The latest online tool designed to calculate embodied energy in buildings - the CarbonCost Calculator, was launched in Melbourne on 30 September 2003 by the Chief Executive of the Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria, Mr David Young.
McKean & Park, together with our commercial associates, Sinclair Knight Merz and Deakin University were proud to launch this latest initiative which will be of major benefit to architects, designers, developers, valuers and all those attempting to increase awareness of the importance of sustainability in the Built Environment.
To access the CarbonCost Calculator free of charge, click here: CarbonCost Calculator
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01 - What does the CarbonCost Calculator actually do? |
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The CarbonCost Calculator applies the same principles that a greenhouse emissions market will apply in fixing the cost of emission permits and through that function, the additional cost of energy.
It then multiplies the total energy embodied in an exisiting or planned building by the additional cost of energy to produce the estimated additional cost of a specified building. |
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02 - How does it calculate the embodied energy of a building? |
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It uses well established scientific priniples to calculate the energy expended in producing all major materials and in carrying out building processes in the construction phase of the building and the likely source of that energy (eg petroleum, electricity or natural gas) |
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03 - Does the CarbonCost Calculator provide special benefit for Architects, Designers and Engineers? |
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Yes. Architects, Designers and Engineers can use the CarbonCost Calculator to compare a range of materials and/or a range of building designs in order to determine which combination gives the best result for a new building or the alteration of an existing building. |
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04 - Does the CarbonCost Calculator provide any special benefit for Valuers and Real Estate Agents? |
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Yes. The CarbonCost Calculator will assist Valuers and Real Estate Agents to calculate the likely cost of replacing or adding to an existing or planned building. |
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05 - What about the owners of an existing building? |
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They also will benefit from using the CarbonCost Calculator because of its abiltiy to forecast a building's future value and consequently assists in ascertaining its highest and best use. Those who deal in the Built Environment will value this ability. |
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06 - Does the CarbonCost Calculator assist me in calculating the sustainability of a building? |
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Yes. Buildings that require less emobodied energy to construct, repair, refurbish and demolish are more energy sustainable. Under greenhouse abatement they will become more cost effective than other buildings. The CarbonCost Calculator forecasts a building's future energy sustainability now. |
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07 - Can I use the CarbonCost Calculator to calculate the additional cost of my home? |
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Not at present, although it is intended to add this facility in the future.
If your home is a high rise unit, it can calculate the additional cost of the whole building. |
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08 - Can the CarbonCost Calculator assist me in planning the future use of a building? |
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Yes. It is designed to look at the future and to 'predict' building costs, as they will vary according to the cost of emission permits (ie, the additional cost of fossil fuel energy). |
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09 - Will the additional building cost vary between identical buildings in separate locations? |
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This is possible. The CarbonCost Calculator is designed to differentiate between states and between urban and rural areas.
This is because energy sources vary between states and districts and the production of some energy requires the purchase of more emission permits than other energy. |
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10 - Can the information provided by the CarbonCost Calculator vary over time? |
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Yes. It is anticipated that the production of materials and construction processes will alter over time. The likelihood is that rising energy costs will give an incentive to use less energy. The CarbonCost Calculator will be updated when these alterations become sufficiently established to warrant it. |
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