At Federation Square in Melbourne a ‘labyrinth’ water system almost 40 x 40 metres and 1.2 km in length is positioned beneath the square and provides a cooling system for surrounding buildings. This labyrinth is capable of delivering air to the adjacent buildings at up to 12°C below the external ambient temperature, equivalent to conventional air conditioning, but using one tenth of the energy consumption and generating less than a tenth of the CO2 emissions.

The building uses a circulatory system to use stored groundwater to heat the building in the winter and cool it in the summer.

< Even workers in tall commercial buildings can benefit from operable windows. Most people will tolerate greater temperature swings if they have can open and close windows. more

In some areas with delicate social fabrics, a library is the most positive meeting point a community can have. "Faros do conocimento", or "Lighthouses of knowledge" are the tallest building in the neighborhood and therefore charged with a symbolic status. They provide free access to computers as well as books. 

 

At Federation Square in Melbourne a ‘labyrinth’ water system almost 40 x 40 metres and 1.2 km in length is positioned beneath the square and provides a cooling system for surrounding buildings. This labyrinth is capable of delivering air to the adjacent buildings at up to 12°C below the external ambient temperature, equivalent to conventional air conditioning, but using one tenth of the energy consumption and generating less than a tenth of the CO2 emissions.

 

 

These automatic sun shades open and close depending on the amount of sunlight hitting the windows.

 

 

Melbourne - Natural vegetation co-exists with new commercial and residential development at the Docklands. At the Docklands in Melbourne, Australia, natural vegetation provides a lovely setting for residents and workers and habitat for birds and small creatures.

 

 

Melbourne - Letting fresh air in is possible even in tall buildings.

 

 

 

The Swedish Green Roof Institute was constructed in the Fall of 2001 as both a demonstration and research garden, with a total vegetated green roof area of approximately 90,000 sf2. Research is being conducted to test the impact of different plants, soils, substrates, establishment methods, species mixtures, drainage materials and slopes. Research is also being done on the impacts of green roofs on wildlife, biodiversity, storm-water management and the efficiency of solar panels. Simple, easy to install, and lightweight green roofs provide many benefits: building insulation, increased life for the roof, urban habitat for birds, bees, insects and small creatures and, when there are enough of them, cooling of the heat island effect in cities.

 

See all images from i-SUSTAIN's set "Malmo, Greenroofs" below.