Answers to Questions

BUILDING INNOVATION FUND

260 Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (13 July 2011) (First Session). With respect to 2011-12 Budget Paper 4—Volume 3, p134, Sub-program 3.2—

What projects have been implemented under the building innovation fund?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation): I am advised of the following information:

The Building Innovation Fund aims to establish South Australia as the nation's leader in demonstrating innovative approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from existing commercial buildings.

The $2 million fund was established in 2008-09 and provides grants for both capital works and feasibility studies to universities, not-for-profit associations and owners of private office buildings, hotels and shopping centres.

Three funding rounds have been completed, resulting in the provision of around $1.5 million towards six capital works projects and four feasibility studies. The fourth funding round closed earlier this year and the outcome is expected to be announced before the end of the financial year.

Three feasibility studies have been completed. These include studies into living wall systems suitable for application on multi-storey buildings in Adelaide's climate, an evaluation of emission reduction technologies for commercial buildings and a façade improvement study using thermographic analysis. The results of these studies have been published on the State Government's website so that the entire property sector can benefit from the lessons learnt. The fourth study into building-integrated photovoltaic options for commercial building facades is approaching completion.

Two capital works projects have been completed. The first is the development of a prototype green wall, which was officially launched on 14 May 2011. This is Adelaide's first living wall installed at a commercial office building. The wall was developed with consideration of Adelaide's climate and it uses plants locally native to the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Region. The second project is the installation of green roof systems at the ANZ Building in Adelaide which was completed in June 2011.

The performance of the green wall and green roof systems are being tested and monitored for 12 months to estimate their impact on the buildings' energy and greenhouse performance. The projects will provide detailed data regarding the performance of green walls and roofs in Adelaide's climatic conditions.

Four capital additional works projects are currently underway. These include the development of a solar façade, the installation of 'BlueGen' ceramic fuel cells used in conjunction with a solar array, the installation of 'Climate Wizard' indirect evaporative cooling technology and the installation of a tri-generation engine in conjunction with a revised heating system.

These ten projects are collectively helping to advance a range of low carbon technologies for use in the commercial buildings sector and demonstrating South Australia's leadership in tackling climate change.