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Your location: Home > Smart Housing > News > Smart Housing Update - December 2003

Smart Housing Updates - December 2003

Download the December 2003 Smart Housing Update (76Kb) for printing.

In this update...

• Thank you and feedback request
• Smart Housing fact sheet series
• Affordable and green housing project
• Sustainable Designers Toolkit and Green Technology Guide
• Guidebook on the promotion of sustainable energy consumption
• The price of poor pool fencing
• Australian Greenhouse Office advertises Expression of Interest
• Web links
• Calls for examples of Smart Housing

Thank you and feedback request

As we near the end of 2003, the Smart Housing team would like to thank you for your support and contributions throughout what has been a very busy and productive year in which we’ve made some considerable achievements.

Some of these achievements include:

• launching the Endeavour Prize Home as a Smart Housing display house, as well as a precinct of 20 ‘smart’ public housing units;
• implementing the Smart Housing Partnership Agreement with six other Government agencies;
• sealing a Partnership Agreement with the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA);
• developing a Smart Housing criteria database;
• launching a new fact sheet series;
• publishing updated versions of the Smart Housing booklets, ‘Universal Design’ and ‘Safety and Security’;
• producing an online virtual tour of the Rockhampton Research House;
• hosting several training seminars;
• working in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology and Queensland Health to conduct research into ‘Barriers to Safer Housing’; and
• organising a strong Smart Housing presence at a number of exhibitions and trade fairs around the State.

These achievements could not have occurred without your support and input. Our efforts are increasingly being picked up and supported by industry as it realises the benefits of incorporating Smart Housing principles into the design and construction of residential dwellings.

In 2004, the ‘Year of the Built Environment’, the Smart Housing will be involved in some exciting opportunities that will see a lot more examples of Smart Housing in practice on the ground.

To help us take stock of how well our processes have worked and evaluate our performance in 2003, we would appreciate it if you could fill in the attached feedback form (66Kb) and mail or fax it back to us. The form has been designed to be quick and easy to complete. It should take no more that 10 minutes of your time.

Your comments are greatly appreciated and will be valuable in helping us to plan our program for 2004.

Smart Housing fact sheet series

The Smart Housing team has recently released the second and third issues in a series of fact sheets which focus on Smart Housing principles as they apply to specific areas throughout the home.

These editions highlight Smart Housing principles as they apply to Bathrooms (1Mb) and Accessible Paths (789Kb). We encourage you to distribute them across industry and to consumers.

For further information, contact Andrew Weston, Project Officer, Smart Housing on (07) 3224 4961.

Affordable and green housing project

An affordable housing project in the USA has been selected by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Committee on the Environment (COTE) as one of the Top 10 examples of architectural and ‘green’ design solutions protecting and enhancing the environment.

The Colorado Court in California was nominated for addressing significant environmental challenges with a design that integrates architecture, technology and natural systems.

The 44-unit, five-story building is the first affordable housing project in the United States to be 100% energy neutral. The project is an excellent model of sustainable development in an urban environment and promotes diversity through strategically placed affordable housing.

For more information, visit the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website.

Sustainable Designers Toolkit and Green Technology Guide

With the growing concern to create a more sustainable society, industry and developers are looking for solutions to solve current building concerns by addressing ecologically sound and healthy developments and environments.

The Northern Rivers Regional Strategy (NRRS) has produced a sustainable toolkit to help industry and developers understand the issues behind creating a more sustainable society.

The toolkit is comprised of two parts:

1. A Green Technology Guide (833Kb) that covers in brief all the main areas that need to be addressed for a broad understanding of sustainability in the built environment; and
2. A Sustainable Designers Toolkit which is a comprehensive ecological products database for architects, builders, engineers, designers, project managers, governments and the community at large.

For further information, contact the Northern Rivers Regional Strategy group in New South Wales at info@nrrs.org.au.

Guidebook on the promotion of sustainable energy consumption

In recent years, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacific (ESCAP) has consulted with consumer organisations on effective approaches to improve customer awareness and consumer information to promote energy efficiency and sustainable energy use.

ESCAP has developed a Guidebook on the Promotion of Sustainable Energy Consumption. It presents the main outcomes and recommendations of various jointly implemented activities conducted with the Citizen’s Alliance for Consumer Protection of the Republic of Korea, along with background and discussion papers that may be a good guide for other non-government organisations developing or reviewing their own efforts for the promotion of energy and sustainable consumption. The Guidebook presents a general framework and some case studies which could be used as possible models for similar initiatives in other countries.

The Guidebook on the Promotion of Sustainable Energy Consumption can be accessed at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website.

The price of poor pool fencing

‘Poor pool fencing can cost you dearly’ is the theme of a new public awareness campaign aimed at reducing the risk of toddlers drowning in Queensland's residential swimming pools.

Developed by the Queensland Department of Local Government and Planning, the campaign aims to make the public aware that pools must be properly fenced and maintained.

The Minister for Local Government and Planning, Nita Cunningham, said the campaign supported new laws which came into force on 1 October 2003.

“Every year, around eight Queensland pool owners have a child drown in their pool. And sadly, in most cases the tragedies could have been prevented,” Mrs Cunningham said.

The Smart Housing has developed guidelines for swimming pools that tie in with the new laws.

Written approval from the Smart Housing is now required before installing any swimming pool at a rental property, other than a “portable wading pool”. All other swimming pools or spa baths, with a depth of 300mm or more must be properly fenced to reduce the risk of children drowning.

Inflatable pools which are higher than 450mm (about 18 inches), hold more than 2000 litres, or have a filtration system, must also have the proper fencing installed.

The new legislation means pool owners rather than property owners are responsible for pool fencing. On the spot fines of up to $525 may be issued by local government inspectors to tenants for any breaches of the pool fencing local laws and legislation.

“Not only must owners ensure they have a compliant fence, but they are also required to keep fencing in good condition and at all times ensure fencing complies with the prescribed standards,” said Mrs Cunningham.

“Occupiers of the property must also ensure that any gate or door giving access to a swimming pool is maintained and kept securely closed at all times when not in use.”

Visit the Pool Fencing website for more information.

Australian Greenhouse Office advertises Expression of Interest

The Australian Greenhouse Office has advertised an Expression of Interest for the Photovoltaic Rebate Program (PVRP) for Residential Developers and Display Homes. The PVRP encourages the long-term use of photovoltaic technology to generate electricity from sunlight and to increase the use of renewable energy in Australia.

Access the Expression of Interest (75Kb). Applications close on 5 February 2004.

For further information, contact Gordon Smith at the Australian Greenhouse Office on telephone: (02) 6274 1119 or email: Gordon.Smith@greenhouse.gov.au.

Web links

ACT Master Builders Association - Housing for life
Housing for life is an initiative of the ACT Master Builders Association. Also known as ‘Adaptable Housing’, the site defines ‘Housing for life’ as a home that allows for diverse needs, lifestyles and age groups, for the present and future. This long-term perspective requires a fundamental shift in the thinking of developers, builders and designers, who generally focus on the present needs of their clients. The site lists building and design practitioners working in this field and hosts a series of fact sheets focusing on security, adaptability, safety, service areas within the home and site and building access.

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia provides information on features, fittings and appliances to consider when designing and building a house to suit the needs of people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Life Time Homes
Life Time Homes is a British initiative that has 16 design features that ensure a new house or unit will meet the needs of most households. The focus is on accessibility and design features that make the home flexible. The site provides illustrated examples and technical details on meeting regulations.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation discusses flexhousing, a practical approach to designing and building housing that allows residents to convert space to meet their changing needs. This concept is based on the principles of adaptability, accessibility, affordability and healthy housing. The website outlines the four principles of flexhousing, flexhousing features, examples of award-winning designs and listing of publications on flexhousing.

B4UBuild.com
B4UBuild.com showcases a number of housing plans that conform to universal design principles. The page also directs the user to several links to learn more about universal design.

Centre for Universal Design
The Centre for Universal Design provides information on modifications that can be made to your home to make it more accessible, adaptable and universal and lists the benefits of universal design.

Rehab Management
The Rehab Management website runs an interesting account on universal design from the perspective of a parent whose son became a paraplegic as a young adult and therefore required accessible housing.

Call for examples of Smart Housing

Do you have an example of Smart Housing? We are calling on the Network to send us any photos, design sketches or floor plans that depict Smart Housing and demonstrate how it can be achieved in practice.

We would like to add this material to the 'Smart Housing Examples' page on the Smart Housing website. Practical examples of Smart Housing are one way to close the gap between professionals who know how to build smart and consumers who want their next home or home renovation to be smart.

All material published will give full credit to the designer/builder. Email your submissions to smarthousing@publicworks.qld.gov.au or call (07) 3224 4961.

Stay in touch!

Your involvement is important.

Smart Housing depends on your feedback, comments and suggestions. We also welcome contributions to this newsletter.

For more information on Smart Housing, please contact us on (07) 3224 4961, email smarthousing@publicworks.qld.gov.au

Last updated 27 March 2006