For some, summer is just around the corner when they can walk home after work during daylight, when people start talking about the water still being that little bit too cold to jump in, or that daylight saving is just around the corner. For others, it may be the frantic search for space in their diary in the lead-up to end-of-school-year, summer holidays and Christmas, which - hold tight before you continue reading - is in 89 days!
We don't want to stress you out any further, so here is a slightly shorter than usual newsletter with some interesting resources and links this month.
MECLA Spotlight on Ways Forward with Trees
A collection of experts in native forest science, agroforestry, timber product manufacturing and architecture explore how the forest ecosystem is evolving, and discuss some positive directions forward for Australia’s timber industry in the context of a climate and biodiversity emergency.
Speakers and panellists include:
Paul Haar - Architect and Honorary Principal Fellow in the School of Architecture and Building at the University of Melbourne
Patrick Baker - Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology in the School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences at the University of Melbourne
Working Group 5f's co-chair Hamid Valipour organised a MECLA Deep Dive at UNSW to visit their Infrastructure & Asphalt as well as their Heavy Structures Laboratory. Multiple researchers also presented on their current research in materials and construction:
Ali Kashani presenting on 3D printing concrete in construction,
Wenkui Dong on nanotechnology applications for concrete sustainability,
MECLA hosted a discussion about the potential impact Engineered Living Materials (ELM) could have on the Australian construction market, and the necessary steps that need to be taken to support growth (pun slightly intended) in the sector.
Thank you to Elena Bondareva, Founder & CEO of Vivit and PhD candidate at RMIT, who guided the conversation on the day and to Greenhouse who kindly hosted the event on their premises.
Working Group 3&4 on Guidance and WG5e on Building Services are looking for co-chairs to work together with the existing chairs to further the work programme of their respective working groups.
Friday, 11 October, 10-11am - WG5e Building Services
Monday, 14 October, 11am-12pm - WG5d Construction Materials & Assemblies
Thursday, 17 October, 1-2:30pm - PCG meeting
Monday, 21 October, 1-2pm WG1 SG Deviate
Tuesday, 22 October, 2-3:30pm - WG3/4 Guidance
If you are part of any of these working groups but haven't got an invite in your calendar yet, or you are keen to participate in any of these working groups, please reach out to us here.
MECLA Information and Onboarding meetings
If you are interested in joining MECLA or just hearing more about what we do, you can join one of our weekly information and onboarding meetings to find out. These sessions are the perfect opportunity to hear more about all the alliance is doing across its working groups and network and to ask any open questions you might have after visiting one of our events.
The Product Aware Tool aims to standardise the way Australian architects and designers ask questions around product sustainability, highlighting clear sustainability metrics for the products listed in the database.
This new digital platform aims at empowering Australian architects, designers and suppliers to advocate for more sustainable products by enhancing transparency and providing better access to product sustainability information. It has been developed for industry by COX’s Design Technology team. It is both free to use and contribute to.
UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard - Pilot version has launched
This week, a pilot version of the UK’s first cross-industry Standard for net zero carbon aligned buildings has been launched. The Standard is for anyone who wants to fund, procure, design, or specify a net zero carbon building, and for anyone who wishes to definitively demonstrate that their building is net zero carbon aligned. Leading organisations BBP, BRE, the Carbon Trust, CIBSE, IStructE, LETI, RIBA, RICS, and UKGBC have joined forces to champion this initiative.
They are offering a webinar to take you through the Pilot Version of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard on 31 October. The webinar will recap the Standard’s principles and how it was created; provide an overview of the Standard itself; and explore key take-home messages for the industry around the path to Net Zero Carbon.
GBCA has launched the consultation on version 1.1 of Green Star Buildings. This version addresses feedback on individual credits and provides technical amendments, clarifications and improvements identified by project teams who have used the tool.
You and your organisation can provide feedback until 4 October 2024.
You can find all our MECLA Resources on our MECLA Resources Page or by clicking on the style of resource you are looking for directly below.
If your organisation has a case study please consider sharing it with us. You can submit a case study on the MECLA Website. Each submitted case study will be screened by the MECLA Project Control Group (PCG) before being featured on this website.
You can find out more about MECLA by going to our website, by signing up to our newsletter or following us on LinkedIn to stay updated on future events and developments.
As always, email us with any questions and enquiries at info@mecla.org.au.
MECLA is funded through a mixture of industry and government commitments. We would like to thank all industry organisations, plus the NSW and SA Government that have already made a contribution to support MECLA going national.
MECLA c/o Climate-KIC Australia, University of Technology Sydney, Building 10, Level 10, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
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