Talking Architecture & Design Podcast (Episode 229) - Improving the thermal performance and reducing heat loss risk of roofs Listen Now
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    Feature Articles

    Is the recent nuclear debate about science or politics?
    Is the recent nuclear debate about science or politics?

    It is very difficult to take Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear announcement seriously. His proposal for seven nuclear power stations is, at present, legally impossible, technically improbable, economically irrational and environmentally irresponsible.


    Prison architecture in Australia – the design stories behind the bars
    Prison architecture in Australia – the design stories behind the bars

    When criminals are sent to jail for reformation or rehabilitation, how much does the institutionalised environment impact their progress in reintegrating with the real world?


    Big batteries are solving a longstanding problem with solar power in California. Can they do the same for Australia?
    Big batteries are solving a longstanding problem with solar power in California. Can they do the same for Australia?

    When you graph electricity demand in power grids with lots of solar panels, it looks a bit like a duck, with high points in the morning and evening (when people are relying on the grid) and a big dip in the middle of the day (when many people use their own solar instead and need less from the grid). This is known as the “duck curve”. While it sounds cute, it’s become a significant challenge for energy utilities worldwide.


    Hybrid cars are having a moment – even though they’re dirtier than we think
    Hybrid cars are having a moment – even though they’re dirtier than we think

    New data shows plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids combined have overtaken battery electric vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2024. The trend continued during April and May.


    Prefabs and the ‘missing middle’: How to get to build 1.2 million homes in the next 5 years
    Prefabs and the ‘missing middle’: How to get to build 1.2 million homes in the next 5 years

    The National Cabinet set an ambitious target of building 1.2 million well-located homes over the next five years to tackle Australia’s housing crisis.


    Government not on track to get every younger person out of aged care by 2025
    Government not on track to get every younger person out of aged care by 2025

    Lisa lives with multiple sclerosis. She used to live in aged care after being admitted there in her late 40s.


    Fire & smoke control in commercial applications
    Fire & smoke control in commercial applications

    While fire safety remains a top priority for all involved in the construction sector, it is by no means a one-size-fits-all proposition. Here is a selection of some of the latest products and systems designed to help specifiers meet their obligations in this area. In 2024, as even the most cursory glance of the NCC would confirm, fire control is a complex business.


    Can tents, caravans and mobile homes be used as solutions to our housing crisis?
    Can tents, caravans and mobile homes be used as solutions to our housing crisis?

    There is little doubt Australia is in the midst of a profound housing crisis, one that has been decades in the making.


    Victoria is raising minimum rental standards – it’s good news for tenants and the environment
    Victoria is raising minimum rental standards – it’s good news for tenants and the environment

    Following the lead of countries like New Zealand and the United Kingdom, Australian states and territories are moving slowly towards improving the basic quality and performance of rental housing.


    Reconstructing heritage sites after a war
    Reconstructing heritage sites after a war

    War brings not just unimaginable human suffering, but also the destruction of significant heritage sites.


    New methods to optimise Australia's biodiversity
    New methods to optimise Australia's biodiversity

    More than 52 million hectares of land across Australia is degraded. Degraded land lacks biodiversity and the natural balance of healthy ecosystems, making it unfit for wildlife or cultivation. This means we are losing the benefits that healthy ecosystems provide for nature and people.


    Innovation and integration are key to commercial security and access control
    Innovation and integration are key to commercial security and access control

    Security and access control solutions in commercial settings are rapidly evolving as customers seek more seamless, efficient, and adaptable options. This comes as we see complex security needs such as office spaces shared by multiple tenants with differing risk profiles. A layered approach to security and access control is often recommended, integrating smart technology with physical barriers.


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