Sustainable futures: the search for Brisbane's Ecohouse

Queensland Government Reports have predicted significant population growth for SoutheastnQueensland over the next 20 years. Typically, rapid increases in population are coupled withnan amplification of energy consumption, water consumption, household and building wastencreation and destruction of the local ecology. Sustainable housing must be sought tonaccommodate the new residents if their impact on the environment is to be minimized.n The questions raised in this dissertation are: Does an ideal prototype currently exist innBrisbane that could be used as a template for future ecohouse design? What measures arenrequired to promote the ideals of sustainable housing in Southeast Queensland? A survey ofnfive Brisbane dwellings which claim to possess characteristics designed to reduce their impactnon natural resource consumption and the local environment was undertaken. The strategiesn(and ultimately the validity) of each design was tested against a standardized set ofnassessment criteria provided by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA).n This thesis is of significance to local governing authorities, architects, home designers, homenowners and individuals concerned with creating a sustainable future through residentialndesign. Because sustainable technologies, design and construction must form part of thenfuture of domestic habitation in Australia, sustainable living must be a priority of the presentnnot an issue for the future.n