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Fran Strachan
Communications Manager Low Carbon Living CRC
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fran.strachan@unsw.edu.au

The energy consumption of buildings and their contribution to energy poverty and climate change are major problems plaguing the built environment.

On its own, Australia’s building sector accounts for almost one-quarter of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

In UNSW Built Environment's next Utzon Lecture, international built environment expert Professor Mattheos Santamouris will analyse the global impact of the building sector and investigate the technological, economic and social forces required to achieve zero emissions buildings.

“Around 40% of the total energy consumption in developed nations is attributable to buildings,” Professor Santamouris said. “Manufacturing of building components and products requires almost three billion tonnes of raw materials per year, which is the equivalent of 40 to 50% of the global annual material use.”

Based on his research, Professor Santamouris will present an estimation of the investments needed to fulfil globally defined targets and discuss the social, environmental, health and employment benefits of a zero emissions built environment.

What: Utzon Lecture: Innovating to Zero in the Building Sector: minimising energy consumption, eradicating energy poverty and mitigating local climate change

When:  UNSW Ainsworth Theatre G03, Ground Floor, Ainsworth Building, UNSW Kensington

Where: 7pm, Wednesday, 28 September 2016

Professor Mattheos Santamouris is UNSW’s Anita Lawrence Chair in High Performance Architecture and Professor of Energy Physics at the University of Athens. He is also visiting professor at the Cyprus Institute, Metropolitan University of London, Tokyo Polytechnic University, Bolzano University, Brunnel University and the National University of Singapore. Professor Santamouris was formerly the President of the National Centre for Renewable and Energy Savings, Greece’s national body for the promotion of renewable energy sources and energy conservation. He is also editor in chief of Energy and Buildings, associate editor of the Solar Energy Journal and former editor in chief of the Journal of Advances in Building Energy Research.

About the Utzon Lecture Series: The Utzon Lecture Series was officially launched in 2010 by Jan Utzon, the son of the renowned Danish architect Jørn Utzon. Held on a monthly basis at UNSW, the series focuses on the presentation of ideas from leading contributors of international significance in the design, delivery and management of the built environment.