1. Discipline of Chemical Engineering
and RESEARCH
SEMINAR
Priority Research NOTICE
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Centre for Energy
TITLE: Rapid GHG Reduction of Housing Envelopes for 2050
SPEAKER: John Shiel
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, 28th Sep 2011/ 2.30 pm
LOCATION: EB 130 (upstairs in Chemical Engineering Laboratory Building)
ABSTRACT: The vast majority of Australia’s housing envelope is in a very poor
performance state.
It requires a rapid reduction of GHGs because
 Australia, as an industrial nation, needs to meet its international Copenhagen and
Cancun responsibilities of fast total GHG reductions to zero by 2020, and
 Prices are rising due to energy cost increases, and scarce resources.
The aims of this research are to
 Find the most cost-effective refurbishment actions to reduce heating and cooling
GHGs
o For existing detached Australian houses in a Warm Temperate climate
o For various climate change scenarios for 2050, including scarce resources
effects, and
 to develop methods to calculate realistic operational GHGs for both
o air-conditioned houses, and
o non-air-conditioned houses.
The method used includes a mix of case studies, experiment and theoretical simulations,
with statistical analysis. Innovative actions to reduce GHGs will be simulated, and
experimentally tested, such as Northern deciduous trees; large ceiling fans; heavy lined
and sealed curtains; & thermal mass.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
John Shiel is a former a power station Civil Engineer, with
Masters degrees in Structural and Foundation Engineering (Univ.
Syd.), and Information Science ( M.App.Sc. from UTS.)
He has worked for Pacific Power, and Computer Sciences
Corp. (CSC), designing large systems with object-oriented,
artificial intelligence and business process diagram automation
technologies.
He is working part-time on his own Building Ecology business www.envirosustain.com.au
to minimise energy, water and waste while is researching with Prof. Behdad Moghtaderi,
Dr Richard Aynsley, and Emeritus Professor Adrian Page.
ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
Enquires to Prof Bogdan Dlugogorski at Bogdan.Dlugogorski@newcastle.edu.au or 4985 4433