Australia govt to support new training programs for architects

 Friday, November 10, 2023

In a bid to decarbonise buildings, the federal government has allocated $100,000 in funding to support a new training program for architects, to be delivered by the Australian Institute of Architects. The program intends to “equip architects with the tools to tackle the complex challenge of reducing embodied carbon in buildings,” the communiqué reads.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister said clever approaches to design could assist Australia in achieving its target of net zero emissions by 2050.

“Architects can dramatically reduce emissions from our built environment before one brick is even laid, just by making different design choices,” said McAllister. “Rethinking opportunities and making smarter choices in building design will help decarbonise the industry, but also save costs. Cost effective solutions already exist, we want to help bring these solutions to more architects across Australia. McAllister added further.

Aimed at lowering emissions before the construction phase starts, the initiative seeks to provide insight on how to decrease embodied carbon emissions produced through processes such as material extraction, production and transportation of building products, as well as construction, maintenance, repairs and renovations.

“Clever design strategies, like repurposing an existing structure in the Quay Quarter Tower, saved 12,000 tonned of embodied carbon. This is equivalent to taking 2,600 cars off the road.”

The program will comprise a roadmap and toolkit developed by industry experts, to be delivered in person and online via the Australian Institute of Architects.

Source: ARCHITECTUREAU

Tags: architects, carbon, carbon emissions, federal government, training program