The SmartEcoGroup is lead by renowned architect, Gareth Cole (Fellow of Australian Institute of Architects), a leader in design, architecture & construction with over 40 years experience.

After completing a b.Arch with honours from UTS in 1977, Gareth was awarded the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship, to both research and report on Passive Solar buildings throughout the country.
Gareth Cole arguably among Australia's foremost architects and his practice focused on Energy efficient, Passive Solar Designed buildings for over 40 years, renowned for his specialists focus on the field of in Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD), Energy Efficiency, Passive Solar Design, Energy Policy, and Product & Building Material Assessment.
Gareth’s expertise has not only seen his influence in energy policy but also practically been included in the project, such as the Sydney Olympic Games Village, where he was engaged to ESD House design and planning strategies for this world class-village. 

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Specialist Expertise & Experience includes;

• Residential & Commercial Energy Efficiency & ESD Policy

• SEDA Building Greenhouse Ratings and NatHERS Residential building project thermal simulation & ratings (now Basix)

• the design and implementation of the Solecta Energy Policy - winning the National Management Award 1995

• Healthy and low allergy building design, strategies and assessment

• Local Government Planning & Policy Consultation

• Gareth Cole (President), and Founder of the Ecological Architects Association 1995

• Gareth Chaired the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) ESD committee

 

ESD Architecture & Projects Include

• Over 1,000 ESD, energy efficient, healthy, low-chemical and low allergy homes, townhouses and interiors

• Winner over 45 HIA & Master Builder awards.

• Olympic Games Village- ESD House design and planning Strategies + Eco-ratings,

• Buckleys Furniture Showroom, Artarmon National Energy Management finalist 

• Integral Energy -Eco village Report and Management Plan for Bathurst NSW

Architectural Milestones:

• 2001 Winner of the Francis Greenway Silver Medal for the totally autonomous eco house – Bourke Project, NSW

• 2001 Winner of the Gold medal for outstanding contribution to eco architecture in Australia over the past 20 years

• 2000 Winner of the Hornsby Eco and Energy Efficient Award

• Winner of the Dr Greenland Architecture Award for contribution to eco-architecture

• Winner of the Dr Greenland Architecture Award for contribution to eco-architecture

• Written 3 books of solar architecture in Australia

• Produced 3 documentary films on solar design and implementation 1983-1986

• Produced 3 documentary films on solar design and implementation 1983-1986

• Help produced the Environment Design Guide and Chairman and presenter of the Eco forums 1995- 1999

• Winner of the HIA and Master builders award for Energy Efficient building from 1983 to 2001