The Tropical Green Building Network promotes sustainable tropical building design, planning, construction, products and allied services. Members may also advertise their businesses on Greenbuild.com.au. If you would like to become a member of the network, please CLICK HERE
In this issue we promote events and training, announce the birth of GUSS and congratulate our award winners. There is a special report on Singapore SB13 (world sustainable building conference). Hempcrete Australia presents information on how their product performs in the tropics along with a range of green building products and services. We hope you enjoy the read....................... thank you
Solarcool is the exclusive partner of national solar company Ingenero, supplying quality solar electricity systems in NQ. Ingenero's $0 up-front lease option is an Australian first and is leading the way in making solar power affordable for all consumers. Extremely competitive turnkey pricing for high-quality systems also ensure Ingenero lead the industry. Home and business owners can reap the rewards of solar power without the risks or upfront cost.
A photo of GUSS on the Atherton Tablelands announced 3 Oct 2013, a technology that could make Australia's electricity industry a world leader. See: Ergon on FACEBOOK.
Future power network gets a little help from "GUSS"
Ergon Energy has tested a new battery and control technology called the Grid Utility Support System (GUSS) that connects to its electricity network . This technology trialled successfully on the Atherton Tablelands will improve the quality and supply of electricity on the network.
GUSS works by charging batteries overnight when electricity use is at its lowest and discharging them during the day when energy use peaks. It could pave the way for changes in how rural electricity supply networks power Australian homes in the future. READ MORE
Moorabbin leader 8 SEP 11 photo of chief executive, Daniel Leipnik, Daniel is also developing the Cairns aquarium.
Specialty Coatings wins Australian Cleantech Competition industry award
Congralutions Specialty Coatings. They have won the ARENA Renewable Energy Award at the Australian Cleantech Competition 2013 with their EnerSheet fibreglass composite roof sheeting product with embedded thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) material. Visit www.cleantechcomp.com.au
Congratulations Kilfoy Cabinets for recently winning the 2013 HIA Best New Kitchen under $20,000 and the Best Renovated Kitchen over $20,000. Kilfoy Cabinets use The Laminex Group GreenFirst Low VOC FSC range.READ MORE
Cairns based Kenick Constructions has won the 2013 HIA Regional GreenSmart Award READ MORE
This follows on from the tremendous achievement of an additional 3 national awards, 1 state award and 9 regional awards including the regional Masters Builders Display Home 2013 (up to $275K) and Excellence in Sustainable Living.
22 Kippin Close was first presented this time last year as an affordable tropical project home. It was the culmination of more than 2 years of planning and collaboration by the Tropical Green Building Network. Yes, Australia's best is right here in Cairns and we can all be proud of our contributions.
Our region's creative minds and innovators are working together, delivering support for your inventions. Our next meeting is on soon, so if you are interested in joining or want to learn more about this networking platform, send a quick email to email/amanda)(placidpools.com.au and join us on LinkedIn.
eLearning Online Anytime Anywhere. for members and non-members
The GBCA’s eLearning courses provide an opportunity for Green Star education anytime, anywhere.
Online courses make green building education accessible to those that live in regional areas, and makes course material available 24 hours a day, allowing busy professionals to progress their learning at their own pace. They are not expensive, provide CPD pints for professionals with about 20 courses to choose from. Visit the website by CLICKING HERE
Are you building, buying or renovating in the Tropics? Here is a handy link to Guides and Handbooks to assist:
Image: Cairns Post 11 Oct 13 Playing house: Sophia Park, with her People’s Choice winning model, flanked by other Year 6 winners from Edge Hill State School including Holly Mcleod, Ashley Dunigan, Marcus Wecker and Ella-Rose Lawrence.
Model-building project opens doors to a sustainable future..... Edge Hill State School may may be the launching pad for the Far North’s next generation of engineers and architects.
Year 6 students designed 85 sustainable houses and the primary school invited field experts to judge them. ‘‘The unit is sustainable living – we learn all about renewable and nonrenewable energy,’’ teacher Regan Berry said. Coupled with a science unit, students created models from recycled materials and worked out how to heat and cool their miniature properties.
‘‘The designs included anything from solar panels to garden solar lights making the fans work,’’ she said.
‘‘Some kids were quite ingenious and other kids were quite creative on how they designed their living areas.’’ Ms Berry said there were modern takes on Queenslander-style homes as louvres and angled roofs proved popular. Nine of the houses will go on show at the Cairns Botanic Gardens visitor centre in mid-November. Ms Berry said students had also taken their good energy habits home from the classroom.
The judges Adam Gowlett (David McCoy Homes), Maree Grenfell (Cairns Regional Council), Emma Thirkell (GreenBuild.com.au) and Jane Kennedy are all members of the Tropical Green Building Network.
Image: Singapore super tree's
SB13 Singapore
Realising Sustainable Building in the Tropics
This pre-eminent international conference series on Sustainable Buildings & Construction worldwide was attended by Belinda Allwood (Architect and co-director of People Oriented Design) in September representing James Cook University (Action for Sustainability Fund) and FNQ business and industries Tropical Green Building Network. READ MORE
HEMPCRETE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE TROPICS Are you a builder, carpenter or owner builder wanting to work with a natural, energy saving building product that is also an insulation?
CAIRNS 3-day training details:
When: Fri25, Sat 26 and Sun 27th October 2013 Location: Tropical North Queensland TAFE, Cairns campus
CLICK HERE to read about how it works in the TROPICS
By becoming a hempcrete installer you will enhance your skills and extend your building services, whilst ticking all the boxes of a sustainable business. Owner builders will be eligible to install the certified hempcrete for their building project.
Hempcrete is gaining increasing popularity. Clients throughout the country are enquiring about Hempcrete Australia products and services to build and renovate with hempcrete. All of these new jobs require installers...that might be you! We invite you to join the rapidly growing team of Hempcrete Australia's certified installers!
MAJOR PROJECTS FORUM, CAIRNS & SURROUNDS When: Friday 25 October 2013 from 7.00am to 11.00am Where: Shangri-la Hotel, Cairns. Cost: $55 per person (includes breakfast), Purchase tickets from: www.cairnstickets.net.au.
This year an exciting program has been put together including:
