Building a sustainable future

Last Updated: 7 October 2008

The Sustainability 2008 conference examined solutions for more energy efficient and environmentally friendly construction. [Reuters]

The Sustainability 2008 conference examined solutions for more energy efficient and environmentally friendly construction. [Reuters]

A major international meeting in Melbourne in September brought together more than 2,000 architects and sustainability experts to share research on cleaner, greener buildings.

In a series of reports for Radio Australia's Connect Asia program, Sonia Randhawa and Lily Yan looked at some of the ideas and research to come out of the Sustainability 2008 conference.

Green buildings from technology and tradition

It is believed building and construction industries together account for more than a third of global carbon emissions, but as Sonia Randhawa reports, high-tech, greener buildings are often beyond the means of poorer countries.

Energy efficiency in low-cost housing

In the move to create more sustainable buildings, suggestions range from using recycled tyres for building insulation to the bizarre, if tongue-in-cheek, idea of using the sweat from clubbers to flush toilets.

Sonia Randhawa spoke to delegates about practical solutions for low-cost urban housing.

'Perpetual growth' paints a gloomy picture

The Sustainable Building 2008 conference was opened with optimistic statements by Australia's environment minister Peter Garrett. But his fair weather assessment came under fire by his fellow keynote speaker William Rees, who painted a gloomy picture of humanity in irrational denial climate change.

Sonia Randhawa spoke with him afterwards about whether Asia is ready to face environmental realities.

The China challenge

China is battling two challenges with making new buildings environmentally friendly - the materials involved are expensive, and resources are in short supply.

As Lily Yan reports, Chinese architects want the government to subsidise the costs involved, while Western participants are urging developed countries to assist with technology transfer to bring costs in China down.