We are facing the two greatest environmental challenges of our time: climate change and an environmentally degraded planet that is increasingly unable to support the growing demand for resources. The profession’s contribution to the urgent evolution and application of new ideas to create a built environment that has a positive impact on environmental systems must continue.
The building sector is a key part of the climate change problem with 23 percent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounted for by the residential and commercial building sectors. At the same time, this sector, more than any other, offers significant potential for minimising the economic impact of broad based GHG emissions cuts.
Energy demand in the building sector can be halved by 2030 and cut by over 70 percent by 2050, delivering extra savings of 30-35 percent over the whole building sector. Adopting building sector energy efficiency could increase Australia’s GDP by as much as $38 billion by 2050.
Action to change the way we approach the design and management of the built environment is required now. As a global community we need to:
• Understand the impact of our actions to date;
• Continually improve the efficiency of buildings through design and use; and
• Innovate in our design and building procurement processes to move progressively toward a built environment that positively contributes to natural systems.
The Institute recognises the importance of voluntary rating systems such as the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star rating tool for achieving improvements and innovations in the built environment. We believe that the adoption of a range of measures, including voluntary schemes, tax and financial incentives, increased minimum standards and the setting of meaningful targets is necessary.