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1. Katherine Jernigan River Poze Daphne Hamilton Erin Scheibe Green Building in the Land Down Under ENVS 220 Fall 2012 Vertical Development and Compaction of Green Buildings in Australian Cities BACKGROUND Roughly 90% of Australians live in and around cities and 23% of greenhouse gas emissions come from residential and work buildings. There is a growing demand in Australia for buildings to be energy efficient and rated by Green Star or NABERS. Additionally, compactness, the theory that containment of further urban sprawl is the best way to minimize energy use and transportation, is being implemented in Australian cities. However, this theory has received criticism about the lack of people’s desire to reside in such densely populated areas. It is also predicted to amplify social injustices that are currently present in cities. METHODOLOGY Survey of satisfaction and opinions of people in Green Star and NABERS rated residential buildings, as well as suburban dwellers and city residents who do not live in green buildings. Total: about 100 Interviews of community leaders, architects, and building owners. Total: about 20 interviews. Analyze qualitative data from surveys and interviews to see general opinions and feelings about sustainable buildings and compaction. Gather quantitative data on building energy and water consumption using bills and records. Interpret, track, and compare energy and water usage of specific certified buildings, non-certified buildings, and homes. Urban sprawl in Melbourne, Australia www.marshallwhiteblog.com.au/category/news-real-estate/page/19/ RESEARCH QUESTIONS Do the compaction and vertical development of green buildings in Melbourne, Australia significantly decrease energy/water consumption? Is this design attractive and tolerable for residents, socially and materially? Greenstar rating label www.gbca.org.au/ NABERS rating system ausnviro.com.au www.visitmelbourne.com/ TIMELINE Week 1: Travel to Australia. Identify and collect energy and water data, from bills and records, for specific certified and non-certified buildings in the city. Do the same for individual homes in the outskirts of the city. Week 2: Identify key informants for surveys and interviews: community leaders, building tenants, architects, homeowners, and renters. Include participants from inside the city and from outside; include people who live in compact buildings and people who do not. Finalize and adjust interview and survey questions. Weeks 3-6: Conduct interviews of developers/builders/owners, and surveys of city and suburb residents. Weeks 7-10: Interpret and analyze interview and survey data, as well as energy and water data from buildings. Sources Gordon, P., and H. W. Richardson. “Are Compact Cities a Desirable Planning Goal?” Journal of the American Planning Association 63, no. 1 (1997): 95–106. Howley, Peter, Mark Scott, and Declan Redmond. “Sustainability Versus Liveability: An Investigation of Neighborhood Satisfaction.” Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 52, no. 6 (2009): 847–864. doi:10.1080/09640560903083798. Randolph, Bill. Delivering the Compact City in Australia: Current Trends and Future Implications City Futures Research Centre. University of New South Wales, June 2006. Jabareen, Y. “Sustainable urban forms: Their typologies, models, and concepts.” Sage Urban Studies Abstracts 35, no. 3 (2007).