The Sustainable Built Environment Team is a team of committed scientists and consultants whose aim is to provide solutions to catalyse sustainable built environments.

The services we offer

The BRANZ sustainable built environment team has split its work into seven particular areas. These are: Life Cycle Assessment Services, Energy management, Sustainable building design, Behavioural Change, Communications and management, Water Management and Urban Space.

The following services are offered in each unit:

Life Cycle Assessment
Energy
Sustainable Building Design
Behavioural Change
Communication and management
Water Management
Urban Space

Life Cycle Assessment

Life Cycle assessment is developing as a key tool to inform sustainability in buildings and building products, as all building industry stakeholders agree that the life cycle approach is the most rigorous and scientific method to assess buildings and their components. We offer:

• Generic, product, and policy informing Life Cycle Assessment consultancy;
• Environmental Product Declarations;
• Ecolabelling and Environmental Profiles;
• Policy informing;
• Earthster Auditors;
• Life Cycle Assessment Training.

Energy

As demand for, and cost of energy increases, coupled with the necessity to mitigate global warming there is a growing demand for energy efficiency in the built environment. We offer:

• Assessment of renewable energy technologies;
• Energy monitoring and energy efficiency projects;
• Energy audits;
• Thermal Testing

Sustainable Building Design

The Sustainable building design domain describes opportunities into identifying the most appropriate built form for the future, and what are the wider implications of supplying materials and products to construct these buildings. We offer:

• Climate Change Readiness Assessment
• Climate Change Adaptation & Design Consultancy
• Policy Informing Consultancy
• Publications, Being a Climate Friendly Aussie
• Climate Change Research
• Training
• CC building adaptation 101
• Sustainable design
• Passive solar design
• Reducing carbon footprint

Behavioural Change

Behavioural Change is required to implement sustainable technologies and develop sustainable built environments. We offer:

• Policy/Strategy development;
• Strategic advice;
• Communications;
• Implementation strategies;
• Forecasting (futurist).

Communication and management

Includes the development and publication of literature to support sustainability initiatives and development of wider communications strategies such as Triple Bottom Line Reporting. We offer:

• Communicate clients performance regarding sustainable development to the market:
• TBL reporting;
• Environmental Policy and environmental auditing;
• Education (seminars etc);
• Publications

Water Management

Water efficiency and water management projects. Water is the next energy! We offer:

• WEEP - monitoring;
• Water efficiency technology assessment;
• Water efficiency of building product manufacture;

Urban Space

Urban development includes the provision of advice around urban development, such as the development of sustainable communities, and how considered planning can have positive impacts on the health of a community. Urban development combines the skills from other BRANZ units. We offer:

• Interactions of people, technology, buildings and space!
• transport efficiencies;
• energy/water efficiency;
• improved health; improved security; improved safety.