Building Australia

Until recently, Australian architects and builders have been building designs similar to that of their counterparts all over the world. They have extensively used high performance glass with reflective coating and insulating glass in their high-rise commercial buildings and residential apartments. However, the introduction of the new building regulations is set to change the scenario drastically. Since these regulations are meant to make the buildings more energy efficient, the construction industry has to include low emissivity glass, higher performance toned glass and Solar Low E glass, etc. in their building designs.

The understanding of these new materials is very low in the industry. Regulators of the industry as well as the designers and developers have to realise the benefits of the above products, the resultant energy consumption and the potential reduction in the emissions of greenhouse gases.

In the 1990s, the Australian government initiated studies into the relatively new subject of greenhouse gas emissions of residential and commercial buildings. These studies revealed that the construction industry must become more sensitive to environment and at the same time maintain economic efficiency. Subsequently, in March 1999, the Australian government reached an agreement with the building industry regarding strategies for making the buildings of the country more energy efficient. According to the agreement, the government and the industry will support and encourage voluntary best practices in building designs and construction.

The Building Code of Australia was incorporated with a single standard for adherence to minimum performance requirements so that the worst energy performance practices followed by the industry in the name of aesthetics were totally eliminated in the phased manner. The Australian government guidelines for building designs with higher energy performance can be found in the Building Code of Australia and the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme.

The Australian Council of Built Environment Design Professionals (BEDP) (http://www.bdp.asn.au) is the summit organisation that represents more than 96,000 architects, engineers, planners, quality surveyors, landscape architects, and lighting designers in Australia. The BEDP is planning to submit a report on Future Directions to the government on the designs of the Built Environment. This report will highlight the challenges faced by the construction industry professionals in building designs. It is expected that the report will raise the possibility of achieving some relief in the hardships faced the construction industry professionals. They have been complaining about the difficulties in adhering to all the norms of the Building Code, which can be quite daunting at times.

The best place to learn everything about the latest building designs in Australia will be the Designbuild Perth Exhibition to be conducted in Perth between October 17 and October 19 this year. More than 120 exhibitors will display wide-ranging building design products like frames & structures, windows/glass & doors, kitchens & bathrooms, heating & cooling, concrete, plumbing, etc. The stress on sustainable building with the latest in the line will be at display at the Green Building Zone, which will incorporate the exclusive Ecospecifier Pavilion.