenge convention. Highlighting sustainable architecture, water efficient products and planning for change teamed with ideas in fashion, communication, interiors, shopping, landscapes and more. This collection confirms higher education as an integral element to enabling change. It is also an opportunity to reflect upon how much Responsible Design could contribute towards tangible solutions globally.

We’re excited that for the first time, we’ll have our full show at Green TECH 08.

> Click here to review last year’s entries here

SRD ChangeX07 wins...
Well our Rachael Cassar did!

Australian "Green" Design Wins Italian Fashion Award from International Field of 600 in Gorizia, Italy.

Rachael Cassar collects 10,000 Euro plus software + training as winner of the 15th Mittelmoda International Award for Emerging Talent.

Rachel's work is all in black - highly theatrical, very textured and layered with elegance and sex appeal. High-end fashion as one-off pieces with around 90% recycled materials and the results are quite stunning. In 2006 Rachael Cassar graduated University of Technology Sydney (UTS) B.Des Fashion & Textiles.

In launching her career, Rachael's winning collection was first selected by SRD's ChangeX07 exhibition in June at Australian Technology Park, Sydney. Rachael's designs, displaying a fusion of style and greener ideas have now been confirmed as a new fashion direction all created around the concept of sustainability. See: http://www.mittelmoda.com.

Commenting on the award, Greg Campbell, manager of SRD ChangeX07: "The response to Rachel's work at our exhibition was terrific receiving great media attention and comment from those attending. We're glad we were able to assist promotion of her ideas in this way and delighted that she has received this much deserved acknowledgment of her talent in Italy. With several of our exhibitors now achieving awards and much interest SRD ChangeX is certainly showing to be a good greener ideas incubator."

Now Rachael has returned, get her story direct by e-mailing rachael@rachaelcassar.com or visiting http://www.rachaelcassar.com (PR by Geissler Communications: Marie Geissler T: 02 9380 5510).

A Delicate Balance

Nominated as the best 'unreleased' movie by the Australian Film Critics Association Awards, A Delicate Balance - The Truth is a new and inspiring documentary that will leave you with a clear picture of how our health and our environment are so closely linked.

Visit http://www.adelicatebalance.com.au/

> Click here to watch the trailer A Delicate Balance - The Truth

Contact us

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