Event Format
The series was run virtually as 5 weekly sessions 12pm - 2pm AEST, from Tuesday 22 Aug 2023 - Tuesday 19 Sept 2023.
Each session included 2 - 3 presentations followed by a panel discussion. See below for the programme.
SESSION 1 | Pathways, Stairways and Highways
Tuesday 22 August 2023, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM AEST
Our first session sets the tone for the entire series by discussing the grid carbon trajectory and exploring the fascinating world of microgrids and flexibility. Join us as we dive into the intricacies of load balancing between properties and explore compelling pilot project case studies.
12:00pm - Opening remarks
Chair: Davina Rooney, CEO - GBCA
12:10pm - Future carbon trajectory and renewable energy procurement for C&I customers
Anna Bruce, Associate Professor, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE) Joint Director, Collaboration on Energy and Environmental Markets (CEEM) - UNSW
Corporates are increasingly purchasing renewable energy to achieve emissions reductions and lock in future electricity prices. Voluntary renewable energy purchases support government renewable energy goals, but current investment is still too slow and the renewable energy transition requires more investment in flexible technologies for system balancing. In this presentation, Anna Bruce will discuss how renewable energy certification and corporate renewable energy procurement are evolving and can support the transition to a low carbon grid.
12:30pm - Turning Buildings into Batteries
Craig Roussac, Co-Founder and CEO - Buildings Alive
Wind and solar power is reshaping Australia’s energy systems to an extent that has not been seen since the late 19th Century. And with electrification comes the opportunity for buildings to wean off fossil fuels and harness cheaper and cleaner renewable energy. With this inexorable growth in non-dispatchable renewable electricity generation, the challenge of maintaining stable, reliable and affordable electricity networks cannot be left to the ‘supply-side’ alone. Buildings account for 50 percent of electricity use and more than three-quarters at peak times, and the proportion is growing. Furthermore, buildings are the gateways to Distributed Energy Resources which over time are expected to be called on for the bulk of the National Electricity Market’s (NEM) dispatchable capacity (AEMO 2022).
In this presentation, Craig Roussac will discuss recent and emerging changes in Australia’s energy and carbon markets, and the opportunities emerging for the owners and operators of buildings that seek to address them.
12:55pm - Panel Discussion and Q&A | Whose responsibility is electricity grid decarbonisation?
Panellists: Anna Bruce, Craig Roussac. Additional panellists TBC
2:00pm Virtual lounge and networking room remain open for 30mins
SESSION 2 | Striking a balance
Tuesday 29th August 2023, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM AEST
Embarking on a thought-provoking exploration, this session delves into the trade-offs between embodied carbon and operational energy. We'll tackle the critical issues surrounding embodied carbon in MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) and emphasise the importance of acting wisely while taking action now.
12:00pm - Opening remarks
Chair: Ian Van Eerden, Principal Sustainability Consultant - Northrop Consulting Engineers | CIBSE NSW Committee Member
12:10pm - Carbon investments, paybacks and potential paradoxes: whole of life carbon estimates for building scale solar photovoltaics
Lucy Marsland, Environmental Designer - Atelier Ten
Across Australia, state electricity grids are decarbonising through rapid uptake of renewable energy generation, with urban scale solar photovoltaic systems playing a significant role. This shifting electricity mix prompts building projects to consider a shifting set of priorities when designing on-site energy generation. A whole of life carbon estimate at the building scale can support holistic design insights and maximise the benefits of sustainable systems; the ‘carbon investment and payback’ of solar photovoltaics. Review of available data and sensitivity to design factors will be presented in the context of informing design decisions to demonstrate the role of WLCA. However, there is no silver bullet and the complex ecosystem of our urban environment and industry must be brought into this conversation to strike the balance between detailed analysis and big picture outcomes.
12:25pm - The embodied carbon of building services systems in housing
Roger Birchmore, Senior Lecturer - Unitec, NZ
This presentation outlines the challenges of documenting the embodied carbon of residential building services systems, the strengths, weaknesses, and pitfalls. It finds that a possible illusion of precision is underpinned by some very pragmatic decisions in calculating fundamental data and identifies major and minor carbon contributors. It also proposes reporting protocols that will make the information useful to designers who will ultimately be the most influential users of the information.
12:40pm - NABERS embodied emissions tool development
Katie Eyles, Sector Lead | Accelerating Net Zero Buildings - NABERS
This presentation will look at the feedback NABERS received during our public consultation on proposals for an embodied emissions rating tool. It will focus on: considerations for building engineers, the scope of what will be included in an embodied emissions rating, and finding the balance between operational and upfront emissions. We'll also look at next steps from here, such as how NABERS will seek technical input, and opportunities for piloting the rating tool.
12:55pm - Panel Discussion and Q&A | Does our design focus need to shift from operational energy to embodied carbon?
Panellist: Lucy Marsland, Katie Eyles, Roger Birchmore
Joined by Jeff Robinson, Global Sustainable Design Expertise Leader - Aurecon
2:00pm Virtual lounge and networking rooms remain open for 30mins
SESSION 3 | Back to the Future
Tuesday 5 September 2023, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM AEST
Retrofit opportunities take centre stage in this session, where we uncover the potential of heat pumps and examine the impacts of changing societal norms, such as remote work and the demands of millennials and Gen Z. Join us in redefining loads for electric systems design and discussing the opportunities that lie ahead.
12:00pm - Opening remarks
Chair: Jennifer Elias, Sustainability & Building Performance - Atelier Ten
12:10pm - Application considerations for heat pump heating systems
Stuart Kirkwood, Business Leader, Trane Technologies ANZ
Stuart will review system design considerations, integration opportunities, and recent innovations when applying air to water and water to water heat pumps to large commercial building heating systems.
12:30pm - Optimising Designs For Heat Pumps
Sam Snutch, Associate Director - WSP
In this session Sam, a Director from WSP will present a discussion on how best to optimise designs for all electric solutions. This will include a review of the appropriate design criteria, common challenges in the retrofit environment and transitional hybrid options.
12:55pm Panel Discussion and Q&A: How can we design for heat pumps in buildings?
Panellists: Sam Snutch, Stuart Kirkwood + Bill Grover, Principal Mechanical Engineer - Cundall
2:00pm Virtual lounge and networking rooms remain open for 30mins
SESSION 4 | Back to the Future Pt II
Tuesday 12 September 2023, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM AEST
As we reflect on our past as an industry, Session 4 explores the lessons we can learn from previous mistakes. We'll delve into the exciting possibilities of next-generation technologies like tri-gen, co-gen, asbestos alternatives, and CFC refrigerant replacements. Could heat pumps be the future? Let's find out.
12:00pm - Opening remarks
Chair: Nirodha Siriwardena, CIBSE YEN Chair
12:10pm
The delivery of imperfection at scale – why scale is better than perfection
Sian Willmott, Sustainable Design Leader - Hassell
This presentation explores the benefits of mistakes, why the 'transition' phase is over and why new technology isn't necessarily needed to achieve positive climate outcomes. It touches on best practice examples and levers; as well as the role of designers in regenerative projects.
12:25pm - Awkward realisations on reinventing the wheel
Brendon McNiven, Enterprise Professor in Architectural Engineering - University of Melbourne, NED
Observations from case studies exploring the place of the technical in the world of design, and sharing of recent work done at the University of Melbourne on how to integrate this into architecture and wider project environments to achieve impact.
12:40pm - We're no longer cooking with gas: transitioning Victoria's public hospitals away from natural gas
Tiernan Humphrys, Senior Technical Specialist, Environmental Sustainability, Asset Development and Infrastructure Advisory Services - Victorian Health Building Authority
This presentation will provide an overview of gas use in Victoria's public hospitals, government policy settings on gas transition, the issues with electrifying hospitals and achievements to date.
12:55pm Panel Discussion and Q&A: What do you want to be proud of in 20 years' time? A look back over time
Panellists: Sian Willmott, Brendon McNiven and Tiernan Humphrys
2:00pm Virtual lounge and networking rooms remain open for 30mins
SESSION 5 | To Infinity and Beyond... (2030)
Tuesday 19th September 2023, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM AEST
Concluding our seminar series, Session 5 examines how building services design can promote agility and sustainability. We'll explore the transformative power of 'Smart' technology while discussing the potential of micro-grids. Join us as we envision the future and push the boundaries of what's possible.
12:00pm - Opening remarks
Chair: Phil Senn, CIBSE ANZ Chair
12:10pm - The New Energy Landscape : How eMobility and microgrids shape the future of energy
Helder Paulini, eMobility BDM | Solution Architect &
Naila Alaoui, Business Development Manager - Micro-grids, Decentralised Energy and Analytics - Schneider Electric
A snapshot into the transformations the energy landscape is facing to tackle the challenge of energy transition, and what role microgrids and EVs will play in this transition. As electric vehicles (EVs) and microgrids each grow in market share, their paths are intertwining, offering a vision of how they will change power delivery together.
12:30pm - Setting buildings up to enable and thrive in a renewable powered future
Dr Rob Brimblecombe, Co-Founder - n0de and Southern Seagreens
In this session Rob will share his experiences from Monash University, designing, delivering and operating all electric renewable powered buildings and explore the role they can play in supporting the transition to a 100% renewable powered grid. This will include the opportunity for buildings to generate and store renewable energy, as well as what it takes to digitally activate buildings to unlock the power of AI to improve service and dynamically interact with the grid.
12:45pm - Decarbonising our industry in a holistic fashion
Graham Carter, Senior Technical Lead, Sustainable Futures, Integrated Solutions - Lendlease
The rate of change our industry is facing is unprecedented as we all align around rapidly decarbonising our industry & society. This presents an opportunity to challenge rules of thumb, historic standards, & entrenched split incentives to ensure we get there more quickly and allocate capital in a way that delivers the highest environmental returns. We need to be asking ourselves the right questions to then find the best answers & solutions to our collective challenges. This presentation explores some of those questions & challenges.
1:00pm Panel Discussion and Q&A: How can we maximise our certainty in good design in the face of uncertainty about the future?
Panellists: Helder Paulini, Naila Alaoui, Dr Rob Brimblecombe & Graham Carter
2:00pm Virtual lounge and networking rooms remain open for 30mins
Click here to register for this event
