Australia's first Sustainability Learning Centre
Image by Jordan Davis
Rather than just promoting sustainability, the newly opened Sustainability Learning Centre near Hobart actually practices what is preaches, demonstrating how simple sustainability measures, new technologies and low carbon materials can save on costs, reduce material waste and considerably lower a building’s overall carbon impact.
“The Sustainability Learning Centre is one of the most inspirational and innovative projects we’ve worked on. The reuse of materials, local sourcing and clever mix of bio fuel heating and solar PV lowered the overall carbon footprint to almost zero. A great outcome for everyone involved and the perfect case study for showing how we could be designing buildings throughout Australia,” Richard Haynes, Operations Manager and Co-Founder of eTool.
The material choices from the project were influenced by a local building planned for demolition and much of which was reused for the centre. Recycled timber, corrugated steel, glass, concrete and rubble were all relocated alongside new low carbon materials such as clinkaBLOK that were incorporated into the design, enabling it to achieve a huge reduction in embodied carbon.
The design life of the materials and building were also extended by the light timber frame and construction method, which allows for disassembly and reuse if the building ever becomes redundant. All of these straightforward, sustainable considerations contributed to a huge 99% saving against the Tasmanian benchmark, measured using eTool’s life cycle assessment software eTool LCA.
Renewable energy such as the 24kW solar PV system, recycled oil burning hydronic floor heating and solar hot water system gives the school the opportunity to generate their own energy and saved a fantastic 111% against the benchmark and received the covetable eTool Plantinum medal rating.
For more information about the life cycle assessment on this project, please visit
etool.net.au/portfolio/sustainability-learning-centre/
Project Team:
Architect: Morrison & Breytenbach
Builder: Vos
Engineer: Gandy & Roberts
Client: Partnership between the Tasmanian Department of Education, Greening Australia, CSIRO, Catholic Education Office and Independent Schools Tasmania.
About eTool...
eTool are the developers of eTool LCA, the world’s most advanced, streamlined life cycle assessment software for the built environment. eTool has redefined the way we think about building design and our low carbon future; ensuring cost effective and sustainable outcomes are available to everyone, the world over.
etool.net.au
About clinka…
clinkaBLOK masonry elements and clinkaFILL bulk insulation are highly durable and insulating structural elements made of expanded clay aggregate. Clinka elements have high thermal performance and employ simple, elegant construction methods to achieve healthy and robust sustainable buildings.
clinka.com.au
“The Sustainability Learning Centre is one of the most inspirational and innovative projects we’ve worked on. The reuse of materials, local sourcing and clever mix of bio fuel heating and solar PV lowered the overall carbon footprint to almost zero. A great outcome for everyone involved and the perfect case study for showing how we could be designing buildings throughout Australia,” Richard Haynes, Operations Manager and Co-Founder of eTool.
The material choices from the project were influenced by a local building planned for demolition and much of which was reused for the centre. Recycled timber, corrugated steel, glass, concrete and rubble were all relocated alongside new low carbon materials such as clinkaBLOK that were incorporated into the design, enabling it to achieve a huge reduction in embodied carbon.
The design life of the materials and building were also extended by the light timber frame and construction method, which allows for disassembly and reuse if the building ever becomes redundant. All of these straightforward, sustainable considerations contributed to a huge 99% saving against the Tasmanian benchmark, measured using eTool’s life cycle assessment software eTool LCA.
Renewable energy such as the 24kW solar PV system, recycled oil burning hydronic floor heating and solar hot water system gives the school the opportunity to generate their own energy and saved a fantastic 111% against the benchmark and received the covetable eTool Plantinum medal rating.
For more information about the life cycle assessment on this project, please visit
etool.net.au/portfolio/sustainability-learning-centre/
Project Team:
Architect: Morrison & Breytenbach
Builder: Vos
Engineer: Gandy & Roberts
Client: Partnership between the Tasmanian Department of Education, Greening Australia, CSIRO, Catholic Education Office and Independent Schools Tasmania.
About eTool...
eTool are the developers of eTool LCA, the world’s most advanced, streamlined life cycle assessment software for the built environment. eTool has redefined the way we think about building design and our low carbon future; ensuring cost effective and sustainable outcomes are available to everyone, the world over.
etool.net.au
About clinka…
clinkaBLOK masonry elements and clinkaFILL bulk insulation are highly durable and insulating structural elements made of expanded clay aggregate. Clinka elements have high thermal performance and employ simple, elegant construction methods to achieve healthy and robust sustainable buildings.
clinka.com.au
