The Building Designers Association of Victoria (BDAV) has announced Alan Pears AM as the keynote speaker for their first CPD seminar in 2017. The seminar is being organised on Monday 13 February as part of the National Sustainable Living Festival.
A highly-regarded environmental consultant, and considered by many as the pioneer of the energy efficiency policy in Australia, Pears will discuss ‘Sustainability in Design’ in his keynote speech, providing members with a historical perspective on the evolution of sustainable housing in Victoria. He will also cover the complex politics, changing climate, population growth and other factors that are creating opportunities and challenges for today’s building designers.
Having worked in the sustainable energy and environment fields since the late 1970s for community groups, the government and the private sector, Pears has helped develop and implement programs such as the Home Energy Advisory Service, public information and education, appliance energy labelling, and mandatory building insulation regulations.
Pears describes sustainability as meeting the needs of today in ways that don’t undermine future capacity to ensure the welfare of society and ecological systems. He observes that declining costs of implementation, improved products and systems, and an increasing focus on the environment are feeding public interest; however, leading edge practitioners need support to try new approaches, feedback on what works, and mechanisms for recognition from clients and community.
The CPD seminar will also feature presentations from the finalists of BDAV’s 10-Star Sustainable Design Challenge, with the winner to be announced at the event.
The seminar is being organised as part of the National Sustainable Living Festival, which aims to accelerate the uptake of sustainable living by showcasing leading solutions to various ecological and social challenges. To be held from Saturday 4 February to Monday 28 February, the Festival will feature interactive workshops, talks, demonstrations, artworks, exhibits, films and live performances over the three-week program, and is expected to welcome more than 200,000 visitors.
The CPD seminar will be held on Monday 13 February from 6pm to 8pm at Treasury Theatre, 1 Macarthur Street, East Melbourne. Register here.
