News
ACT Government ESD Consulting Panel Appointment
After a long process of review Vim Sustainability has recently been appointed to the panel of ESD consultants for the ACT Government.
This panel will provide ESD consulting services to the ACT government across a range of developments. Selected on merit and specialised skills the panel is limited to a few ESD consultancies that provided the best fit for the governments requirements. Vim Sustainability's expertise in passive and low tech solutions for improving resource efficiency across the built environment and our expertise in Zero Emissions Developments in Canberra helped to gain us our appointment.
We are very excited about this appointment and look forward to being able to add value to the the community of the ACT and our world.
16.03.10
Uniting Care 'Gordon' ACT Project.
The Uniting Church Aged Care division known as Uniting Care are leaders in Aged Care across Australia. They have commenced the design of a new major Aged Care facility in Gordon, a suburb of the ACT. They are keen to ensure it is a cutting edge sustainable design considering the use of passive and low tech heating and cooling options, maximised building envelope quality to cope with the cold and hot Canberra climate, and utilisation of renewable energy wherever possible.In addition unique facility design options are also being considered, incorporating Aged Care initiatives from over seas that have never been tried in Australia before.Vim Sustainability are proud to be announced as the ESD consultants on this exciting and unique project . This is the second project we have undertaken for Uniting Care after having been involved in the Lakeview project at Shell harbour.
12.03.10
CEO Oran Park (NSW) School and Church Development
Vim Sustainability are pleased to announce their appointment as ESD consultants for the new Catholic Education Office Oran Park education and worship centre.
Oran Park is a new suburb in development in western Sydney and is designed around broad sustainability pricnciples.Vim Sustainability's appointment is due our expertise provided to the CEO last year on over 50 of their shcools.Vim Sustainability has a large amount of experience working in schools and also in urban developments where sustainable outcomes are required to be maximised.
Utilising passive and low tech design science our process will involve initial climate considerations for the location as well as investigation of the preliminary overall layout of the precinct in regards to wind and sunshine .The idea us to ensure the proposed precinct maximises external comfort for the occupants before the final locations of the buildings are confirmed. Using detailed CFD air flow and sunlighting analysis software we are able to understand the impacts of a range of design options in this initial stages.Ths will minimise risk for our client and ensure that the preliminary design starts on the right foot.
Kmart ESD Consultants
Vim Sustainability are pleased to announce their appointment as ESD consultants and energy auditors to Kmart Retail nationwide and in New Zealand. Kmart are one of Australia's largest retailers. The role involves providing detailed ESD design strategies for their new and refurbished retail and distribution centres.In addition we will be undertaking EEO audits for a range of their facilities.
Kmart have decided to embrace ESD as a functional and smart direction for their future and Vim Sustainability are very excited to be a part of that journey with Kmart.
14.01.10
Vim's new staff
Vim Sustainability are pleased to announce the appointment of three new engineers to their team. Two of them are very experienced mechanical engineers with a thorough understanding of passive heating and cooling engineering including earth tube design, thermal labyrinth, solar cooling towers ,Windcatchers, evaporative roof cooling and a raft of other unique energy free heating and cooling options which are specialist areas of Vim. Also one of the new mechanical engineers is a master at building thermal and energy modelling.The third engineer is an electrical engineer who has spent many years undertaking energy auditing across a rn age of multi storey buildings across the world.He also brings a range of electrical design skills including lighting design to our service offering.
6.01.10
Monodraught Windcatcher sale
Vim Sustainability are the sole Australian and New Zealand Monodraught distributors and are pleased to announce the sale of a large number of Monodraught units to the first 5 star Green Star school in New Zealand . After an exhaustive investigation by the clients engineers the Ministry of Education placed the order just before Xmas.The order is the fourth largest ever placed for a Monodraught Windcatcher system.Vim Sustainability and Monodraught worked tirelessly for 10 months to ensure that all the clients requests and redesigns were attended to.
Vim Sustainability are looking forward to assisting with the commissioning of these units in Auckland commencing mid 2010.
15.11.09
Green Star Professionals
Vim Sustainability has been appointed the Green Star professionals and ESD Consultants on the first 5 star Green Star TAFE building at Kurri Kurri, north of Sydney.The building is a new Hotel training academy.
Vim are the ESD consultants as well and our role entails providing the design strategy for the project as well as undertaking all the natural ventilation modelling using CFD analysis, building thermal modelling, Air change Effectiveness analysis,commissioning engineers and the role of Accredited Professionals.This is an exciting project and builds on Vim's knowledge gained from undertaking all the schools works last year
15.06.09
Education Revolution Appointment
Vim Sustainability has been appointed as the ESD Consultants on a range of schools in the Illawarra and Sydney region by the Catholic Education Office.In a bid to make their schools more comfortable and sustainable the Catholic Education Office has appointed Vim Sustainability to ensure the Architectural designs of these school projects maximise sustainability initiatives in the early design stages.This is an exciting project and highlights the broad range of value and expertise Vim Sustainability can bring to your project.
14.06.09
Appointment of Dr Phuoc Huynh
Dr Phuoc Huynh is a renowned expert in Fluid mechanics and Natural Ventilation. Senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and Fluid Mechanics at University of Technology in Sydney (UTS) Phuoc joins our team as a skilled associate working closely with us on a range of proejcts.His understanding of the details of air movement and fluids provides a great asset to our company, increasing our level and range of technical expertise and we are thrilled to have Phuoc become one of our team.
12.06.09
Energy Auditors Appointment
Vim Sustainability are pleased to announce their appointment to the Department of Environment and Climate Change energy auditing panel.This appointment identifies Vim Sustainability skills in energy and resource auditing. Vim Sustainability has skilled engineers who are trained and accredited in Energy Auditing to Australian Standard Level 3 by AIRAH -the Australian Institute of Refrigeration,Air Conditioning and Heating Engineers.
Appointment to this panel recognizes the work Vim Sustainability has done in maximising efficiencies and minimising energy and resource wastage.The audits entail a very detailed level of investigation and provide the client with a range of capital expenditure and Returns on Investment combined with projected energy,cost and carbon savings over the year.
10.04.09
Energy Management Partnership Programme
This is an exciting and innovative new idea form Vim Sustainability and is suited to a range of industries. Please consider this idea for your facility or project.
In a recent level 3 Australian Standard energy audit Vim Sustainability undertook for an Aged Care provider for a facility completed in 2004 we indicated that we could save around $50,000 per year, every year based on current power costs, for an initial one off expenditure of $30,000!
Imagine how much could be saved if an audit was undertaken of a 10 or 20 or 30 year old facility?
In order to assist with realising these measurable savings VIM Sustainability has developed an Energy Management Partnerships Program (EMPP).
The aim of the program is to take the risk out of managing your energy utilisation and handballing that to the experts. Every EMPP is underpinned by a demonstrated cost benefit and in some circumstances Vim Sustainability will fund the upfront rectification costs for the facility. This is based on a term contract to manage the energy costs and share in the savings. Nothing like a win – win scenario; no upfront cost, energy managed by experts and savings are shared.
The EMPP commences with a facility audit followed by a frank discussion about the costed management options available to the operator. It is perfectly conceivable that many thousands of dollars will be saved by the operator, the management knowledge base will expand and business efficiencies will be enhanced.
In addition depending on the options chosen Vim could undertake ongoing back to base energy monitoring of your facility and provide regular benchmarking reports as part of the service. This will enable you to measure the use of power or the amount of carbon being created and understand the facility operating efficiencies.
To register interest in the EMPP and find out more go to the Aged Care Direct web site http://www.agedcaredirect.com.au/ and participate in an Energy Management Survey. The survey is aimed at capturing data that supports the work required to create an industry energy level benchmark. So see where you fit in.
15.03.09
Vim Sustainability have been asked to undertake a range of Energy Audits to Level 3 Australian Standard across some large industrial and commercial facilities by the Department of Environment and Climate Change
Vim Sustainability are now trained and accredited by AIRAH in Level 1, 2 and 3 Australian Standard Energy Audits. Using specific systems designed by Vim Sustainability our energy auditing and commissioning skills are second to none.We have a range of onsite and software analysis tools and can provide you with 'Returns on Investment' (ROI) and Cap Ex costings.
We are not limited to energy auditing as we also do even more detailed Eco audits which include but are not limited to examining a range of resource efficiency items,internal environment quality including daylighting and CO2 levels etc and detailed building thermal opportunities in the existing built environment.
29.01.09
Vim Sustainability are pleased to announce they are opening up a new component of their business by introducing a sales division to be known as VimCARE.
This stands for Vim Clean and Renewable Energy.
Vim Sustainability have been appointed the sole Australian Distributors for a range of unique Sustainability products including Monodraught Natural Ventilation units,the amazing 'Road Energy Systems' which uses roads to heat and cool buildings and the First Light Energy self contained, almost silent heat pump air conditioning unit.This unique unit has no external compressor or other ancillary fittings that normally plague designers and installers with their ugliness, noise and cost of installation.
In addition we wil be selling Talbotts bio mass generators from the UK and a range of exciting wind turbines.
Stay tuned for more exciting news on these and some other unique energy saving and carbon reducing solutions.
29.01.09
John Brodie has been confirmed as the speaker at 6 conferences around Australia so far this year. These include the national Housing Conference in Sydney and the Second Green Hospitals Conference in Melbourne as well as the Retirement Living Conference in Adelaide for the South Australian and Northern Territory Retirement organisations.
20.01.09
The Clean Energy Council is undertaking a range of seminars on carbon trading across Australia. John is presenting at these conferences and at the upcoming one in Adelaide he is speaking about the Costs of Sustainability. Many people feel sustainability is a major cost exercise for little value. John will provide some examples of sustainability and the costs it incurs during the design process.The presentation will also consider the non structural costs if a business doesn't adopt a sustainable approach.
22.12.08
This year has seen John Brodie present at over 30 conferences and at least 5 seminars on a range of sustainability topics. Conferences include the National Aged Care and Retirement living conferences, the Clean Energy Council seminar on Carbon Trading, Key note speaker at the National conference of the Facilities Management Association, the New Zealand Retirement Villages Association, a sustainability seminar for Macquarie Bank, Presenter and Chairman at the inaugural Green Hospitals Conference, the Australian Institute of Project Managers national conference, the GreenTech conference, the St John of God Green Hospitals conference in Perth and an assortment of other conferences and seminars across Australia.
20.12.08
John has been chosen to be the sustainability presenter on the Radio 6PR in Perth Saturday talk back show.The programme is a regular weekend show hosted by Tod Johnson.Tod is a great proponent of sustainability and after hearing John talk at a conference he was chairing, Tod asked John to become a regular on the show. John talks about a range of sustainability issues and then the audience ring in and ask John a range of questions on sustainability including how they can make their home more sustainable or comfortable in an energy efficient way.
13.08.08
Vim Sustainability are thrilled to announce their appointment as ESD Consultants on Australia's first ever ZED group of developments. ZED stands for Zero Emissions Development and this is a standard of sustainable design that has never been attempted before here in Australia .There are only a handful of ZED developments anywhere in the world and there has never before been a ZED attempted in any sort of healthcare scenario. Healthcare has a much more intense load profile than a residential or commercial project therefore the challenges facing the design teams on these exciting new projects will be profound and innovative. Three of the projects are large precincts including of over 6 hectares and include retirement living and aged care components, retail and commercial precincts and assorted other infrastructure such as club house and child care centre.Each is its own small community offering similar problems that beset most communities as they struggle to find the most efficient way to become more efficient.
06.08.08
John Brodie has founded the Australian Association of Sustainable Healthcare (AASH). After raising the idea while he was chairing the first Green Hospitals Conference in Brisbane in June this year John has moved the concept forward with some interested parties and has had the name registered and a committee formed.
The aim of the Association is to promote the benefits of sustainability and maximised patient health outcomes across all genres of the Healthcare industry. A cutting edge conference on the overall issues of sustainability and the healthcare industry will be held in Hobart mid next year .Please stay tuned here for further information as it arrives.
6.05.08
John Brodie has been confirmed as a speaker at the National Retirement Villages Association (RVA) in Perth during November. John will be talking about 'The Costs of Not Building Sustainably'.This will be an exciting conference to speak at as John will be the first proponent of sustainability speaking at this conference for this rapid growth industry.This follows on from John's successful presentation at the New Zealand National Retirement Villages conference held in June at Coolum, in Queensland.John received a warm and interested response from the attendees at that meeting.He has been invited back to New Zealand next year to speak on more sustainability issues at the next NZ RVA National Conference
27.04.08
John Brodie has been confirmed as a presenter at the national conference of the Australian Institute of Project Managers in Canberra during September. John will be talking about 'Sustainability -The Do's and Don't's.'
This presentation is based on John's experience as a sustainability consultant in the built environment and as a design and construction manager. This is the second consecutive year that John has been asked to present at this important conference where project managers from all areas of commerce and industry spend three days discussing the issues they face in the year ahead.
11.02.08
New Zealand has finally started to embrace the sustainability outcomes required to help mitigate our climate change bound future!
The New Zealand Retirement Villages Association has approached John about talking to their members about sustainability at their upcoming national conference over the first week of June 2008.Once the details are approved they will be found first here on this web site.
10.02.08
Baptcare are a large Australian Aged care provider and have approached John about presenting on sustainability at their next annual conference to be held in Melbourne during early May.The specific topic hasn't been confirmed but Baptcare are keen to assist their members to understand and embrace sustainability in their facilites.To aid them in their requirements they approached John and asked him to suggest some topics on the subject that would be relevant and add value to the conference.Once the details have been clarified the topic of the presentation will be detailed in this news section.
18.01.08
John Brodie was today confirmed as a presenter at the Tri-State conference on Aged and Community care held in Albury NSW over the 25th-26th of February 2008.
Johns presentation will be Titled 'The Do's and Don't's of Sustainability'.
This presentation is based on the years of experience John has had in assisting clients and their design or build teams understand and implement sustainable practice into their design and build projects.John uses his recent experience as winner of the 2006 Master Builders Merit Award for Energy Efficiency to framework his presentation so that the attendees can leave with a succinct list of tips imperative for a successful sustainable project outcome.
28.07.07
Vim Sustainability has provided all of the sustainability produce for the new 'About the House' Web Site which is found on the Fairfax Web site. A broad range of videos detailing assorted components of sustainable building design have been completed and some of those are now on the Fairfax site. In addition many of the vignettes have been recorded on CDs for the investment and real estate industries as well.
John Brodie stars in the videos while also writing them and performing them.Nick Ahern is the producer.Turn to the 'About the House' web site for further details.
28.07.07
Vim Sustainability Consulting have been commissioned by VIC URBAN ,the Victorian Government development organisation, to provide sustainability consulting advice on their exciting new Eco Industrial park in Eastern Melbourne.This industrial park will aim to achieve worldwide recognition as a leader in industrial sustainable design, build and operations.
Vim Sustainability will provide a sustainable design framework for the warehouses and offices as well as assisting in costing their proposals.In addition Vim Sustainability will undertake detailed building thermal analysis using the latest thermal analysing software to ensure that their recommendations will provide measurable sustainable benchmarks. These benchmarks and Vim's overall sustainable design parameters will then provide the framework for all future designs in the park.
20.02.07
INsite Magazine has asked John Brodie to write an article on sustainability and Education for the next edition.
The magazine has a wide circulation throughout Australia and New Zealand.
The article will examine the benefits to students, teachers and operators of a sustainable approach to Education facilities.
12.02.07
John Brodie confirmed as workshop convener at the 'Urban Water Policy' National Conference being held in Brisbane during June, 2007.
John was invited to present on this important topic and has formulated the workshop topic that will investigate historical, cultural and innovative water use concepts and solutions that may have been lost, overlooked or simply ignored in the scramble for a solution to our water crisis.
John is encouraging the attendees to 'think outside the drip' at this workshop.
This conference includes keynote speakers from Australia and around the world who are at the forefront of water technology, management and philosophy.
For more information click here: www.iqpc.com/au/uwp
21.12.06
John has been asked to present on sustainability and the Built Environment again at the Aged and Community Services Association (ACSA) statewide conference in Sydney in June 2007.
John presented at two of the ACSA conferences last year and has a whole new range of subjects to introduce to the attendees this year.This year he will look at the 'costs of building sustainably' as well as reviewing basic sustainable design concepts.
14.12.06
ACCV ask John Brodie to present on sustainability and the Built Environment in Melbourne in March for their 2007 Property operations conference.
6.12.06
John Brodie invited to be guest lecturer on sustainability at University of Technology (UTS) beginning March 2007.
John was invited by the course Director of the ‘School of the Built Environment’ (UTS) to lecture to the students on sustainability and its relevance to the Built Environment.
5.12.06
John Brodie presented at the ACCV (Aged and Community Care, Victoria) conference today. His presentation was titled ‘Sustainability. How much does it cost?’
His presentation was interesting and thought provoking, showing how sustainability is a cost effective investment for any business. He has been invited return in 2007 to go into more detail on the sustainable design and build aspects of a facility.
2.12.06
John Brodie’s presentation on Sustainability at the ACAA National Congress becomes the topic of an article in ‘Insight’.
24.11.06
John Brodie asked to provide an article on sustainability for the Hotel and Motel Accommodation Australia newsletter.
22.11.06
John Brodie’s article on sustainability and the relationship with Information Technology (IT) was published in the Aged Care Directory today. This is a nationwide publication catering specifically for the Aged Care industry.
19.11.06
John Brodie speaks on sustainability at the ACAA (Aged Care Association Australia) National Congress in Perth. John delivered his sustainable presentation to over 400 delegates at the biggest Aged Care Congress in Australia and New Zealand. His informative presentation was warmly received and generated a lot of interest.
5.11.06
Vim Consulting’s recent project wins Master Builders ‘Merit’ award for ‘Energy Efficiency’.
The Willowood Nursing Home in Sydney, one of Vim Consulting’s most recent sustainable projects, won the Master Builders Merit award for ‘Energy Efficiency’ this week. The award was presented at the Black tie dinner event held last Saturday night at the Sydney Convention Centre in Darling Harbour.
This project has provide the benchmark over sustainability in Aged Care in NSW and the client is very pleased at the energy efficient outcomes the design has provided.
3 .11.06
John Brodie speaks on sustainability at ACCV Aged Care conference in Melbourne.
John Brodie has been asked to return to Melbourne and deliver another presentation on sustainability at the Aged Care conference being held by ACCV on December the 5th at the Caulfield Raceway.
John’s last presentation in Melbourne for ACCV (Retirement Villages) in August was a great success and provided many thought provoking concepts on the benefits of sustainable practice for all attendees.
15.10.06
John Brodie’s most recent article on sustainability for the ‘National Health Journal’ was published today. This articles examines the benefits of sustainability to any sort of Health facility.
5.10.06
John Brodie presents on sustainability at the Aged Care Services (Retirement Villages) in Brighton Le Sands in Sydney.
27 .08.06
John Brodie speaks on sustainability at the ACCV (Retirement Villages) conference at Caulfield Race course in Melbourne.
25 .07.06
John Brodie speaks on sustainability at the ACS (Aged Care) conference in Sydney.
28 06.06
John Brodie speaks on sustainability at the ACAA (NSW) Conference in Sydney.
