Australia presents its proposals for a sustainable construction in Spain

Perhaps Australia, even if only by its remoteness, is a country unknown to many companies in our country, who are unaware of the business opportunities offered. For this reason, the 'Australian Trade Commission' (commercial representation Office), with a presence in more than 50 countries, intends to promote investment, through its range of advisory services and support to the Spanish investors interested in Australia.

One of the opportunities that opens on the horizon is that of sustainable construction, where Australia enjoys an international reputation due to their good practices. Australian sustainable construction market is the second most developed in the world, after the American, and its market share in the Asia-Pacific region is booming, at a dizzying pace.

Five were the companies that participated in the seminar, three of them charged with making and design projects directly related to sustainable construction. This is the case of Bovis Lend Lease, one of the leading companies in management of construction projects, appearing in the top of sustainability in the "Dow Jones Sustainability Index" since 2001. The consultant works at the moment within the World Commission which aims to create a universal registration of the rules that must meet a building to be sustainable. Bovis Lend Lease minimizes their own impacts, preaching by example in its facilities all over the world.

On the other hand, José Castilla, Cundall Spain senior consultant, presented the upcoming projects of the company and the model in which they are based, vertebrates in the location, resources, facilities, form of the building and envelope.

Under the title ' management online of information to reduce the environmental impact on construction projects ', the director of business development of Aconex, Daniel Palomar, exhibited a model in which all the companies participating in a project under construction (client)(, Manager of the project, dealers, architects, etc.) they are fully synchronized in the sending, receiving and control of the thousands of documents circulating (plans, certificates, official correspondence, etc.), regardless of their location. As an example of projects carried out under this model, Palomar presented the development of several hotel projects in Morocco - next to Jones Lang Lasalle-, Lisbon Airport, and the construction of several shops in United Kingdom Ikea, Chinese and Australia.

The seminar was also the setting for the introduction of two new ideas developed by Australian companies. Eolyventsolar, Spain and Portugal of the Edmonds company representative, presented the new hybrid extractors 'ecopower', made in Australia. It's encoders that use wind power and when there is no air flow activated an electric motor. The engine is controllable by any system of digital measurement, such as the speed of the wind, temperature, moisture, volatile organic compounds and specific concentrations of gases. In addition it emits very low levels of noise and adapts to the new CTE rules and the requirements of sustainable construction.

Also had his space company Centor Architectural, just launch the multi-functional screen S1E Eco-Screen of large dimensions (width 7.4 meters) and 3 meters high and manual control. The screen allows you to control insects and thermally isolate a space, in addition to being useful as a cinema screen, from inside or outside, if used with a blind UV.

Sustainable construction in Australia and the similarities with Spain

Australia is the most urbanized country in the world per capita and is the continent most affected by climate change. Therefore, it is not surprising that 84% of Australian architects and contractors are already involved in the sustainable construction sector.

The climatic conditions of Spain and Australia are very similar - warm summers, long periods of drought and short of heavy rains. In the country of the Pacific challenges focus on the increase in temperature and sea levels and its adverse implications on the utility of the land degradation. Other significant challenges are saving energy and its scarce water resources management. The Australian Government's objective is that more than 60% of all buildings are 'green' before the year 2020.

Australia specializes and provides examples of good practices in the following areas:

· Heating, ventilation and air conditioning

· Isolation, including products of thermal regulation in mass

· Pavements, including carpet

· Wooden floors

· Paints, coatings, adhesives and sealing products

· Doors, Windows and skylights

· Energy-saving hot water systems.