Across Australia numerous groups are taking meaningful climate action and working hard to develop inspiring solutions.

Today, I speak with representatives from five different organisations from the built environment to find out what’s happening. These groups tackle climate change from various angles, employing different structures and methods. They include formal committees, research groups, informal support and information sharing, and grass roots action.

Today we’ll hear from:

1. The Australian Institute of Architects, Climate Action and Sustainability Committee – Andrew Noonan

2. The Retrofit Lab, from the University of Melbourne – Professor Sarah Bell

3. Australian Architects Declare – Steffen Welsch

4. Parlour Regenerative Designers Annexe – Anna Lindstad

5. Architects Climate Action Network, Australia – Lucy Humphrey

Most of the groups I speak with today welcome all built environment professionals. And most importantly, they all provide free environmental information on their websites.

Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours the time they spend listening to the podcasts.

MORE INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.

www.renovationcollaborative.com.au

• PODCASTKey points summary, timestamps and resource links
• FREERESOURCESTranscript edited into clear Q&A.
• CPDAustralian architects can find more information on CPD, and
• COURSESEleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:01:43] AIA – Climate Action & Sustainability Committee – Andrew Noonan

[00:02:19] What are the primary functions of the committee at State & National level?

[00:05:24] What projects are you working on at the moment?

[00:07:08] Can you tell us about the Embodied Carbon Curriculum?

[00:09:43] How can architects get involved?

[00:11:27] The Retrofit Lab, The University of Melbourne – Professor Sarah Bell

[00:12:08] How did the Retrofit Lab get started?

[00:14:13] Can you tell us about the Retrofit Lab and the work you do?

[00:20:18] Tell us about your project investigating digital info for retrofit decisions?

[00:23:53] Tell us about about your Climate Safe Rooms project?

[00:26:42] How can we get involved and find out more?

[00:28:29] Australian Architects Declare – Steffen Welsch

[00:29:29] How did Architects Declare get started in Australia?

[00:31:06] What are your primary aims?

[00:31:44] How is it run?

[00:33:49] How can architects get involved?

[00:35:17] What campaigns are you working on?

[00:39:35] Do you have any final advice for anyone considering getting involved?

[00:41:09] Parlour: Regenerative Designers Annexe – Anna Lindstad

[00:42:04] How did this group get started?

[00:43:30] Tell us about your events and how to get involved?

[00:45:07] Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN) Australia – Lucy Humphrey

[00:45:58] How did you come to co-found ACAN in Australia?

[00:47:33] Tell us about ACAN and what it does?

[00:49:26] What are the primary aims?

[00:51:38] How can built environment professionals get involved?

[00:57:15] What other climate action groups could you recommend?

[00:58:47] Do you have any advice for anyone considering joining a climate action group?

THANKYOU

I want to say a big thank you for joining me this season as we explored the latest sustainable design knowledge. I truly hope the ideas and information that we've discussed have helped you clarify a path forward for improving the environmental outcomes of your projects.

I also want to say a special thank you to all my guests for generously sharing their knowledge to help us all renovate smarter.

I'll be back in 2026 with Season 4.

REVIEW

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RESOURCE LINKS

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS: CLIMATE ACTION & SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

Australian Institute of Architects Embodied Carbon Curriculum

https://www.architecture.com.au/embodied-carbon-curriculum

Where to find out about Living Building Exchange Videos https://www.architecture.com.au/events

AIA Climate Action Plan - https://www.architecture.com.au/advocacy-news/policy/architecture-industry-decarbonisation-plan-2025-2050

WA Chapter: Regenerative design resources: https://www.architecture.com.au/sa-chapter/regenerative-design-resources

THE RETROFIT LAB: THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

The Retrofit Lab Website: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/retrofit

Climate Safe Room Initiative

https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/climate-and-sustainability/renewable-yarra/create-all-electric-home/climate-safe-rooms

Energy Efficiency and Electrification Alliance https://www.3ea.com.au/

AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTS DECLARE

Architects Declare website: https://architectsdeclare.com.au/

Resources: https://architectsdeclare.com.au/resources/

Sustainability Action Plan https://architectsdeclare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AAD-Sustainability-action-plan-template.pdf

Product Aware https://www.productaware.au/

Sustainable Builders Alliance https://www.thesba.com.au/

Australian Suppliers Declare https://au.suppliersdeclare.com/

PARLOUR REGENERATIVE DESIGNERS ANNEXE

Parlour – Regenerative Designers Annexe website: https://parlour.org.au/parlour-annexe/regenerative-designers/

ACAN AUSTRALIA

ACAN Australia website: https://acanaustralia.org/

ACAN / Melbourne University - Demolition Atlas project https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/events/exhibitions/melbourne-design-week/melbourne-demolition-atlas-workshop

Climate Action in Australian Architectural Practice

https://www.aasa-arch.org/post/climate-action-in-australian-architectural-practice-2022-industry-survey-results

OTHER AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE ACTION GROUPS

Architects Assist https://www.architectsassist.org/

Parents For Climate https://www.parentsforclimate.org/

MECLA (NSW) https://mecla.org.au/

Climate Action Network Australia https://www.cana.net.au/

Climate Action Network https://climatenetwork.org/

GET IN TOUCH

If you've got any comments or questions or there's any topic you'd like to know more about, please send me an email at [email protected].