Water & the Pathways to Sustainability

The presentation aims to equip attendees with a comprehensive understanding of several critical topics related to water consumption, plumbing fixtures, and sustainability in the context of the Australian construction and plumbing industry.

At the end of this presentation, you should be able to:

• Outline the level of water consumption in Australia, how this compares internationally, and how it has changed over time.
• Explain the ways that high quality bathroom fixtures of various types can help moderate water usage in both residential and commercial applications.
• Identify the most effective of these products and quantify their water-saving capabilities.
• Explain the roles that the Internet of Things and the ‘Smart Building’ concept can play in maximizing water efficiency and improving sustainability.

This presentation will deliver outcomes related to the following Competency/s from the National Standard of Competency for Architects 2021:
PC 24 PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
Be able to prepare and analyse project development options in response to a project brief – its objectives, budget, user intent and built purpose, risk and timeframes, including environmental sustainability considerations.
PC 28 PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
Be able to draw on knowledge from building sciences and technology, environmental sciences and behavioural and social sciences as part of preliminary design research and when developing the conceptual design to optimise the performance of the project.
PC 31 PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
Be able to identify, analyse and integrate information relevant to environmental sustainability – such as energy and water consumption, resources depletion, waste, embodied carbon and carbon emissions – over the lifecycle of a project.
PC 33 PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
Be able to investigate, coordinate and integrate sustainable environmental systems – including water, thermal, lighting and acoustics – in response to consultants’ advice.

Presenter
David Wilson, BDM – Commercial and Design at GWA Caroma. David has been part of the plumbing segment within construction industry for the past 8 years. Starting out as an estimator at a plumbing merchant, learning his craft and how the industry works, he quickly progressed to an account manager. Working with Caroma and seeing them as a leader in tapware and sanitaryware, led David to recently make the switch, to working for them.