Low carbon aluminium options are increasingly available according to Hassell’s Jeff Morgan
In a recent podcast for Architecture & Design, Hassell Director and sustainability lead, Jeff Morgan, discusses the shift the aluminium industry is making towards lower carbon aluminium.
Beginning with a clear definition of low carbon aluminium, Jeff explains how aluminium producers, in Australia and elsewhere, have started to radically decarbonise.
Some headlines from the podcast… – Aluminium is the ideal circular material. It is infinitely recyclable without degrading in quality. – A common misconception is that recycled aluminium is lower quality than virgin aluminium. – Low carbon aluminium should now be able to be procured for your project without hurting the bottom line. While 100% recycled aluminium can still be a challenge to find at present, low carbon options are increasingly available. – Australian aluminium producers are not waiting for the grid to decarbonise, and are innovating ahead of energy producers. – The lowest carbon products on the market today which are made from aluminium that is 100% recycled and produced using 100% renewables have a carbon intensity close to zero. While near-zero carbon aluminium is still difficult to find, it is likely to become the norm in the future.
Jeff Morgan chairs the Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA) Aluminium Working Group. Listen to the podcast at Talking, Architecture and Design.
Street Furniture Australia’s aluminium batten extrusions use close to 100% low carbon aluminium content. Our entire product range is 100% carbon neutral, certified through Climate Active.
Kids’ sport always cancelled due to rain-soaked grounds?
This winter many Australian families are frustrated with persistent rainfall and cancelled weekend sports due to sloshy flooded fields. Writing for The Conversation, Jua Cilliers considers the flooding of sports grounds as a valuable lesson on green spaces, and advocates for a design rethink.
Cilliers writes “The good news is a growing body of research offers insights into how we can address this problem through smarter urban design and green infrastructure.”
Sporting grounds form part of the green infrastructure networks that help regulate temperatures, reduce flooding, make urban spaces more sustainable, cut urban heat, reduce stress and lower noise pollution.
Cilliers states that “according to the World Economic Forum, less than 0.3%of current urban infrastructure spending goes to nature-based solutions.” While all solutions cost money, nature based infrastructure costs 50% less than built infrastructure.
Cilliers offers a range of solutions in the face of increased rainfall. “Create more soil-based or nature-based spaces that allow for rainwater to be absorbed into the earth well before it gets to the local sports grounds”, she said.
Successful products are often followed by copycats. Over the past year we have become aware of an increase in reproductions of the Linea range attempting to create a similar aesthetic at a lower price. This can compromise the overall durability and environmental credentials of projects being delivered, affect ongoing maintenance requirements, and in some instances pose a risk of injury to the public. The design of Linea is deceptively simple while delivering exceptional attention to detail. Details matter not only for beauty, but also for providing durability, and safety, that will last decades. Linea strictly uses the highest quality and sustainable materials, has passed rigorous strength tests, and is designed for longevity, with easily replaceable parts. The product range is the result of hundreds of hours of research and development …
Street Furniture Australia’s entire product range and manufacturing operation has received carbon neutral certification through Climate Active™. Achieving carbon neutral certification marks a significant milestone in our operation and the culmination of a four year long process of detailed measurement and analysis. Climate Active™ is the only Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification programme for businesses to measure, reduce, and offsets their carbon emissions. It is one of the most rigorous carbon-neutral programs in the world. An approved Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS) is central to achieving certification through Climate Active. Street Furniture Australia has elected to use SBTi validated science-based targets to ensure their ERS is meaningful and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. For those emissions that can’t be …
Melissa Gerke, our Communications and Education Specialist, is bringing a fun, interactive and informative presentation about our carbon neutral journey and latest products to customers in cities around Australia and in the US. In 30 minutes (plus Q&A) we will explore materials and finishes, touch and feel samples, and bond with your colleagues over delicious treats. There will also be a mystery prize for a lucky winner (optional). 2024 cities and dates include: Select from three catering options (optional): To book, contact Melissa Gerke mgerke@streetfurniture.com
Street Furniture Australia’s entire product range and manufacturing operation has received carbon neutral certification through Climate Active™. Achieving carbon neutral certification marks a significant milestone in our operation and the culmination of a four year long process of detailed measurement and analysis. Climate Active™ is the only Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification programme for businesses to measure, reduce, and offsets their carbon emissions. It is one of the most rigorous carbon-neutral programs in the world. An approved Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS) is central to achieving certification through Climate Active. Street Furniture Australia has elected to use SBTi validated science-based targets to ensure their ERS is meaningful and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. For those emissions that can’t be …
Ten principles for designing play spaces for neurodiverse children The growing body of research around inclusive design has deepened our understanding of this important area, paving the way for projects like Hassell’s new Mildred Creak Playground. Before the revitalisation of Edward Millen Park on Whadjuk Country in Perth, Western Australia, Hassell’s Senior Associate, Hannah Galloway and her team at Hassell met with teachers at Carson Street School and the Autism Association of Western Australia. They created ten key principles for designing play spaces for all children. Galloway said their goal was to design a unique space for all children to enjoy, regardless of their neurodiverse traits. “By incorporating sensory elements, promoting social interaction and providing spaces for regrouping and control, we can create environments where every child can thrive.” Hassell’s ten …
Successful products are often followed by copycats. Over the past year we have become aware of an increase in reproductions of the Linea range attempting to create a similar aesthetic at a lower price. This can compromise the overall durability and environmental credentials of projects being delivered, affect ongoing maintenance requirements, and in some instances pose a risk of injury to the public. The design of Linea is deceptively simple while delivering exceptional attention to detail. Details matter not only for beauty, but also for providing durability, and safety, that will last decades. Linea strictly uses the highest quality and sustainable materials, has passed rigorous strength tests, and is designed for longevity, with easily replaceable parts. The product range is the result of hundreds of hours of research and development …
