Relevant Projects 

 

Energy Efficiency

·         Strategic investigation into the technical potential for reduction in maximum electrical demand in Victorian State Government facilities, for Department of Infrastructure, 2006.

·         Briefing papers on total energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation actions for large energy using organisations, including Veolia, Boral (Midland Brick), Coca-Cola Amatil (Northmead NSW), Ridley AgriProducts, Cheetham Salt, Bunker Freight Lines, Australia Post (transport), and Australian Air Express.

·         Working with Commonwealth of Australia (DISR, DITR, RET) on the potential for energy efficiency and the processes required to achieve real savings, specifically; the development, industry consultation and trialling of programs including Energy Efficiency Best Practice, “Big Energy” Projects, and Energy Efficiency Opportunities.

 

.        Energy efficiency strategic studies, energy efficiency and water efficiency audits and practical implementation projects for; City of Boroondara, Manningham City Council, Banyule City Council, City of Kingston, Shire of Yarra Ranges, Maroondah City Council, Moreland City Council, Mornington Shire, Stonnington City Council,  Melbourne City Council, Rural Shire of Wangaratta, Warrnambool City Council, Hobsons Bay City Council. 

 

Energy management and reduction programs

o        Carbon management and monitoring programs

o        GreenPower services

o        GHG audits and inventories

o        Financial modelling and scenario analysis for carbon and energy futures.

o        GHG accounting frameworks

      for numerous Government and private industry organisations including;

      the Environment Protection Authority, the Victorian Building Commission, , Moreland Energy Foundation, Melbourne City Council, Port Phillip City Council, Darebin City Council, the Macquarie Group, the Uniting Church, Becton Corporation, Minter Ellison Lawyers, Brookfield Multiplex, the Committee for Melbourne, S.A. Water, and the Sydney Opera House.

·  a broad range of ESD and energy efficiency projects for clients including Councils, State and Federal Government authorities, building owners and managers, property developers, architects and builders;

·   contributed to the development of ESD and Energy policy at the Federal, State and Local Government level;

·   developed communication tools and behaviour change strategies including guidebooks, training courses and promotional material; a detailed understanding of the legislative and economic frameworks surrounding emissions trading, carbon reporting and environmental claims.

·    contributed to the development of carbon accounting standards and methodologies including development and delivery of Carbon Accounting and Carbon Management training and education.

 

 GHG and Sustainability

 

Implementing energy, carbon greenhouse monitoring & reduction strategies

Ark Climate is currently implementing carbon reduction strategies for organisations including, Building Commission Victoria, Becton Property Group, Moreland City, Plumbing Industry Commission and the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association. These programs provide an initial GHG inventory and advice on how to most efficiently mitigate GHG emissions, energy use and waste, whilst providing ongoing web based monitoring and engineering support. 

Providing advice on relevant statutory and voluntary requirements for energy and GHG reporting.

The Ark Climate Group is currently advising numerous organisations on their obligations, risks and opportunities relating to statutory requirements as well as voluntary options under state, federal and international conventions and protocols. This includes branding, environmental claims and marketing strategy advice.

Development of online calculators, monitors and data gathering software for GHG accounting purposes.

The Ark Climate Group has developed a range of online tools for allowing individuals corporations and members of organisations to calculate and store data relating to their energy and GHG emissions.

Experience in the development of environmental indicators and measurement tools

Developed the City of Port Phillip Sustainable Design Scorecard, the City of Moreland’s STEPS assessment tool and the VicBEST residential sustainability assessment tool for the Department of Sustainability & Environment.

 

High levels of expertise in presenting complex technical and planning information in an easy to use format

We are able to communicate complex ideas in clear, plain English.

 

Track record of delivering projects on time and within budget, according to the project brief

We have a track record of delivering projects on time and within budget.

 

Relevant Projects - Carbon

Carbon Inventory Framework for Alkimos “Carbon Neutral” City on behalf of Western Australian Land Development Corporation LandCorp - Providing advice and workshops for Alkimos developer group to understand implications of GHG emissions accounting relevant to satellite city development.  This includes providing draft GHG accounting and scoping framework.

Victorian Department of Sustainability & Environment – Sustainability in the Built Environment Project

Ark Resources was engaged by the Department of Sustainability and Environment to undertake the development of a sustainability framework for the Victorian Planning System. This project involved detailed consultation with all stakeholders in the development sector, technical analysis of environmental outcomes of development and the development of a ‘sustainability framework’ for residential planning applications. The project has resulted in the development of a sustainability rating tool known as VicBEST.

City of Moreland – STEPS Project

Ark Resources in conjunction with Integrated Urban Management developed an ESD rating tool for use in the assessment of residential development applications. The STEPS tool has been implemented as an ESD benchmarking via the Planning system by Moreland city Council and has now been adopted by seven other Melbourne Councils. The tool includes a GHG indicator which is accepted as the framework of choice for residential buildings in Victoria by the Planning system including VCAT.

City of Port Phillip — Development of Sustainable Design Scorecard

Ark Resources played a key role in developing an environmental rating tool to assess the environmental performance of residential development applications in the City of Port Phillip. The project resulted in the development of the Sustainable Design Scorecard which was the precursor of the STEPS project.

During the project, we developed rational performance indicators for the key sustainability issues of energy, water and materials. Through the development of appropriate algorithms, these indicators were combined to give a ‘sustainability’ rating based on projected environmental outcomes associated with the project.

As a consequence of the focus on performance based indicators rather than prescriptive criteria, the rating tool enabled design flexibility to be maintained while ensuring that Council policy objectives are linked to actual environmental performance outcomes. The Sustainable Design Scorecard was widely acknowledged at the time as leading the way in terms of an environmental rating tool.

Victorian Department of Sustainability & Environment – Sustainable Subdivision Guidelines for Metro Fringe Shires

This project involved research and development of guidelines to be applied to new subdivisions in regional townships. The guidelines apply to environmental aspects, physical infrastructure and social amenity.

2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Infrastructure

Ark Resources has undertaken assessment of environmental outcomes from the Commonwealth Games Village and Yarra Precinct Pedestrian Link including recommendations in relation to proposed initiatives and development of a rational benchmarking framework for assessment of design options.

Melbourne  City Council — Ecologically Sustainable Building Policy

Jan Talacko of Ark Resources was engaged to review the City of Melbourne’s Ecologically Sustainable Buildings Policy and presented expert evidence in support of the Policy to a Planning Panel. The Policy has recently been adopted into the Melbourne Planning Scheme and applies to residential and commercial building applications in the City

City of Yarra Sustainable Design Models

Ark Resources in conjunction with DesignInc developed a set of Sustainable Design Models for the City of Yarra. These publications encompass common residential and commercial development typologies and are being used as an educational tool in the pursuit of improved environmental outcomes from development applications.

ESD Guidelines for Tourism Accommodation

Geoff Andrews and Jan Talacko researched and wrote a comprehensive ESD guidebook for the tourism accommodation sector. The guide, Being Green Keeps You Out Of The Red, was published by Tourism Council Australia and the Federal Department of Industry, Science & Tourism and has been widely disseminated within the tourism industry.

Tourism Victoria Fact Sheets

In 2006, Jan Talacko and Geoff Andrews prepared a series of 13 fact sheets for Tourism Victoria with the objective of providing straightforward, cost-effective and practical advice to improve the sustainability of tourism businesses. The fact sheets can be found at:

 http://www.tourismexcellence.com.au/module7/index.php?page=moresustainable

Building Commission – Planning Protection for Green Buildings

Ark Resources was commissioned by the Building Commission to undertake a review of requirements and options for planning protection of ‘Green’ buildings as defined by the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating Scheme. 

 

We would be pleased to provide more information regarding these or any other projects we have undertaken upon request.