The mission of SBi Lab is to accelerate the shift towards sustainable building through the production and dissemination of high quality research and education.
The lab focuses on the development of new materials, building systems, design methods, regulations and policies and the effect of these factors and human behaviour on sustainability performance of buildings.
Recent news
We have to talk about energy poverty
Better building standards are good for the climate, your health, and your wallet. Here’s what the National Construction Code could do better
Ways to better ventilate your rental to reduce mould and indoor COVID spread
Ventilation ‘revolution’ needed to speed up Australia’s path out of lockdown
Concerns grow over IAQ in Australian schools
Australian children are learning in classrooms with very poor air quality
The "Urban Microclimate Citizen Science Project" has now been completed and final report is available
"Indoor Air Quality of vulnerable population-A climate change innovation grant" project complete
The project “Indoor Air Quality of vulnerable population-A climate change innovation grant” has now been completed and final report is available.
Poor ventilation may be adding to nursing homes' COVID-19 risks
RMIT researchers are finding levels of carbon dioxide in some nursing homes that are more than three times the recommended level, which points to poor ventilation.
Stimulus that retrofits housing can reduce energy bills and inequity too
Stay-at-home orders and the economic crisis have increased the burden of energy costs on lower-income Australians. Poor housing quality and unequal access to home energy efficiency are hurting our most vulnerable households.
How lockdown is disrupting the usual coping strategies of the fuel poor and necessitating new ones
The trustees of the Fuel Poverty Research Network explain how fuel poor households are being impacted by COVID-19 and lockdown.
Home Builder misses a chance to make our homes perform better for us and the planet
The federal government’s new A$688 million HomeBuilder package might protect residential construction jobs but it’s a missed opportunity to deliver sustainability benefits that would save owners money in the long run.
The cold reality of energy poverty
Lecturer at the School of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University, Dr Nicola Willand, describes energy poverty as the lack of access to affordable, reliable, renewable essential energy services.
Air of mystery: ventilation quality and its impact on aged care facilities
RMIT researchers are working with schools and aged care facilities to boost quality of life and resilience of students and residents through improved air quality.
SBi Lab Building Simulation Seminar 2019
SBi Lab in collaboration with International Building Performance Simulation (IBPSA) Australasia organised the Building Simulation seminar series on June 4th 2019.
National Construction Code 2019 – what do the proposed changes mean for residential buildings?
On 8 March 2018 the SBiLab hosted a discussion on what the proposed changes to the National Construction Code 2019 mean for residential buildings.
Citizen scientists take heatwaves into their own hands
RMIT researchers are working with citizen scientists in Melbourne to collect local climate data that will enable communities to plan for extreme heat.
RMIT University brings Citizen Science Project to Bayswater
RMIT University researchers engaged City of Bayswater residents in measuring climate in the Bayswater wetlands area as part its Citizen Science Project this week.
Microclimate project to help planners keep heat island effect at bay
January 2019. Canberra endures five days above 40 degrees Celsius. Suddenly, as if we didn’t know it was coming, climate change has arrived and the panic is palpable.
Wanted: citizen climate scientists for nationwide study
If you've ever fancied yourself as an amateur climate scientist, you now have an opportunity to participate in an Australia-wide micro-climate study.
Brains Trust
People-powered research has evolved from counting frogs and stars to hi-tech projects that are boosting our understanding of biodiversity, etymology and the origins of the universe. Citizen scientists are having a big impact.
Citizen scientists to help map urban heat
Residents can arm themselves with heat sensors as part of an arsenal of scientific tools to help map Campbelltown’s heat levels, in an interactive community first that will compare data from 21 other councils across Australia.
Join a study on extreme heat in yarra
We're looking for 100 enthusiastic people to become citizen scientists and join world renowned universities RMIT and UNSW, in their research of urban heat and local climate change to help better understand how we can reduce extreme heat and adapt.
Virtual Centre for Climate Change Innovation
The Virtual Centre for Climate Change Innovation (VCCCI) has been established to strengthen Victoria’s role as a climate change leader. The Virtual Centre will foster innovative approaches and collaboration between businesses, industry, researchers and government to help Victoria reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
