The University of Sydney will encourage architects and builders to create more energy efficient and environmentally sound buildings in Australia, following the opening of a new laboratory today.
The Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning’s unique Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) Laboratory will allow architectural and engineering researchers, as well as the construction and development industries, to test the relationships between design, internal comfort and energy efficiency.
The IEQ Laboratory will allow researchers to control and monitor temperature, humidity, air movement, ventilation rates, air quality, daylight, artificial lighting, sound and acoustics.
Opening the IEQ Laboratory,Climate Change Minister, Greg Combet, said the building and construction industry was an important part of the transition to a clean energy future.
“This transition is creating opportunities in renewable energy, low-emissions technologies and processes, and new services that will be in high demand in a competitive low-pollution economy,” Combet said.
“Having a good work environment can create a healthy and engaging workforce and importantly, and can also add to productivity.”
The IEQ Laboratory will help industry determine the most efficient way of constructing buildings, cars, trains, buses or planes that are not only more comfortable but are more energy efficient.
“For the first time Australian industries will be able to assess the performance of buildings or vehicles before they are built,” Combet said.
“This facility will also give governments the technical resources to test energy efficiency and indoor quality measurement systems that are embedded into the National Australian Built Environment Rating System.”
Greg Combet
