Dukkah Recipe

For those of you who came to the Dialogue and enjoyed the Dukkah Emma made, here is the recipe:

1/4c Sesame seeds

2 tbsp Coriander toasted

1 tbsp Cummin toasted

1/2c nuts/seeds - I used almonds, cashews and pepitas

1/2 tsp Salt

1. Dry toast all the seeds in a heavy frying pan, stirring frequently until sesame seeds start popping.  
2. Cool. 
3. Whiz in a blender and add salt to taste (and pepper)

How to build a better block

Here is an inspiring TED Talk by Jason Roberts on improving public spaces and reinvigorating communities.  It shows how enthusiasm and creativity and a bit of rule breaking can achieve great things.
TEDxOU Jason Roberts - How to Build a Better Block

 Revitalised shop fronts and pedestrian zones

Inspiring cycling for all

Book now for Dialogue on June 14th

For registration for this event, to ensure a seat (limited numbers), please go to:

Registration for registered architects
Registration for community members and other professionals

New speakers - Athol Moore and Kylie Nixon

Taking Robyn Davies' place to discuss alternative approaches to transport are the president and committee member of Pedbiketrans, Athol Moore and Kylie Nixon.  Together, they will share updated innovations and initiatives in the approach to developing sustainable communities in order to encourage more active transport.

Athol Moore is a transport planner and engineer with over 15 years experience in multi-modal transport planning. I have a passion for active and public transport and have been active in the Pedestrian and Bicycle Transport Institute of Australasia (pedbiketrans).

Kylie is a transport engineer and planner, who has local and international experience providing advice for development/planning of urban environments.  Her work has included planning for “slow modes” and as part of the design of public transport interchange/station design – as such in her personal life she follows her own advice tending towards walk and PT as her primary mode choice of travel.  She has been an active member of Pedbiketrans for 2 years and has enjoyed the sharing of professional knowledge and experience that it facilitates.

16th June 2012 - Repeat presentation of Designing for Sustainable Communities Dialogue 1

The Sustainable Communities Dialogues is an initiative of the Institute of Architects, focused on appropriate development for Brisbane neighbourhoods and is aimed at community and residents, designers and developers. 

Riding on the success of our previous Dialogue event in 2010, our thought provoking speakers are returning to present their ideas and examples of creating sustainable communities once more.

Join us for Dialogue 1 to explore a range of themes relevant to sustainable practices and solutions for Sustainable Communities in a short, sharp, Pecha Kucha style format.

The aim is to initiate ongoing discussion on the potential changes to policy, planning and development approaches for green infrastructure and new housing typologies to contribute to the reshaping of Brisbane. Future Dialogues are being organised around topics of interest determined by the attendees.

Peter Skinner FRAIA, Associate Professor at UQ, will facilitate ten minute presentations from each of the speakers, covering examples and local sustainable initiatives, followed by a scintillating panel discussion.

Speakers will be:

·      MARCI WEBSTER MANNISON - Planning – Case study examining sustainable retrofitting an inner urban Brisbane neighbourhood.

·      ATHOL MOORE AND KYLIE NIXON - Transport – Recent examples of walkable cities and implications for Brisbane’s future.

·     CHRIS WALTON  -  Housing  - sustainable design approaches and initiatives at Currumbin Ecovillage

·      EMMA SCRAGG - Community – Examples of alternative suburban/living structures with a focus on cohousing models.

·     RUSS HOLMES -  Energy – Practical options for decentralised alternative energy solutions available in Brisbane now.

·      ARNO KING - Landscape – Creating landscapes to improve thermal comfort, create habitat and provide food.

·      ROBERT PEKIN - Food – Potential for urban food production to minimise food miles and preserve fertile soil.

·   CHRIS TANNER -  Water – Water sensitive urban design exploring sustainable solutions for treatment and storage and use.

·      STEPH ZANNAKIS - Buildings – A social enterprise approach to the construction of buildings.

Event Details:

Date:    Thursday 14^th June 2012

Venue: Queensland Chapter, 70 Merivale Street, South Brisbane

Time:    5.45 pm for 6.00 pm start - refreshments provided

Registrations are essential as numbers are limited.  For more information visit www.architecture.com.au or e-mail qld@raia.com.au or telephone 07 3109 7320

5.45pm for 6pm start

Registration is essential.  Please visit www.architecture.com.au or e-mail qld@raia.com.au

And another way of looking at things.....

An article sent to me by a real estate friend who knew I'd be interested....

Matusik Missive – Eco waffle
24th March 2010

Most government ESD initiatives involve rebates for apparently environmentally friendly things like ceiling insulation; rain tanks; solar hot water systems and heat pumps.  Being environmentally friendly these days essentially equates to adding more to our homes, not less.  I think we have the wrong end of the stick.

In recent weeks, I have been writing about making the most of what we have – using under-utilised housing; reducing HECS debt or using superannuation in lieu of the FHOG, and maximising development around our existing infrastructure.  In short, we need to start running our cities like a business – “waste not, want not,”

“a dollar saved is two less you need to earn,” and all that. 

The same applies to environmentally sustainable housing.  Apparently, every dollar spent in Australia creates 1kg of CO².  A 25 year old tree, by way of comparison - and again, this is what I am told - absorbs the same amount of CO² every year. 

As an example and as attractive as the idea of harnessing the sun’s power might be, solar PV panels are the most expensive way – bar none – to cut greenhouse gas emissions.  It costs between $10,000 and $15,000 upfront to put a standard 1.5 kilowatt system on your roof (except perhaps if you go through a community buying scheme like Local Power - ES).  Under the new Renewable Energy Bonus scheme, announced last month by the federal government, a rebate of up to $1,000 is available for ceiling installation and solar hot water systems.  Yet spending a couple of hundred dollars with your local sparky will save you the same amount of energy as new solar panels. 

How? By installing a master kill switch at the front door, which shuts down all but the essential electrical items in the house, and also by placing an LED light in the laundry, which lights up when off-peak power is available.  Running your washing machine, clothes dryer and dishwasher at that time can save the average household up to $600 per year.  Killing the non-essential power each time you leave home can save over $400 per year.  But I suppose it is hard to show off, and keep up with the Joneses at the same time, if no one can see how environmentally friendly you are.

This same attitude needs to apply to how we build new houses.  Up to 20% of all building material that arrives on a typical residential building site is thrown away.  We need to design our houses around building products, rather than the other way around.  Less time and wastage on site would do wonders for reducing our urban footprint.......

Michael Matusik 
Brisbane real estate strategist

Slideshows

Last night's inaugural event at the Australian Institue of Architects was a great success and hopefully has started stimulating discussions and broadening sustainable ideas for future projects.  Here are some of the slideshows in pdf format:
Emma Scragg COHOUSING  

ENERGY - Russ Holmes - local power

Practical options for decentralised alternative energy available in Brisbane now

Russ Holmes has a background in the construction industry, however he became increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of the industry he was working within.  Visits to European countries, amongst others Germany, brought to his awareness how under utilised sustainable and renewable energy sources are in Australia compared to other countries. Germany in particular inspired his passion to make PV solar energy, a valued, more accessible source of energy in Australia.

Living in the community of West End, South Brisbane, has inspired the beginning of Local Power. Russ is a co-founder of the successful not for profit group Local Power who pioneered the community PV Solar bulk buying model in Australia. Local Power has installed 350 PV Solar systems in Brisbane homes with an additional 100 PV Solar systems about to be installed as a result of their fourth buying group.

Russ is passionate about decentralised energy production & promoting a more self-sustaining community through an ethical business framework.

Summary

Russ will talk about the shift to a decentralised model for energy production sharing overseas examples along with the example of Local Power.

WATER - Chris Tanner

Chris is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland with 25 years experience in the Land Development and general Civil Engineering Industry. Chris has a professional background in town planning enabling a broader grasp of the range of issues associated with land development. He has focused on integration of civil engineering solution with the environment and natural landforms and is regarded as a leader in the field of Water Sensitive Design. Chris has presented a number of papers on this subject at local and National conferences. 
Chris was a former board member of the Australian Green Development Forum.

LANDSCAPE - Arno King

Combining the professions of urban design, landscape architecture and horticulture, Arno enjoys a collaborative approach to landscape architecture and urban design, including facilitating community workshops and working with a diversity of design professionals. 

He is interested in the development of engaging and useable environments, which enhance the qualities of place. Arno regularly provides assessments for local and state government departments and frequently gives evidence in the Planning and Environment Court. 

A prolific writer, his articles are featured in many specialist journals and popular magazines.