Michael Ambrose, Construction Systems Scientist

Mr Michael Ambrose: developing a zero emission home for the mass housing market

Mr Ambrose is part of a team developing Australia’s first zero emission home designed specifically for the mass housing market.

• 19 December 2008 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements

Current activities

Michael Ambrose's research aims to implement and monitor energy efficiency measures in residential houses.

Through CSIRO's Energy Transformed Flagship, Mr Ambrose is developing an Australian Zero Emission House (AusZEH), in partnership with Delfin Lend Lease, Henley Properties Group and Sustainability Victoria.

It will incorporate energy efficiency measures including improved insulation, double-glazing and a reverse brick veneer wall system. A sophisticated monitoring system will give occupants real time energy use data and costs.

The proposed eight star green star rated home will be built at Delfin's Laurimar Estate, in Melbourne's northern growth corridor.

Background

Mr Ambrose joined CSIRO in 1992, and, following a break in 1994, returned to CSIRO a year later to concentrate on building related research.

He modelled the environmental impact of buildings, with a particular interest in energy use and efficiency, and life cycle analysis of building materials.

Investigating the life cycle cost implications of water infrastructure networks, he helped develop sophisticated modelling software.

Mr Ambrose led the development of Your Development, a web-based portal designed to help land developers, architects and urban planners create climate-adapted, sustainable Australian suburbs.

Academic qualifications

Mr Ambrose has been awarded:

• a Bachelor of Arts from Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
• a Bachelor of Architecture, also from Deakin University
• a Graduate Diploma in Building Project Management, also from Deakin University.

Achievements

Mr Ambrose has written several peer-reviewed publications, including book chapters, journal articles and refereed conference papers.

He has contributed to:

• Your Development (2008)
• Pipeline Asset and Risk Management System (PARMS) Planning - a sophisticated long term asset management tool for potable water pipeline networks (2005)
• a Sustainable Subdivisions report that is a key industry report for Australian urban developers targeting energy efficiency prepared in 2004 and is now being used as a core text in university planning courses
• LCADesign (Life Cycle Assessment Design) - a world-first tool to automate eco-efficiency of buildings in (2003).

He is a member of the Sustainability and Environment committee, part of Victoria's Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Find out more about CSIRO's work in Sustainable cities and coasts.