Jux/ta/po/si/tion

The absent armour of boundary The brittle beauty of understanding  The casual coolness of your desire  The delicate danger of my longing  The empty envelope sealed  The fallen fire paused  The glorious grittiness before the grace  The heavy honour weighting your heart  The ignorant idealism of my dreams  The jarring joy of surrender  The kept…

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Today’s green star buildings will face the test of time

AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW SPECIAL REPORT Carbon Quarterly Buildings that shine today can fall behind in tomorrow's star ratings urban landscape, writes Miriam Hechtman. If you want a building to have enough green credibility to rate a mention in the annual report or in staff newsletters, you have to deal with two, interacting sets of ratings…

Constructive argument for early planning

AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW - SPECIAL REPORT - CITY SPACE Considering the green aspects of a building during its construction can vastly reduce emissions, writes Miriam Hechtman. The life cycle of a new building starts long before any bricks have been laid, and so too does its carbon footprint. Consider the machinery, the materials and transport…

Westpac’s forward thinking ‘makes good business sense’

Australian Financial Review - SPECIAL REPORT − GREEN TRADING The bank is putting lots of resources into sustainability, writes Miriam Hechtman. Recognised globally as a "green" leader and as winner of the 2007 Origin Banksia Gold Award, Westpac Corp has introduced a host of sustainability initiatives for its employees, customers and stakeholders. "It is an…

Developers give old city buildings a green facelift

Australian Financial Review - SPECIAL REPORT − CITY SPACE With space for new buildings in short supply, some companies are turning to renovation rescue, writes Miriam Hechtman. Can't teach an old dog new tricks? What about revamping an old building into something new and green? With limited space for new buildings in cities and many…

Ecolabels tick success and expose the dirt on greenwashing

Australian Financial Review GREEN BUILDINGS − SPECIAL REPORT GECA's certification program recognises truly green good guys, says Miriam Hechtman. Finding a truly green building product is a tough task as "green washing" can occur. That is, buyers can bemisled into thinking a product is green when it isn't. But now there are independent services that…

Sustainable fitout to reduce the churn

Australian Financial Review GREEN BUILDINGS − SPECIAL REPORT Designers need to rethink their approach to an office fitout, writes Miriam Hechtman. If that flickering light in the office is driving you loopy, consider replacing it with an energy−efficient bulb.Not only will it restore office sanity, it will also reduce your energy usage and the bill.Designing…

Top green rating is the new cachet for CBD property

Australian Financial Review - SPECIAL REPORT - AUSTRALIAN SUSTAINABILITY The five stars awarded to Adelaide's City Central Tower 1 has become the benchmark for new developments, reports Miriam Hechtman. City Central Tower 1 in Adelaide is still under construction, but a five−star award by the Green Building Council of Australia is proving to be a…

Rising tide of interest out west

The Australian Financial Review - Special Report - SEASIDE AND WATERFRONT PROPERTY  The sleepy holiday town of Mandurah is blooming writes Miriam Hechtman. The appeal of Mandurah, on the West Australian coast just south of Perth, is on the rise with price tags on luxury apartments now easily exceeding the $1 million mark. Just 74…