sustainability in australia
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.
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
Good Wood Guide
Greenpeace’s helpful guide to specifying timber in Australia, in such a way that PNG does not end up shaven bald.
NABERS office rating
Rate your office building or tenancy’s environmental impact with this handy tool.
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.”
Sustainable Buildings Victoria
A state government and industry sponsored guide to a few of Victoria’s greener buildings. A Flash site with interactive map.
Your Home Design Guide
This government and buiding industry web site has been around for a while, and is often updated. The technical section contains basic advice about designing a house sustainably. You will be lucky to find mention of an architect anywhere.