www.greenhouse.gov.au - check it out!!!!!

While researching for my major project, I was directed to this interesting website. The site gave some interesting information about heavyweight and lightweight construction and wall and roof systems. It also gave an account of systems' embodied energy!



Here is a sneak peak:

3.4a Construction systems - Overview
The combinations of materials used to build the main elements of our homes: roof, walls and floor are referred to as construction systems. They are many and varied and each has advantages and disadvantages depending on climate, distance from source of supply, budget and desired style and appearance.

Choosing an appropriate system for climate and location will increase thermal comfort, lower construction and maintenance costs and reduce the overall environmental impact.
The majority of new housing stock is built to a common formula that varies only slightly between states and cities. The formula prevails regardless of the enormous range of climates, geographic locations and occupant lifestyles experienced by Australians.
The formula has developed for a variety of reasons including: availability of skills and materials; ease and speed of construction; market perception and familiarity with the final product and individual and community values.
Emphasis is often on "borrowed style" and greater size - at the expense of comfort, function and performance.
This approach rarely delivers the most appropriate or even the least expensive solutions for Australian housing needs. It contributes to the environmental and economic cost of our homes whilst adding little in the way of improved comfort and lifestyle.
This fact sheet analyses the merits of some common construction systems and explains the process of choosing or developing the best combination for your needs in your climate and geographic location.

BlueScope to restart Indonesia expansion, 19 May 2007, The Age Newspaper

This article follows to expansion of Australian steel fabrication giant BlueScope. The company will invest a huge $AU122 million into its Indonesian market. Majority of funds will be spent on an additional metallic coating line.

Article follows:
Australia's biggest steelmaker, BlueScope Steel Ltd, will reinvigorate expansion in Indonesia with a $US101 million ($A122 million) investment to complete construction of a second metallic coating line at its Cilegon operation.
Located 100km west of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, the new line will be dedicated to producing BlueScope's thin-gauge coil, used primarily in residential construction.
"This market continues to experience strong growth in both the residential and commercial building sectors," BlueScope president Indonesia and Malaysia Rob Crawford said.
"BlueScope Steel Indonesia is operating at full capacity, so the new, dedicated line will lead to improved efficiency, increased scale and an ability to support our customers' market growth."
"Overall, the new line will provide greater manufacturing efficiencies and economies of scale in the growing Indonesian market," BlueScope said in a statement.
The new line is expected to be operational by end the end of calendar 2009, after the original construction was postponed last year to focus on projects already under development in Asia.
"With their completion, and the strong market demand for light-gauge coil, BlueScope Steel has now approved the recommencement of the Indonesian expansion project," the steelmaker said.
The new line will add 130,000 tonnes to the metal-coating line, taking the total capacity to 265,000 tonnes.
In 2007, sales of BlueScope's products in Indonesia were half residential and half non-residential compared with 30 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively, five years ago.
The new funding of $US101 million ($A122 million) will be added to the $US12 million ($A15 million) already spent at the initial construction stage, with $US60 million ($A73 million) in the 2007/08 year, $US36 million ($A44 million) in 2008/09 and $US5 million ($A6 million) in 2009/10.
"We are delighted to recommence this investment given the continued strength of the Indonesian market and the high regard for BlueScope Steel product," said BlueScope chief executive Kirby Adams, who will retire in October.
"Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, is a key market in our growing Asian business," he said.
"This project represents a strong endorsement from our board of BlueScope Steel's Asian growth strategy."

Major assignment poster...the finished product

Property demand expected to peak in 2008, 25 May 2007, The Age Newspaper

- property analysts are convinced the demand for industrial development will boom in 2008 in Sydney and Brisbane. Most demand comes from large supermarkets and transport companies. Analysts beleive this increase is due to a rise in consumer confidence levels. The industry-related sharemarket has inclined also, as unemployment levels are at an all time low! Great news for the industry I think!!

Article follows:
The soaring demand for industrial property space will peak in Sydney and Brisbane next year, then start to tumble in 2009, analysts say.
In a report, UBS property analysts attributed strong industrial tenant demand to Australia's economic growth, low unemployment and upbeat business sentiment.
"In 2008, Sydney and Brisbane are expected to peak, and then in 2009 begin a downswing," UBS said.
UBS said industrial markets in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane were currently at the top of the property cycle, with demand coming from some of the largest occupiers of industrial property space, such as supermarkets and transport companies.
The predictions on the downturn come amid an increase in the amount of industrial property up for sale, with rents rocketing 25.6 per cent in Perth in the year to March 2007, and 16.1 per cent in Brisbane.
Overall, in the year to March 2007, Australian prime industrial rents grew by 13.1 per cent to reach an average of $98 per square metre.
"Retail sales and consumer confidence data have returned to the levels last seen in 2003 amid the housing property boom.
"Further, jobs growth is healthy, while the unemployment rate is at a record low."
Investors were moving aggressively to establish a foothold around Sydney's M7, the TradeCoast in Brisbane and the Eastlink and Craigieburn Freeway in Melbourne.
Analysts at the investment bank added the situation was triggering strong performances on the share market with listed industrial property trusts.
Among the stand out listed trusts were Macquarie Goodman, ING Industrial Fund, Mirvac Industrial and those run by Stockland and GPT group.
"Macquarie Goodman stocks have underperformed in the broader market, but the near term earnings look much improved," the company said.
This was attributed to the announcement in April by property investor Macquarie Goodman that it planned to buy a UK-based Rosemound Developments Ltd for $840 million to bolster its planned UK logistics fund.
Sales of industrial property in Australia rose 94 per cent last year, totalling $3.7 billion.
This included the $180 million sale of Woolworths' Brisbane distribution centres to the Australian Prime Property fund in June.
The increase followed continued spending on infrastructure projects, linked to demand for new hubs, future population and business growth.
Sales of industrial property, so far reaching $254.4 million, would not reach the levels of last year, UBS said.
However, the sales would rise at a faster rate in the second half of this year.
There was also 1.7 million square metres worth of industrial space either under construction or approved for completion this year, most of which was in Victoria and Queensland.
"This equates to 1.7 per cent of current stock coming through," UBS said.
"Landlords continue to see record high occupancy across the Australian industrial market given strength in demand."

Union blames Comcare for crane incident, 25 May 2005, The Age Newspaper

- In the article, the construction industry union questions Comcare's credibility as a safety inspection company. Having only a small number of workers nationally, Comcare went under speculation when a crane on a Canberra site proved it did not meet safety standards. The crane was dismantled and the site closed: it was not worth putting workers and the public at risk due to its inadequacy. I'm not sure whether this mistake can be wholly put in the hands of Comcare; I suppose so, as they are responsible for construction safety and perhaps should have observed the crane's deformity in inspection. The fact they are only a small company should not impair their abilities.

Article follows:

The construction union has pointed the finger of blame at the national workplace safety body after a massive crane became unstable on Friday at the National Portrait Gallery construction site in Canberra.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) construction national secretary Dave Noonan said the crane began tilting on its base, putting workers and the public at risk.
Work at the site has been shut down.
Mr Noonan criticised the safety response, saying the operation at the John Holland site was bungled, forcing the dismantling of the crane.
"John Holland's have recently shifted from the ACT WorkCover Scheme to Comcare, which has only 32 workplace safety inspectors nationally," he said in a statement.
"When the Comcare safety inspectors arrived, it emerged they had little or no experience in construction safety and had to seek advice from union officials.
"The incident highlights the dangers of expanding Comcare into the construction industry. We need an inspectorate properly resourced and experienced."
Mr Noonan said CFMEU officials were at the site assisting inspectors.
A Comcare spokesman later said there was no incident that put workers or the public at risk.
"John Holland dealt expeditiously and appropriately with a potential safety hazard," the spokesman said.
"Cracks were discovered in the concrete footing for a newly installed crane that had not yet been put to use.
"The site was immediately closed off and all appropriate steps taken to protect workers and the public. Comcare investigators attended the site quickly."
The spokesman said independent inspection confirmed there was no immediate threat to safety and that timely and safe action was taken to dismantle the crane.
"CFMEU officials were in attendance during the dismantling as were Comcare investigators," he said.
A Comcare investigation of the matter had begun, the spokesman said.