sustainability in all places
5 Star renovations 
The page you need to know if you’re practising in Victoria, as everything changed on May 1st.
Architects for Peace
Architects for Peace is an independent multidisciplinary forum of planners, architects, urban designers, landscape architects, engineers, environmentalists and artists working in the public domain, seeking sustainable urban development based on social justice, solidarity, respect and peace.
Arch-Peace is based in Melbourne but has a worldwide membership. Its activities include forums, editorials, and a probono referral service.
Architecture 2030
“Architecture 2030, a non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization, was established in response to the climate change crisis by architect Edward Mazria in 2002. 2030’s mission is to rapidly transform the U.S. and global Building Sector from the major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions to a central part of the solution to the climate change, energy consumption, and economic crises. Our goal is straightforward: to achieve a dramatic reduction in the climate-change-causing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the Building Sector by changing the way buildings and developments are planned, designed and constructed.”
The 2030 Challenge from WD Partners on Vimeo.
Building Biology and Ecology Institute
“The New Zealand Building Biology & Ecology Institute (BBE) provides information on how buildings affect the health of people and the environment, and ways of building healthier and more sustainable homes.”
Cool Melbourne
“Cool Melbourne explains climate change and important environmental issues in plain English. We promote the great green stories happening in Melbourne. Find out the challenges we face and what people are doing to get us back on track. Who’s doing well, who’s having a shocker!”
ESD Design Guide - Offices and Public Buildings
“This guide gives a basic introduction to ecological sustainability issues and specifically how the built environment affects them. It begins by outlining the Australian position on Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) and some key policies relevant to buildings and ESD.
The next section outlines the tools that are available to help in achieving ESD in Australian Government buildings, specifically ABGR, NABERS and Green Star. The bulk of this guide is an outline of initiatives that can be put in place to minimise the environmental and social impacts of buildings.”
Dated 2007
e² | PBS
A U.S. Public Broadcasting System program about sustainability innovation, with a particular focus on architecture
Good Wood Guide
Greenpeace’s helpful guide to specifying timber in Australia, in such a way that PNG does not end up shaven bald.
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
American resource site.
Greenroofs.com
American resource portal for green roofs.
Inhabitat
“Inhabitat.com is a weblog devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future.”
Green issues daily. Lots of ads but the content is usually worth picking through them for.
Institute for Bionomic Urbanism
“The Institute for Bionomic Urbanism sets forth new, integrated, economically, socially and environmentally sustainable development ideas for creating a better future for our cities and their dwellers. The IBU works towards the goal of a sustainable, bionomic urbanism by both developing theory and by practical, project based application.”
NABERS office rating
Rate your office building or tenancy’s environmental impact with this handy tool.
Norman on the green agenda
Video from the 2007 DLD conference in Germany. “Green is cool”, says Norman. 32 minutes.
Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development
“The Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD), which is based within the School of the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes University, was established in July 2004. OISD, which has six main research groups, is the largest academic research institute in the UK dedicated to research on sustainable development in the built environment.”
Reducing Carbon Emissions: A Guide For Architects
_“Recent research shows that most businesses want to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions but few have the appropriate information to manage the process.
Developed by the New South Wales Architects Registration Board, the guidelines provide a starting point for all small architectural firms wishing to reduce their carbon emissions.”_
RMIT University Design Hub Video
Sean Godsell talking on Chinese TV about, “RMIT’s Design Hub and the innovative ‘second skin’ of 16,000 glass-capped cylinders that will rotate to help heat and cool the building.”
Sustainability: advancement vs. apocalypse
Rem Koolhaas’ speech to the Ecological Urbanism Conference , Harvard University, 3 April, 2009.
“…the market economy and the evolution of architectural culture have been extremely irresponsible in letting knowledge simply disappear between the different preoccupations.”
[found via archinect]
Sustainable Buildings Victoria
A state government and industry sponsored guide to a few of Victoria’s greener buildings. A Flash site with interactive map.
The Ecological Age
Arup’s Peter Head walks us through the state of the planet and the roles of buildings, transport and low carbon living in helping it. Approx. 45 minutes, in three parts. PDFs are available.
Via: 5th Estate
View on Youtube