Architecture, Building and Planning - Research Publications
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ItemExcellence or Exit: Ensuring Anangu Futures through Education(School of Social and Policy Research, Charles Darwin University, 2009)The discussion and recommendations in this document aim to present Anangu leaders, schools and the enabling policy community that supports schools, with key points for debate and consideration, as the platform to develop an ambitious charter for education reform. The review advocates the need to change the approach to schooling at primary, middle and senior school levels as the key means to transform training, learning and employment ‘pathways’ into journeys that lead to exciting destinations and not disappointing dead ends.
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ItemInternational comparison of building energy performance standards(Australia Greenhouse Office, Department of Environment and Heritage, 2005)The background to this study is the proposed changes to the Building Codes of Australia energy efficiency provisions. Specifically, these include the proposed 5-star Australian standard (BCA Verification Method V2.6.2.1) and enhancement of the DTS provisions (refer BCA Part 3.12). The aims of this study are two-fold: • Test the relative stringency of the proposed 5-star Australian standard (BCA Verification Method V2.6.2.1) against housing performance in comparative countries, and; • Compare the enhanced DTS provisions (refer BCA Part 3.12) with comparative countries.
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ItemMelbourne 2032: Looking back over the last 25 years(VEIL, 2006)
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ItemAn Overview of Development in Distributed Energy with country, state and city examples from EU and USA(VEIL, 2008)Distributed energy is not a new idea. However, advances in technology and rising awareness of major sustainability challenges are creating new opportunities. At one end of the spectrum, distributed energy refers to small and medium scale technologies that generate electricity and heat. The term is often used to describe energy generated by units that are close to the location of use (either independent of, or connected to, ‘the grid’). On the other hand, distributed energy can be understood more as a structural transformation of grid-connected electricity systems, away from highly centralised technologies towards distributed and diversified systems relying far more on renewable energy sources. This has implications for both production and consumption of electrical energy. The purpose of this short briefing paper was to review the current status of (and expectations for) distributed energy in the EU and the USA, as well as to highlight the opportunities and challenges for a large expansion of distributed energy in the near future. The report is principally concerned with systems that are grid-connected. There are 2 main themes that run throughout the report. These include: • Business intelligence: What are the market trends for distributed energy? • Policy instruments: What policies and programs are at the forefront of promoting distributed energy? The themes identified represent a rather demanding challenge, and this paper goes only a small way to responding to this challenge. It is a first step of a longer investigation, and reveals a number of areas for further research work and discussion. This paper explores knowledge, experiences and programs on distributed energy in the EU, and two progressive states in the USA, namely California and Texas. In the EU, the focus is on a number of countries, including Denmark, the UK, the Netherlands and Sweden. In the case of Sweden, the spotlight shifts to towns, which have heavily invested in distributed energy.
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ItemDistributed Water Systems: A networked and localised approach for sustainable water services(VEIL, 2009)An unprecedented water crisis is unfolding across southern Australia, driven by the compounding impacts of climate change, over use and a legacy of short sighted water policies. As many water strategists re-apply traditional methods to meet this ‘perfect storm’ of supply and demand challenges, a quiet evolution is occurring in water system design. This evolution has emerged as a strong and coherent trend with positive and radical implications for creating a sustainable water future. This briefing paper draws on case studies and research to describe the emergence of ‘distributed water systems’ - a highly networked and localised approach to water infrastructure and critical water services. Cases from Australia, Europe and the US show how distributed water systems can generate positive outcomes that enhance and supplement those provided by our existing infrastructure models. They are able to: • Reduce costs and resource use • Improve service security and reduce risk of failure • Strengthen local economies • Strengthen community wellbeing • Regenerate and protect the natural environment • Redefine traditional water systems Distributed systems represent an innovative approach for responding to risk and uncertainty. They can build adaptive capacity by increasing the diversity and flexibility of water systems without locking utilities, customers and future governments into rigid pathways for delivering critical services. By creating distributed water systems through infrastructure design choices at the household-to-regional level, Victoria can reduce social, economic and environmental vulnerability to climate change and energy supply shocks. In the distributed systems model, infrastructure and critical services (for water, food and energy) are positioned close to points of demand and resource availability and linked within networks of exchange. Services traditionally provided by a single, linear system are instead delivered via a diverse set of smaller systems - tailored to location but able to transfer resources across wider areas. Much more can and should be done to understand and foster the evolution of distributed water systems. Support for innovative projects and a reassessment of existing models of governance is required to enable further adaptation in the water sector. A re-evaluation of the impacts that large water projects have on emerging water sector innovation is also required. The inability of existing tools to assess and compare the long-term or non-financial benefits derived from distributed systems highlights the need for research and practical experimentation to build experience and capacity in this area.
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ItemSustainable and Secure Food Systems for Victoria: What do we know? What do we need to know?(VEIL, 2008)This report provides an overview of our food production and consumption system, its impacts on the environment and its vulnerability to environmental problems and resource constraints. The aim of the report is to identify any significant challenges to the future security of the food system in Victoria that arise from environmental and resource issues, and the risks, constraints and social or political responses to these. The report also considers a range of response strategies being developed and explored at various points across the food system.
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ItemPerformance of Public Private Partnerships and Traditional Procurement in Australia(Allen Consulting Group, 2007)