Week 8

Environmental Design Solutions

How might we design resilient communities and design change in our communities?

This week you will investigate nature based solutions and community resilience efforts in your local government area and have the opportunity to work on a greening solution for your school with Greening Australia. You will also learn about how cultural institutions such as the Powerhouse are committing to Net Zero and are a place of respite, or cool centre, on hot days. You will use this learning and your microclimate data to design possible solutions to cool your school. You can share this task at the 50°C Climate Summit on 11 April 2025.

Powerhouse Climate Action Plan – Carmel Reyes

Head of Climate Action and Sustainability, Powerhouse, Carmel Reyes discusses the Powerhouse inaugural Climate Action Plan and its commitment of achieving net zero operational carbon emissions by 2025 across all Powerhouse sites. This commitment includes the decarbonising of construction sites, using renewable diesel, electrifying equipment and embedding sustainability into learning programming.

Webinar

Water Sensitive Urban Design

With Emma James and Greg Ingleton
11.20am–12pm, 11 March 2025

This webinar explains the role of water for cooling. We start with people: hydration and how to cool the air and surfaces. Next gardens and green spaces: how trees provide cooling and how water can support healthy trees and healthy soil for more cooling. Finally, stormwater and urban design: managing water to protect waterways and cool communities.

Resources

First Nations: Caring for Country and Designing with Country

Cooling the City

Download

Building Better Cities

Cooling the City

Download

Cool Streets

Blacktown Council

View

Western Sydney Cool Roads Trial

City of Parramatta and WSU

View

More learning

Powerhouse Climate Action Plan

100 Climate Conversations

View

Heat Smart Plan Summary

WSROC

Download

Heat Smart Plan Full

WSROC

Download

Heatwave Management Guide

WSROC

View

Heat Smart Toolkit

WSROC

Download

Profiles

Industry Collaborators