ABSTRACT

It is now widely accepted by most climate scientists and governments that human-induced climate change is real and occurring, with recent extreme weather events, sea-level rise and climate trends causing severe damage to human life and supporting ecosystems (IPCC 2001; G8 Presidency 2005; Lowe 2005; Newton 2008; Flannery 2005). Greenhouse gas emissions from the use of energy in buildings and transport are a key contributor to climate change (Fien 2004; Hamnett and Freestone 2000; Gleeson et al. 2000). In Australia, 23 per cent of such emissions are a result of energy demand in the building sector (CIE 2007). However, the environmental impact of buildings extends well beyond their operational energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions.