The law says that newly built houses should have a six-star energy rating, to help residents afford their heating and cooling bills. But some builders seem to be findings ways around this requirement.
Our behaviour is far more selfish than we might like to believe.
An outstanding example of sustainable residential building, Breathe Architecture’s The Commons apartments in Melbourne won a 2014 National Architecture Award.
Image courtesy of Australian Institute of Architects
New South Wales is the only state that has made meaningful progress on legislation and enforcement of standards capable of creating a sustainable built environment.
A tiny house in the backyard appeals to some as a solution that offers both affordability and sustainability.
Think Out Loud/flick
New research has found a marked increase in people, particularly among women over 50, who are building or want to build a tiny house. However, inflexible planning rules often stand in their way.
Its been 13 years since Mauritius introduced codes of corporate governance for listed companies with mixed results. Its experience is useful for other developing countries looking to do the same.
Flooding from Hurricane Harvey. Can the region rebuild infrastructure so that it can better withstand extreme weather events?
AP Photo/David J. Phillip
After extreme weather events like Hurricane Harvey, city planners need to think about the smartest way to rebuild. Here are some no-regrets infrastructure investment ideas.
Sand for use in hydraulic fracturing operations at a processing plant in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin in 2011.
AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)
Overuse of sand for construction and industry is harming the environment and fueling violence around the world. Scientists explain why we need international rules to regulate sand mining and use.
Education is recognised in a number of the SDGs, particularly SDG 4 which calls for “inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all”.
Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals have distinct functions but are interrelated and requires an integrated approach from both scientists and policymakers.
The rise of the middle class in Africa is fuelling consumer economies and protection policies. But they tend to be disconnected from sustainability issues.
Environmental threats in the Pacific Islands can be cultural as well as physical.
Christopher Johnson/Wikimedia Commons
Steven Cork, Australian National University and Kate Auty, The University of Melbourne
Australia is good at ‘hard hat’ responses to crises such as cyclones. But a new environmental declaration on the Pacific Islands points out that the best approach is more well-rounded and subtle.
Waffle making with rented waffle maker from the Library of things.
Sebastian Wood/Library of Things
The finance industry has developed a powerful set of tools over the years, which could be used to improve well-being and solve our environmental problems.
Giant kelp can grow up to 60cm a day, given the right conditions.
Joe Belanger/shutterstock.com
In an extract from his new book, Tim Flannery explains how giant kelp farms could suck carbon dioxide from the air and store it in the ocean’s depths, while encouraging species like fish and oysters.
Heavy storms in February caused parts of a California highway to give way.
Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo
Banning single-use plastic bags makes sense, as long as it doesn’t usher in behaviours that are just as bad, or worse – like over-using heavier bags made of even more plastic.
Some local councils are more tolerant than others in allowing residents to grow food where they want.
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Punks aren’t known for their positivity, but ‘solarpunks’ are all about optimism. A new movement of speculative fiction, art, fashion, and activism, it imagines a sustainable future that requires radical social change.
Nearly one-third of tropical animal species face extinction if humans do not curb our growing appetites for beef, pork and other land-intensive meats. The Panamanian golden frog bred by the Vancouver Aquarium in this 2014 file photo may be extinct in its natural habitat.
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
As much as one-third of animal species in the tropics could be eradicated if their habitats continue to be converted for monoculture farming. We can all do something to make a difference.