GREEN LIVING

Philip Alviano Sustainable Advisor

MBV is proud to have presented the Green Living Conference for the past 16 years.

For the first time since 2019, the conference was delivered as a live event during significant change.

Our goal each time is to raise awareness of the development of quality building and construction trends.

The conference focus has always been on linking the information provided to sound quality, practical advice and solutions resulting in higher quality construction, healthier living and more energy-efficient outcomes for your clients.

The release of the 2022 National Construction Code has seen several changes to the energy efficiency standards for new houses.

For the first time since 2013, the minimum star rating has been increased from 6 to 7 Stars.

A whole-of-house rating has also been introduced. during the lockdowns of the past two years increased their awareness of how cold their homes could get.

Spending extended periods studying or working from home meant heating and cooling systems were used for much longer than before, resulting in increased energy bills.

More than ever, a well-built, energyefficient home that is warm in winter, cool in summer and filled with daylight all year long is essential.

As a consequence, demand for energyefficient housing has increased.

Many companies are now offering houses that exceed minimum standards, are zero carbon or are built to the passive house standard.

One of the great things about the Green Living Conference is the number of conversations taking place during the day.

It is great to see people swapping stories, sharing ideas and helping each other.

I want to thank the presenters for taking the time to make themselves available, generously sharing their knowledge and assisting the industry in building better.

There were several fantastic presentations on the day. about the new solar rebates of up to $1400 and interest-free loans that are now available for the first time while new homes are being built.

This is a great incentive that builders can discuss and coordinate with their clients, who can now save money and reduce their environmental impact almost from the first day they move in.

Dr Mark Dewsbury from the University of Tasmania spoke about his research on the link between energy efficiency and building mould.

Everyone agrees that energy efficiency is good, but there is a concern about the unintended consequences of increased mould growth.

He spoke about the importance of well-designed external wall systems and why cavities and airtightness are so important.

The presentation discussed several typical and contemporary external residential wall systems used in Victoria and what the design and construction professions should consider reducing adverse outcomes.

Clarence Macalister from Ionic Construction, a member of the ABCB Technical Reference Group for Condensation Management, frequently deals with buildings damaged by

condensation.

He spoke about the importance of vapour-permeable membranes and well-designed wall and roof assemblies in managing condensation risk.

Now that we have moved to 7 Star for new houses, our focus must turn to the massive numbers of existing housing that perform poorly.

Jeremy Spencer from Positive Footprints presented his real-world experiences renovating existing homes for high performance/net zero outcomes.

He showed that by targeting priority areas, the occupants of existing homes could be much more comfortable and healthier and significantly reduce their energy bills.

Keeping the existing structure also reduces waste and improves overall sustainability outcomes.

Clare Parry from Development Victoria spoke about how they are driving sustainability through better developments.

The requirements of their developments for all-electric, carbon-neutral homes and communities mean that people who understand how to deliver on sustainability will be at an advantage. Nick Lonsdale from Lonsdale Building Group, the Master Builders Victoria 2021 Best Sustainable House award winner, also presented.

He provided excellent advice about working on existing houses to improve their energy efficiency.

He used the case study of the renovation of an inner Melbourne 1870s townhouse in West Melbourne to provide an excellent blueprint for how the thousands of inner-city terrace houses can be brought to life for the new century.

While the focus is constantly on improving the energy efficiency of new houses, thousands of these older homes could use an upgrade that would reduce their energy use and improve occupant comfort and amenity.

We are always on the lookout for new products or those that reduce the environmental impact of a building.

Rachel Hur from the Hemp Building Company shared her experiences working with a great natural product that’s extremely low in embodied energy.

This versatile product, consisting mainly of hemp fibre and lime, is like using rammed earth or mud bricks. With buildings becoming increasingly airtight, heat recovery ventilation systems are becoming more common.

Klaus Kolvenbach from Stiebel Eltron told us the essential considerations when choosing and installing the system.

Leaks lead to a loss in efficiencies and poor filtration of incoming air.

It is also vital to ensure the systems are working correctly and the filters are checked and replaced.

Also, a big thank you to our sponsors who make these days possible and make a massive contribution by providing quality advice.

Many of them have been with us for several years.

A massive amount of work goes on in the background to organise these events, so thank you to all the MBV staff involved.

It is also important to acknowledge all those that attended.

Those there paid to come and took time away from work to learn how to build better homes at a hugely successful day where passionate people came together to improve the quality of builds.

Thank you to the Green Living Conference 2022 sponsors: