Electrifying existing buildings masterclass

This session will explore why electrification is so important by evaluating impacts across climate, health and financial returns. You'll also hear about how rating tools are moving in line with these impacts.

• Understand the risks posed by natural gas and fossil fuels
• Understand the impacts of these risks
• Hear how an electrified building can mitigate and eliminate these risks and concerns in both the immediate and long term
• Discover how an electrified asset may perform across rating tools including Green Star

Ella Mudie, Market Engagement Lead, GBCA

This session will explore specific examples within buildings that allow for electrification. From building infrastructure, to appliances and backup generators, identify the key areas that currently rely on fossil fuels and present opportunities for change.

• Understand where fossil fuels are being used within buildings
• Hear about the products and technologies that can replace these
• Consider how best to achieve efficient and stable electrification in existing buildings

David Clark, Director, Positive Zero

While electrification presents challenges to buildings of all typologies, there are some buildings that are particularly complex to electrify. This session looks at one such building, understanding how even the most difficult of challenges can be overcome.

Samuel Thorn, Director, BRT Consulting

*This session will inform the final working group of the masterclass

Now that an understanding of electrification has been established, this panel will explore the next step in the process: conducting a feasibility study. You'll hear about:

• Key considerations for removing gas in buildings including space, ventilation, electrical capacity and heat distribution
• Assessing the age and condition of existing equipment and understanding the electrification and embodied carbon matrix
• Methods for determining the best solution for your building
• How you may conduct a preliminary life cycle costing of options

David Clark, Director, Positive Zero
Robyn Hyslop, Sustainability Director, Colliers
Rebecca Fitzgerald, Sustainability Manager, Investa
Oliver Grimaldi, Associate Director, Cundall

In smaller facilitated discussion groups discuss:

• What are the biggest challenges going forward?
• Have you been involved in the design of an all-electric building?
• What smart solutions have you seen for all-electric?

Evolving on from the panel on feasibility, hear a case study on how existing apartment buildings may be electrified, with a focus on understanding the feasibility, optimising building performance and assessing and actioning costings.

David Mahoney, Head of Better Buildings, HIP V. HYPE 

Dave Palin, Director ESG, Mirvac

In smaller facilitated groups, discuss the first case study of the day and explore how this may have been achieved in an existing building. Using the metrics of a feasibility study, propose potential technologies, timelines and funding pathways to suggest the best solution for this hypothetical building.