Australian building companies are set to benefit from China’s commitment to a sustainable future with a new agreement with China on sustainable urban development in Hunan Province.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will today be signed by Austrade’s Regional Director for North East Asia Laurie Smith and the Mayor of the Changsha Municipal Government Mr Jianfei Zhang.
Birthplace of Chairman Mao, Changsha is the capital of Hunan province in rapidly developing interior China, and is set to link up with two neighbouring cities Zhujiang and Xiangtan to form an urban centre of 13 million.
Austrade’s Regional Director for North East Asia said that it is in inland cities – or tier 2 cities – like Changsha where Austrade sees strong potential for Australian companies to deliver green building expertise.
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Source: The Gov Monitor, 2009-10-15, Link
2009-10-18
How Eco-Friendly Is New Songdo City?
Developments at New Songdo City have been widely reported on by the print and online media since the launch of the project in 2003. The message that comes across in reports is overwhelmingly positive with many hoping that the project will inject fresh impetus into the South Korean economy. As a multibillion dollar project, New Songdo City will surely be a masterpiece of technological innovation and urban development, just as it will stand as a testament to the work ethic of the Korean people.
Yet in spite of the strong national ― and international ― interest in the Songdo development, one issue remains quietly unaddressed: the environmental cost of New Songdo City.
The city has been touted as one of the "greenest" urban areas in the world, and is being built according to strict standards of Korean and international green building rating systems, including, for example, the one put forth by LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development). The designers of the city are focusing on a pedestrian rather than a car-friendly transport system and a seawater canal will provide energy efficient transport by water.
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Source: The Korea Times, 2009-10-15, Link
Yet in spite of the strong national ― and international ― interest in the Songdo development, one issue remains quietly unaddressed: the environmental cost of New Songdo City.
The city has been touted as one of the "greenest" urban areas in the world, and is being built according to strict standards of Korean and international green building rating systems, including, for example, the one put forth by LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development). The designers of the city are focusing on a pedestrian rather than a car-friendly transport system and a seawater canal will provide energy efficient transport by water.
.../
Source: The Korea Times, 2009-10-15, Link
Goa May Soon See Green Infrastructure
Architects, planners and others with green caps and fingers are unveiling a plan to promote use of green principles for eco-friendly infrastructure, necessitated by climate change.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII, Goa) and Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Goa chapter have initiated a joint effort towards creating a cell in Goa to promote green buildings for housing, industries and commercial sector. "We are working on the building design, incorporating the green concept and doing computer test models to ensure that the buildings are really energy-saving before we actually build them," said Dean D'Cruz, architect and former chairman of IIA (Goa chapter).
Conceding that awareness is just building up in Goa at the moment, D'Cruz said research shows that conventional buildings consume 40% of the energy used on earth. "If we are to address the issue of climate change, green buildings are important for Goa," he explained. Raya Shankhwalker, a Panaji-based architect, said that "in Goa, nothing is being done on an organized level, but as a private initiative some architects are consciously moving towards the green building concept".
As a first step, Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) is trying to set up its Goa cell with assistance from Goa chapters of CII and IIA. "IGBC has been successfully nationally and if the Goa chapter is set up it will help in spreading the green building concept," Shankhwalker said.
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Source: The Times of India, 2009-10-15, Link
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII, Goa) and Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Goa chapter have initiated a joint effort towards creating a cell in Goa to promote green buildings for housing, industries and commercial sector. "We are working on the building design, incorporating the green concept and doing computer test models to ensure that the buildings are really energy-saving before we actually build them," said Dean D'Cruz, architect and former chairman of IIA (Goa chapter).
Conceding that awareness is just building up in Goa at the moment, D'Cruz said research shows that conventional buildings consume 40% of the energy used on earth. "If we are to address the issue of climate change, green buildings are important for Goa," he explained. Raya Shankhwalker, a Panaji-based architect, said that "in Goa, nothing is being done on an organized level, but as a private initiative some architects are consciously moving towards the green building concept".
As a first step, Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) is trying to set up its Goa cell with assistance from Goa chapters of CII and IIA. "IGBC has been successfully nationally and if the Goa chapter is set up it will help in spreading the green building concept," Shankhwalker said.
.../
Source: The Times of India, 2009-10-15, Link
2009-10-11
Green Building On The Rise In India
Green building development has gained momentum in India despite global economic slowdown, with its supply rising manifold to 6.8 million sq ft in the last seven years, a study said.
“The supply of green space has seen substantial jump from 20,000 sq ft in 2002 to 6.8 million sq ft in 2009,” property consultant DTZ said in a report.
The total supply of green space has increased to 6.8 million square ft till September from 3.8 million square ft in early 2007, mostly contributed by IT/ITeS sector, the report said.
Green buildings are designed to have a longer life-cycle, and help conserve natural resources such as water, while consuming minimal power and energy.
“The concept of green building development in the country has witnessed a sustained momentum despite the overall weakening macroeconomic environment, witnessed in the last one year,” the consultant said.
The supply of green space has been contributed by various industrial segments but IT/ITeS sector contributed the maximum at 58 per cent of the total supply in the country, it said.
The report highlighted that Turbo Energy R&D and administrative block in Paiyanur, Chennai, has been certified by globally renowned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as the greenest building in India.
Other prominent green projects include ITC Green Centre (Gurgaon), CII-Godrej Green Business Centre (Hyderabad) and Kalpataru Square (Mumbai).
Source: Hindu Business Line, 2009-10-11, Link
“The supply of green space has seen substantial jump from 20,000 sq ft in 2002 to 6.8 million sq ft in 2009,” property consultant DTZ said in a report.
The total supply of green space has increased to 6.8 million square ft till September from 3.8 million square ft in early 2007, mostly contributed by IT/ITeS sector, the report said.
Green buildings are designed to have a longer life-cycle, and help conserve natural resources such as water, while consuming minimal power and energy.
“The concept of green building development in the country has witnessed a sustained momentum despite the overall weakening macroeconomic environment, witnessed in the last one year,” the consultant said.
The supply of green space has been contributed by various industrial segments but IT/ITeS sector contributed the maximum at 58 per cent of the total supply in the country, it said.
The report highlighted that Turbo Energy R&D and administrative block in Paiyanur, Chennai, has been certified by globally renowned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as the greenest building in India.
Other prominent green projects include ITC Green Centre (Gurgaon), CII-Godrej Green Business Centre (Hyderabad) and Kalpataru Square (Mumbai).
Source: Hindu Business Line, 2009-10-11, Link
Australia Ethical Investment Opens Property Trust
Australian Ethical Investment has launched a new property trust, a fund that invests in energy efficient buildings with a minimum 5-Star Green Star rating.
The trust, which was launched by Caroline Le Couteur, Greens MLA in Canberra, aims to provide long-term capital growth and a moderate income stream.
It attempts to provide 3 per cent returns above the annual consumer price index (CPI) over five year periods. Robert Sharf is the portfolio manager of the Property Trust.
The trust was launched at 64 Allara Street building, a 5 Star Green Star building, that is the first asset of the trust.
"A range of independent studies has confirmed that green building practices improve an asset's value by securing tenants more quickly, commanding higher rents or prices, enjoying lower tenant turnover and costing less to operate and maintain," said Romilly Madew, chief executive at Green Building Council of Australia.
"Investors wanting to do the right thing by the environment will also do the right thing financially."
Source: Financial Standard, 2009-10-09, Link
The trust, which was launched by Caroline Le Couteur, Greens MLA in Canberra, aims to provide long-term capital growth and a moderate income stream.
It attempts to provide 3 per cent returns above the annual consumer price index (CPI) over five year periods. Robert Sharf is the portfolio manager of the Property Trust.
The trust was launched at 64 Allara Street building, a 5 Star Green Star building, that is the first asset of the trust.
"A range of independent studies has confirmed that green building practices improve an asset's value by securing tenants more quickly, commanding higher rents or prices, enjoying lower tenant turnover and costing less to operate and maintain," said Romilly Madew, chief executive at Green Building Council of Australia.
"Investors wanting to do the right thing by the environment will also do the right thing financially."
Source: Financial Standard, 2009-10-09, Link
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