Author's posts
Apr 18 2020
Free House Designs on YourHome website
YourHome is best sustainable house guide our Government has ever commissioned. The addition of free sample House Designs merely adds to its credentials as an easy-to-use resource for anyone interested in improving their home or considering a new house. It is now easy to build homes that achieve 7.5 to 9 Star NatHERS ratings. Enjoy …
Mar 20 2020
Sustainability for JCU $98M Technology Innovation Centre
Ecomplish is proud to have just been engaged on another James Cook University design project, this time for the Technology Innovation Centre by KIRK Studio. We cannot reveal much yet but sustainability professionals dsquared and Ecomplish have high hopes. The project is looking to back up its big ESD claims with a nation-leading green building …
Jan 09 2020
How to make a company or building carbon neutral in Australia
To make an organisation or company or building carbon neutral (or even impact positive) the same process can be applied, namely: MEASURE: Calculate emissions REDUCE: Develop and implement an emissions reduction strategy OFFSET: Purchase offsets to compensate for remaining emissions VALIDATE: Arrange independent validation REPORT: Publish a public statement of your carbon neutral claim You …
Dec 05 2019
EarthCheck green building design certification available for hotels and resorts
If you are a developer in the hospitality industry, have you considered using the EarthCheck’s scientific benchmark and certification system to perfect your design and operations? Ben O’Callaghan can now assist as a trained and certified EarthCheck Design Accredited Professional (EDAP). We currently offer free assessments of projects, regardless of their planning or design stage: …
Nov 21 2019
Tesla Model X experiences: life-changing driving
After reviewing the electric car options, I opted to purchase the Tesla Model X six months ago and have not regretted it. The technology in these cars has to be seen to be believed. Safety for my family was a key factor, and this car is one of the safest SUVs in the world to …
Oct 15 2019
Banksia Sustainability Award Finalist: Early Learning Centre QLD
Congratulations to Loving Hearts childcare centre again for becoming a Finalist in this year’s Banksia Sustainability Awards in the medium business category https://lovingheartschildcare.com.au/sustainability/
Mar 14 2019
LEED Gold “The Science Place” university building film launched
Ecomplish is proud to launch the short documentary film (below) we have just finished shooting and producing about the sustainable building called “The Science Place”. This James Cook University $80M centre has been certified LEED Gold. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is the world’s most recognised Green Building certification system, …
Jan 01 2019
Top 10 Tips for achieving Green Star Communities certification
“Green Star – Communities” is Australia’s most recognised sustainability rating tool for neighbourhoods and precincts. To obtain a rating for a project, evidence must be submitted demonstrating that the project has been designed to be very sustainable. Preparing a submission can take many hours over a few months; however, there are steps you can take …
Dec 01 2018
Hyundai’s new IONIQ Car in Australia – details and review
Information for Ecovillage residents and other interested parties: Update 12 April 2019: As Tesla have dropped the price of their cars in Australia by up to $80,000 recently I am now looking to purchase one of these as they seem to have more advantages and range. e.g. the only 7 seater electric SUV: https://www.tesla.com/en_AU/modelx Update …
Oct 23 2018
Loving Hearts a Queensland Winner
Loving Hearts childcare centre constructed by Jorgensens, has taken out the Queensland Master Builder’s Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Management Award. Ecomplish was proud to be involved in the project, conducting the first feasibility study in 2015, then managing the sustainable design. We are also engaged to manage the centre’s sustainable operational performance, to …
Oct 02 2018
Sustainable Living Focus Groups
This year, Ecomplish has been working with a major residential developer to conduct ‘innovation’ focus groups and test a new concept in sustainable living, in three capital cities. Stay tuned for more information on the potential new premium offering, as the results come in..
Aug 05 2018
Loving Hearts childcare wins Master Builder’s award
Congratulations to Jorgensens Builders for winning the Master Builders Queensland Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Management award – Gold Coast. Ecomplish was proud to be involved as the sustainability manager on the project, which is arguably the most sustainable childcare centre in Australia. More: https://lovingheartschildcare.com.au/sustainability/
Aug 01 2018
It’s time to dream: planning a new ecovillage in Victoria “Little Springs Village”
Keynote speaker Ben O’Callaghan presented to a full room of 70 residents at Huon Hill on Wednesday night about a visionary grass-roots ecovillage project called Little Springs Village in Wodonga, Victoria. Ben also took the audience through several interesting statistics on Currumbin Ecovillage in Queensland, the most awarded residential estate in Australia. The event was …
Jul 24 2018
A new sustainable community for Yeppoon Queensland
Local residents and landholders on the coast of Queensland have employed Ben O’Callaghan of Ecomplish to provide professional advice on the planning and design of a new sustainable community. The site is amazing and will provide produce for residents on the fertile soils, near Yeppoon’s coastline, the gateway to the famous Great Keppel Island. Is …
May 04 2018
New Childcare centre awarded first EnviroDevelopment certification
Loving Hearts Child Care Centre and Kindergarten has been awarded Australia’s first UDIA EnviroDevelopment rating for a child care centre, demonstrating its industry-leading credentials. Loving Hearts has been designed and constructed to set a new benchmark in sustainable childcare centre design, construction and operation for Australia. It is arguably Australia’s most sustainable childcare centre, with …
May 01 2018
We need more affordable living, instead of affordable housing
“For too long Governments have focused on funding affordable living, meaning many Australian’s have been left in ‘affordable housing’ apartments with high utility costs. This results from poor design, because developers of affordable housing are not incentivised to focus on passive solar design and reduce heating and cooling costs, whilst increasing things like daylight and …
Dec 13 2017
Gold Gold Gold… The Science Place achieves momentous LEED certification
After three years of planning, design and construction, the James Cook University Science building called The Science Place has achieved a highly-prized green building rating. The LEED® Gold Certification is the first LEED rating of any level, for a new building in Queensland. The certification also shows The Science Place has become one of the …
Aug 18 2017
QUT stage 1 demolition completed
Stage 1 of the Education Precinct building in Kelvin Grove in Brisbane has been completed. Builder Hansen Yuncken are about to commence the structural construction works. The design successfully achieved its 5 Star ‘Green Star’ design rating from the GBCA by leveraging the rating tool experience of dsquared and Ecomplish Sustainability, who have also worked …
Aug 16 2017
Ecomplish congratulates Lend Lease on MBA Builders Project of the Year AWARD
Congratulations to Lend Lease on their MBA Builders Project of the Year MAJOR AWARD – The James Cook University ‘The Science Place. Completed in March 2017, The Science Place is an $80 million teaching and learning facility which now promotes the sciences and collocates the JCU science community on Townsville Campus to foster interdisciplinary interactions. …
Aug 01 2017
RealEstate.com.au interviews Ben O’Callaghan to create a video
Today, RealEstate.com.au featured Yagoi100, the house with over 100 sustainable design features. In it, Ecomplish Director Ben O’Callaghan explains how the smart combination of key design features can enhance residential quality of life and the local environment, whilst almost eliminating all his utility bills. To view the short video or photos see: www.realestate.com.au/lifestyle/community-living-is-easy-at-currumbin-ecovillage/