Author's posts
Feb 03 2024
$2B sustainable community for the Gold Coast at Harbour Shores
After over two years of planning Harbour Shores has been launched and revealed both house and apartment plans. The estate has received the maximum 6 Star rating using the Green Star Communities system from the Green Building Council of Australia. The luxurious community will include electric vehicle chargers, community gardens and over 100,000 new plants …
May 04 2023
Optimal size can make a community stronger
According to Dunbar’s Number theory, humans can only really maintain about 150 practical connections with quality relationships at once. That is, there is a cognitive limit on human groups at about 150 individuals. The theory suggests tightest circle has just five people loved ones. That’s followed by successive layers of 15 (good friends), 50 (friends) …
Oct 30 2021
Featured on ABC News 7pm: Net Zero Homes
COP26 is reverberating; this week the ABC News crew wanted to interview me about my Net Zero house and it appeared tonight on the 7pm ABC News. Two weeks ago ARD (Germany’s ABC equivalent) did the same thing. I think the media can play a big part in highlighting the solutions and demand for action, …
Jul 02 2021
Two Teslas are better than one
We have changed to using two electric cars and upgraded our solar array to 11kW to charge them. I personally haven’t been to a petrol station for over 2 years (since owning the Model X Tesla). Despite their capital cost, they are 75% cheaper to run and are leaders in the field of road safety …
May 30 2021
10+ Years with the Green Building Council of Australia
Ecomplish is so proud to have been associated with the GBCA for over 10 years! I remember attending one of the first public forums on the Council’s plans in Canberra back in 2003; I had personally experienced some of the huge gaps in the building industry, that thankfully Green Star now fills. It has been …
Dec 27 2020
Sunseeker at Byron Bay Opens
The gorgeous Sunseeker has opened for bookings just in Byron Bay Australia. The amazing rooms can be booked via www.thesunseeker.com.au The owner has incorporated many sustainability features and is a model for others. https://www.thesunseeker.com.au/sustainability Ecomplish was proud to be involved in the project as their sustainability advisor.
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 …
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 …
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
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. See the Early Learning Centre Case Study here.
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 …