Leveraging the benefits of embedded networks
Embedded networks are becoming a commonly used feature of our energy systems. In this Insights session we explore why their applications are increasing, how they are integrated in a range of projects, opportunities for the built environment, and the benefits for customers.
We cover:
- Where do embedded networks fit in the big picture?
- What are the range of models and concepts that exist?
- Where are we up to in our states?
- Benefits for property developers and end users
- Changes to the regulatory framework and how it improves benefits for consumers
- Developers’ insights and project examples
Speakers:
- Paolo Bevilacqua, General Manager – Real Utilities, Frasers Property Australia
- Andrew Truswell Director, Australian Energy Market Commission
- Michael Di Russo, Director – Investments, CEFC
- Andrew Cameron, Group Manager, CES & New Property, Origin
- Facilitator: Dani Alexander, Research Principal, UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures, and RACE for Business Program Leader, RACE for 2030 CRC
Distributed energy solutions are playing a key role in supporting the transition of our electricity grids to renewable energy.
- How can your project, development or operation best benefit and support this transition?
- How can we ensure the energy transition to renewable energy is fair, equitable and accessible?
- How will distributed energy opportunities be most efficient and how can the property sector best support these opportunities?
Looking at in front of the meter alternatives, this webinar examines the use of Virtual Power Plants (VPP) to coordinate Distributed Energy Resources (DER) as well as other options and models available to facilitate distributed energy, such as community-based battery storage.
We discuss how the aggregation of DER delivers services to the grid and unlocks value for energy users, with a focus on new community models and the potential unlocked by community scale batteries.
Join us to examine some of Australia’s broad range of DER projects, from local community energy projects to wide metropolitan and state trials. This session offers the opportunity to deep dive into some examples and reflect on what the future may look like and how you can contribute.
Key topics to be explored:
- What is a virtual power plant and what role can it play for our renewable energy future?
- How are community energy models increasing the amount of renewable energy generation and storage that can be installed in electricity distribution networks?
- What is the business case for community-based battery storage?
- How is the business case for battery storage evolving?
- Lessons from current projects and trials.
- What does this mean for the property sector?
The development of the first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for ready-mix concrete was the missing link for the Australian building and construction industry.
Join this webinar with Holcim’s National Development & Sustainability Manager Cyril Giraud and Environment Manager and Sustainability Lead Evan Smith to learn more about how this EPD came to life and what it means for the building and construction industry.
This session explores the key drivers for greater transparency of environmental performance within the concrete industry, and how it will help shape the way building materials are selected and the environmental impact of buildings are analysed in the future. We analyse the results from Australia’s first ready-mix concrete EPD and show how early adopters can and are using this to include environmental specifications to traditionally technical concrete specifications.
This session also demonstrates how greater transparency is enabling the supply of carbon neutral concrete in Australia today.
Learning outcomes
- Understand the key drivers for greater environmental transparency within the concrete industry and how this will lead to more sustainable buildings
- Understand how specifications for concrete need to change to allow and encourage the use of lower carbon concrete
- Know how to analyse a concrete EPD and compare results to industry benchmarks
- Understand the next steps for carbon neutral concrete
This webinar will cover changes to the National Construction Code (NCC), with a special focus on Section J which sets out the requirements for energy efficiency of buildings. NCC 2019 introduced a direct reference to thermal bridging for the first time in Australian construction industry’s history, directly impacting thermal performance of most buildings.
Learn how the new requirements will impact thermal compliance, traditional wall design, Façade U-Value modelling and work of ESD consultants.
Key topics to be covered include:
- Basic principles of thermal insulation
- Section J update and impact on Energy Efficiency NZS 4214 – effects of thermal bridging and R-values
- Façade U-value modelling
- Impact on ESD consultants
- Performance Solutions vs Deem to Satisfy
With electric vehicles heading for mainstream adoption in Australia over the coming years, the question of preparing our built environment to support electric vehicle charging in the future is highly topical. In multi-residential and commercial structures in particular, there’s a range of important considerations relevant to design and installation of EV charging solutions.
The learning outcomes from the session will be awareness of:
- the key considerations for cost effectively supporting EV charging in buildings, and
- the direction of regulatory change in this space.
The webinar will present the key objectives, dynamic simulation parameters, process and outcomes of this unique study. The study has relevance to all associated with the built environment from investors, developers, builders, ‘green’ organisations, designers to facility managers and operators.
World First Study – Background information: Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) has become an integral component of all commercial buildings providing indoor comfort conditions for occupants. Technological innovations have led to development of various types of HVAC systems – from conditioned air supplied overhead via ceiling mounted diffusers to floor outlets providing air from an under floor arrangement.
There is also radiant and convective cooling through cold surfaces (‘chilled beams’ – essentially chilled water coils) located in ceiling spaces.
HVAC systems contribute significantly to energy consumption of a building on an on going basis – in the order of 75 – 80% of the base building energy costs. This needs to be taken into consideration when selecting the type of HVAC system at the initial design stage for a new project or indeed for a major retrofit. For the first time a comparative dynamic simulation analysis of key system configurations prevalent in Australian buildings, namely Variable Air Volume (VAV), Under Floor Air Distribution (UFAD) and Passive Chilled Beam (PCB) systems has been performed from an energy efficiency perspective. Research, commissioned by the ARBS Foundation, was carried out by Team Catalyst.
It is the first study where the energy performance of these three systems has been carefully modeled, when applied to the same hypothetical building. It is unique because it has been carried out by experienced practicing engineers, involved in the design, specification and ongoing monitoring of HVAC systems as installed in buildings.
How distributed generation and blockchain are transforming legacy power networks into community owned economic engines
Our energy networks are a work in progress. We are now seeing the accelerated uptake of distributed generation, storage and blockchain applications transforming legacy electricity networks into community owned economic engines.
During this webinar, James takes us through the major energy market changes that have transformed the energy market during the past 10 years and discuss his latest research on distributed generation and blockchain, based on a range of local and international case studies.
The presentation discusses:
- National and global solar and storage uptake
- Price trends
- Case study: Three sites in the WGV housing precinct: GenY, SHAC in addition to Evermore.
- Results Opportunities for the building sector
Background Interconnected local energy markets have emerged as an anticipated outcome of a monumental shift in the electricity industry away from centralised network planning. Monolithic business models, characterised by fossil fuelled bulk generation and one-way delivery are being disrupted by decentralised renewable models complemented with storage. The lesser the distance between the generator and consumer means the opportunity exists to dramatically reduce network costs through the better utilisation of localised distribution infrastructure, and challenging the prevailing transmission infrastructure heavy approach to network design. Innovations from the sharing economy are now entering utilities, from which end users play a more active role in both production and consumption of electricity and where the marginal cost of this power will tend towards zero.
Presented by James Eggleston, Senior Analyst, Power Ledger
WorldGBC, in partnership with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, are releasing a report calling for urgent and co-ordinated action to tackle global embodied carbon emissions from the building and construction sector.
GBCA has been a proud participant in the development of this report. The report calls for radical industry collaboration to achieve decarbonisation from the sector by 2050. It sets out the vision, goals, actions, and milestones needed to achieve transformation, and highlights industry leaders paving the way.
Join us for this member’s only webinar to get an overview of this ground-breaking report: Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront. You will also learn how this report lines up with GBCA’s Carbon Positive Roadmap, and you will get a peek at what part Green Star for New Buildings, and the other Future Focus rating tools will play at making the outcomes of this report a reality.
The webinar is suitable for building owners, designers, sustainability consultants, procurement personnel, product suppliers, and manufacturers.
Learning outcomes
- Outline the reasons for the increasing focus on embodied carbon, particularly the upfront emissions.
- Summarise your sector’s role in driving change and creating demand for low-carbon products and materials.
- Describe the upcoming changes to Green Star focused on placing emphasis on and reducing upfront embodied carbon emissions.
Confirmed speakers include
- Jorge Chapa, Head of Market Transformation, GBCA
- Nicole Sullivan, Senior Manager Green Star Solutions, GBCA
- Jeff Oatman, Senior Manager Membership, GBCA
The World Green Building Council will release an embodied carbon “call to action” report in September this year. Over 490 architectural practices in the UK have recently signed a Climate & Biodiversity Emergency Declaration which includes a strong commitment to work to reduce embodied and operational carbon emissions. Suppliers of building materials and products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) that comply to the EN15804 standard provide transparent and verified data on the carbon footprint and six other environmental impacts of their products.
In this webinar EPDs are explained and how the information can be used to make improvements in embodied carbon and other environmental impacts of a building or fitout project. The role of EPDs in product Carbon Neutral certification to the Australian NCOS Standard is also described.
The webinar is suitable for building owners, designers, sustainability consultants, procurement personnel, product suppliers and manufacturers.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand the relative importance of embodied environmental impacts of buildings
- Identify EN15804 compliant Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and their importance in whole-of-building sustainability assessment around the world
- Evaluate the role of EPDs in measuring and reducing embodied carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of your project.
Presenter: Stephen Mitchell – Chair, EPD Australasia.
The way in which buildings are connecting with smart technology is evolving faster than ever before. Smart buildings are now enabling a better long-term understanding of the relationship between the built environment and its occupants.
How can smart technology help organisations and owners improve occupant experience, manage energy consumption, and leverage smart-tech to realise ESG benefits in the built environment?
Our speakers will examine new approaches and innovation in smart build technology and unpack practical ways that these developments are improving sustainability outcomes.