Greener Shoots After the Floods

Archived News, Posted on 27 Jan 2011

Green Shoots after the Flood

Source: Climate Spectator.com.au

As the Queensland government makes plans for rebuilding after the recent devastating floods, it must ensure that change for the better is a part of its plan for renewal. And as the federal government steps in to provide additional financial support in Queensland, and undoubtedy across the flood-ravaged eastern seaboard, it too should ensure its aid rebuilds communities more sustainably.

Some simple examples would include replacing roads with upgrades to create public transport, and rebuilding bridges and thoroughfares to include light rail – or at least the capacity for it in the future.
As community facilities and public housing are refurbished or replaced, they should be built with improved sustainable design, better energy efficiency and include the latest renewable energy, like solar, to ensure that their future running costs are minimised.

Similarly, where appliances are replaced, new energy standards mean that the new equipment is likely to be more energy efficient.

The floods have also underscored our reliance on electricity – particularly for refrigeration. But despite more and more houses having their own energy generation on their rooftops, the supply of electricity was still interrupted because of regulatory restrictions.

Global warming promises increased extreme weather disruptions and we must ensure our reconstruction recognises the need for houses to have a smart and secure power supply based on their own generation of energy without compromising safety. Smarter design, enforced through better regulation, would be enough to ensure that, as often as possible, fridges stay on and food does not need to spoil, even when disaster surrounds us.

Rebuilding green will not only help reduce future energy bills, but could also build community resilience to future extreme weather events.

Governments of all levels must also consider regulations that enforce building maintenance. ¬ There is little doubt that poorly maintained buildings will have suffered more damage (and potentially put more people at risk) than those that were well maintained.

What is more, when we rebuild we must also ensure our ability to respond is not limited by terms of insurance or regulation. ¬ Governments may need to step up with retrospective legislative measures to ensure flexibility, so that buildings or other assets built in the wrong place are not rebuilt in that same place due to expedience, or worse, failing to take intoaccount the real cause of destruction, in some cases: ¬ bad planning decisions.

Written by Professor Ray Wills who is chief executive of the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA).

When ever Building new property, whether it is due to damage or whether it is simply a new property... it is always so economical to install a solar power system.  With returns of up to and sometimes over 20% PA, and no out going electricity costs... it just makes sense.