We celebrated Western Australia Week this month (19 October - 25 October) and acknowledged the contributions from our outstanding citizens and organisations and reflected on the uniqueness of our natural and built environment and all that is good about our State.

In 1890 the Constitution was proclaimed and set up the structures of our system of government that includes our Parliament, Executive and judicial system and transferred the power to govern from the Governor to elected members from the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly.

119 years later, as we plan for the future of Western Australia, it is fitting that as our total energy consumption in WA increases by five per cent each year, that we consider ways of becoming more energy efficient and smarter with our energy use.

With those achievable goals in mind, the October issue of Sustainable Energy Matters marvels at the proposed Dynamic Tower in Dubai - the first skyscraper to be powered entirely by the wind and sun that will generate its own electricity and provide surplus energy to other nearby buildings.

A more conventional structure undergoing multi-million dollar energy efficient retrofit - the Empire State Building in New York, will create less carbon emissions and realise huge annual energy savings.

The latest research shows small-scale home wind turbines can generate energy and achieve carbon savings, but only when installed and located where there is an unobstructed and appropriate wind resource.

The world's largest wind farm with 627 towering turbines is sited near Roscoe in West Texas on land leased mostly from cotton farmers who continue to work the fields around them.

The proposed new residential energy efficiency measures in the 2010 Building Code of Australia have been released for public comment and everyone is invited to have their say.

And SEDO welcomes further close collaboration and a stronger working relationship with the Master Builders Association of Western Australia following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Best wishes for another sustainable read.

Executive Director
Michael Kerr

Dubai’s ‘green’ Dynamic Tower – an energy efficient masterpiece

Dubai’s Dynamic Tower is not only the world's first building in motion but it takes the concept of ‘green’ buildings to the next level. This engineering triumph generates electricity for itself with a possible surplus for other nearby buildings, making it the first skyscraper to be powered entirely by wind and sun.  More info...

Empire State Building goes green

The world’s most famous office building is undergoing a radical makeover that will reduce its carbon footprint by nearly 40 per cent.  More info...

Installing a micro wind turbine at home first requires homework

Research indicates domestic small-scale wind turbines can generate energy and achieve carbon savings, but only when installed and located where there is an unobstructed and appropriate wind resource.  More info...

Everything’s bigger in Texas … even wind farms

The world's largest wind farm officially got up and running last month with 627 towering turbines, churning out electricity across 400 square kilometres of West Texas farmland.  More info...

Calls for comment on the new energy efficiency measures in the 2010 Building Code of Australia

The proposed residential energy efficiency measures in the 2010 Building Code of Australia have been released for public comment and everyone is invited to have their say.  More info...

Memorandum of Understanding signed with Master Builders Association of Western Australia

Closer collaboration and mutual support on sustainable energy ahead with signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Sustainable Energy Development Office and Master Builders Association of Western Australia.  More info...
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