Program 1: Integrated Building Systems
The project will connect the wealth of evidence that exists for high-performance buildings with decision and policy makers. In order to create better buildings, this project will examine ways to comprehend and integrate the best available evidence in the decision making process.
Project advisor: Scientia Prof. Deo Prasad, CRC for Low Carbon Living
Project focus
The project has two main themes working in parallel
Theme 1: Evidence for Low Carbon, Health and Productivity Outcomes – development of a evidence assessment process for the low carbon, health and productivity benefits of design, engineering and management-based building interventions, including review, assessment, analysis and synthesis of the global evidence base.
Theme 2: Building Project Decision-Making Analysis – analysis of the decision making process and the various actors/roles involved in the pre-project, briefing, early design stages of commercial office buildings and workplaces to determine when, in what form and to whom the evidence should be delivered to ensure its most effective impact and use. It is expected that the findings from this theme will guide the form of the evidence based decision support tool
Expected project outcomes:
Evidence assessment process for the built environment sector to understand low carbon, health and productivity outcomes
An evidence-based decision support tool for low carbon, health and productivity in buildings
Industry focused reports
Academic publications
2 PhD graduates
Program
Project leader
Dr. Stephen White, CSIRO
Project status
Complete
Project period
01/2014 to 06/2018
Global network:
It is proposed to establish a global network of industry and non-government research groups who are active in undertaking, assessing and compiling research into low carbon, health and productivity benefits of high performance buildings and policy settings. This network will be used to assist in the gathering of evidence and the dissemination of the outcomes of this project. The current proposed network comprises;
- Publications
- Posters
- News
- Partners
Peer reviewed research publications
RP1009: Investigating systematic review for multi-disciplinary research in the built environment
Examines the extent to which a systematic review approach is transferable from medicine to multi-disciplinary studies in built environment research.
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-10-2016-0056
RP1009: Evidence based practice for the built environment: can systematic reviews close the research-practice gap?
Outlines an approach used by the CRC for Low Carbon Living to introduce evidence-based practice to the built environment.
Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.04.341
RP1009: Beyond an ‘informed opinion’: evidence-based practice in the built environment
Investigates sources of evidence influencing decision-makers in office building design and development, and why some managers engage more in evidence-based practice.
CRCLCL Project Reports
RP1009: Closing the Loop: Navigating the evidence for evidence-based research
Informs the second stage of the "Closing the Loop" project, building on the foundation established in the first paper.
RP1009: Closing the Loop Building Typology and Stakeholder Review
Provides an overview of existing data on building energy performance in Australia to guide typology selection.
RP1009: The Tenant's Role in Creating the Business Case for High Performance Low-Carbon Buildings: Systematic Literature Review and Post Occupancy Evaluation
Explores how tenants/owners can influence environmental behaviors to ensure building performance.
RP2009: Closing the Loop Systematic Review Report
Discusses the use of empirical evidence to close the loop in design practices.
Building better decisions: Why good evidence is used (and ignored) in the built environment sector
Explores the adoption and challenges of evidence-based decision making in the built environment.
CRCLCL Project Posters
Student Poster 2017: RP1009 - CLOSING THE LOOP: EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING
Christian Criado-Perez – Participants Annual Forum 2017
Christian Criado-Perez: Student Poster 2017 - RP1009 (757289 PDF)
Student Poster 2017: RP1009 - INFLUENCES ON TENANTS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE IN LOW CARBON, HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS?
Subhadarsini Parida – Participants Annual Forum 2017
Subhadarsini Parida: Student Poster 2017 - RP1009 (1089850 PDF)
Student Poster 2016: RP1009 - Closing the loop - Evidence-based decision making
Christian Criado-Perez – Participants Annual Forum 2016
Christian Criado-Perez Student Poster 2016 RP1009 (1535721 PDF)
Student Poster 2016: RP1009 - The effect of high performance, low carbon office building on employees' productivity and wellbeing
Subhadarsini Parida – Participants Annual Forum 2016
Subhadarsini Parida Student Poster RP1009 (1192021 PDF)
Student Poster 2015: RP1009 - Closing the Loop on Evidence-Based Low Carbon Design of Non-Residential Buildings
Subha Parida – Participants Annual Forum 2015
Subha Parida Student Poster 2015 RP1009 (235958 PDF)
Student Poster 2015: RP1009 - Closing the Loop on evidence-based low carbon design of non-residential buildings
Christian Perez – Participants Annual Forum 2015
Christian Perez student poster 2015 RP1009 (1275424 PDF)
Research Snapshot Poster - RP1009
A3 size poster from Participants Annual Forum 2014
Research Snapshot Poster - RP1009 (513837 PDF)
Media relating to this project
How can we create healthy work environments?
24 May 2018
We're proud to sponsor The Fifth Estate's latest ebook How To Bring Your Office to Life featuring the CRCLCL's Christian Criado-Perez discussing healthy workspaces and high performing buildings. Christian carried out an in-depth study of 200 senior managers in the Australian built environment sector to assess the key drivers shaping the design and development of office buildings.
The rise of the plyscraper
3 March 2018
CRC for Low Carbon Living researcher and high-rise expert Dr Philip Oldfield was interviewed by UNSW Magazine about the rise of wooden skyscrapers. Aided by breakthroughs in the manufacture of materials, and a push for sustainable urban living, wooden towers have emerged at the cutting edge of community-friendly architecture.
Positive impacts of Green buildings needs more promotion, industry concludes
25 March 2015
The positive effects of high performance buildings on people’s health, wellbeing and productivity needs much greater public promotion, leading building industry partners of the CRC for Low Carbon Living’s Closing the Loop Project concluded following workshops held in conjunction with the Green Cities 2015 conference.
Internationally renowned green design architect and researcher Professor Vivian Loftness of Carnegie Mellon University, who spoke at the conference and took part in the workshops, outlined the power of implementing the triple bottom line plus the financial, environmental and human benefits of good design choices.
Brett Pollard, Head of Knowledge and Sustainability at HASSELL said that there was plentiful research and evidence from academic experts such as Professor Vivian Loftness, however the message about the benefits was still not getting through to people who are procuring buildings.
Invest in triple bottom line - building industry leaders told
17 March 2015
Building Industry leaders were told today that investment in the triple bottom line will not only deliver sustainable cities it will increase business productivity, profitability and wellbeing for employees.
Health = profitability: World leading sustainability architect to speak at Green Cities 2015
Posted 6 March 2015 - 1:53pm
Good staff health and wellbeing leads to improved productivity and profitability says internationally renowned researcher Professor Vivian Loftness.
Speaking at Green Cities 2015 in Melbourne (Grand Hyatt) on 17 March 2015 (11.15am-12:15pm), Professor Loftness of Carnegie Mellon University, will call on research that demonstrates green building design and good Indoor Environment Quality can deliver significant improvements to staff health and wellbeing, which in turn can dramatically improvements to an organisation’s bottom line.
Professor Loftness’ visit is sponsored by the CRC for Low Carbon Living’s Closing the Loop Project, which aims to connect decision makers with the wealth of evidence in support of high performance, sustainable buildings.
The Closing the Loop project involves leading industry partners Brookfield Multiplex, HASSELL and AECOM and cites Loftness’ work as a key influence. During her visit Professor Loftness will also meet industry leaders for high level discussions on the way forward for sustainable design and construction in Australia and around the world.
Professor Loftness was on the steering committee for the World Green Building Council’s project on health, wellbeing and productivity in green office buildings. This aimed to define the health and productivity benefits of green office buildings and encourage positive investment decisions.
World’s green building organisation partners with leading Australian low carbon research – agreement signed
8 September 2014
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC)* and Australia’s leading organisation working towards building sustainable communities – the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) – have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to take a global step towards defining ‘low’ to ‘no’ carbon cities in our world.
The three year CRCLCL ‘Closing the Loop’ project – supported by leading industry partners Brookfield Multiplex, HASSELL and AECOM – will connect a wealth of existing evidence with front-end decision makers through better business case analysis, professional education, practical tools and guidelines.
“’Closing the Loop’ will help global industries create built environments to positively impact people’s health, wellbeing and productivity whilst improving the building industry’s environmental performance,” CRCL Chief Executive Officer, Scientia Professor Deo Prasad AO, said of the signing.
“Collaborating with the World Green Building Council provides our project team with a unique opportunity to tap into the global leadership and significant knowledge that already exists throughout the world, thanks to the Council.”
The WorldGBC will support the CRCLCL by designating staff to help coordinate the project, opening an ongoing dialogue with the CRC, identifying overlaps and areas for future collaboration. This will provide information for reports, materials and promoting collateral within the global building community.
‘Closing the Loop’ members have been involved in WorldGBC’s ‘Health Wellbeing and Productivity in Offices’ report, through participation in the project Technical Committee and by providing ongoing dialogue, content review and feedback on proposed metrics, whilst helping to promote the report’s findings.
“With up to 90 per cent of a company’s costs spent on salaries and benefits, even modest improvements to staff health and productivity can have a dramatic impact on organisational profitability. ‘Closing the Loop’ will enhance our understanding of the health, wellbeing and productivity implications of building design so that we can create environments that positively encourage health and wellbeing and stimulate productivity,” the WorldGBC’s Chief Executive, Jane Henley concluded.
Partners on this project
Universities:
- University of South Australia
- UNSW Sydney
- The University of Melbourne
- Curtin University
Companies:
- HASSELL
- MULTIPLEX
- AECOM