Ella McFarlane

2024 | Trade - Carpentry

“I aim to deepen my understanding of eco-friendly construction methods and materials. Germany's rigorous standards for energy efficiency and sustainability will provide me with invaluable insights that I can adopt and promote back home.”

Ella’s scholarship relates to these UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs):

My Global Footprints Scholarship will expand my knowledge and expose me to leading-edge techniques and practices in sustainable architecture and carpentry. It will also dramatically enhance my skills and challenge me to adopt more efficient methods.

Networking with industry leaders from the other side of the world will open doors to many new opportunities and collaborations, furthering my career and helping me contribute to the advancement of sustainable building worldwide.

I am committed to bringing sustainable practices, materials, and new approaches back to Australia. By elevating my individual work and perspectives on how we build in this country, I am positive I can help elevate those I directly work with and foster a more conscious culture of the environmental responsibility..

As a young tradesperson, I am at the perfect stage in my career to easily implement these practices effectively and to share this knowledge within my community, driving innovation and sustainability in the construction industry.

A Global Footprints Scholarship is your opportunity to do more of what you love. What have you done at work that you are proud of or passionate about?

Becoming a carpenter has been one of the best decisions I've made, not only for my career and future opportunities within the industry but also for the personal skills and growth it has developed in me.

Coming from a small regional town just over three hours north of Melbourne, there are very few female tradespeople, let alone carpenters. In fact, I was the only woman in my trade school course. Despite facing skepticism and resistance from local builders who explicitly told me they did not want a female apprentice and doubted a woman could become a carpenter, I was determined to prove them wrong.

I completed my Cert II in Carpentry with distinction, which fueled my passion to excel in a field where I was not expected to succeed. I take immense pride and passion in all the work I complete. The satisfaction I get everyday only amplifies the positive feedback and comments from clients, which continually makes me proud of my achievements.

I am so fortunate to work with a builder who has sustainability at the forefront of his mind. I have worked hard to develop a strong foundation of knowledge, which will propel me into the numerous opportunities the industry has to offer.

A personal goal of mine is to make trades more accessible and less daunting for women, starting from high school age. I am dedicated to advocating for all trades to be offered to young women and for creating a supportive environment that encourages them to enter and thrive in traditionally male-dominated fields.

A Global Footprints Scholarship is for you if you are passionate about creating a sustainable future. Describe something you have done at work or are working on, that helps the environment. Why is it important to you?

I have been lucky enough to be part of a nearly completed project in Fitzroy - two beautiful terrace houses standing at just over 150 years old, just off one of the most vibrant streets in Melbourne.

We have worked closely with the architect throughout the entire build and implemented passive thermal design principles all the way through. High-performing windows and an airtight building envelope, whilst still being extremely breathable all thanks to the magnificent HVAC ( Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning ) unit, paired with R4.0 insulation in the external walls and R6 in the ceiling provide the home with a comfortable temperature all year round perfect for the varied Naarm climate.

With an upgraded home energy management system including 11kw of solar, battery storage and Tesla battery for an electric vehicle, these combined components create a solution for managing and optimising home energy use and heavily reducing future bills.

Concrete was used sparingly throughout the project, and the concrete that was chosen has the highest recycled content available and 40% less embodied carbon.

Elements of the original house remain, including the beautiful reclaimed messmate timber floors and ceiling linings as well as the original demolished bricks that were refreshed and relaid for the extension.

This house has been awarded 7.1 Stars on the NatHERS assessment.

Building high-performance homes allows me to have direct involvement in the large and ever-evolving construction industry in Australia. By using sustainable and high-quality products, along with accurate estimation from the beginning, we can dramatically reduce waste on-site. This makes it easier to sort and dispose of building waste properly and minimizes the need to replace materials in the future. When restoring old houses it makes me reflect on the past, how they were built; and the materials and techniques used decades ago. It makes me wonder how they survived the test of time.

The families and the people that once called it their home inspire me to build houses that people can comfortably live in for a very long time, by using extremely durable materials and an ethos of high-quality building principles from all trades. I feel so passionate about making a difference that will be clear to everyone for decades to come.

As a BBM Scholar you can choose to go anywhere in the world. Where will you travel with your Scholarship and why?

I hope to visit Germany, as they are global leaders in sustainable carpentry and architecture. Being surrounded by experts in the field will allow me to learn innovative techniques and practices that I can bring back to my home country.

Germany has a pioneering role in sustainable building, particularly with the development of the 'Passivhaus' standard by Dr Wolfgang Feist and Dr Bo Adamson. The first Passivhaus was built in Darmstadt 32 years ago, and the principles established have become a benchmark for energy-efficient construction worldwide, with over 80,000 houses now being accredited ‘Passivhaus’ all around the globe.

Whilst in Australia we are slowly implementing high-performance homes, it is still far from being our baseline. The five key principles of Passivhaus are reducing thermal bridges, achieving airtightness, using high-performance windows and doors, incorporating mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and ensuring appropriate levels of thermal insulation. These principles not only enhance energy efficiency but also comfortability within the home.

I aim to deepen my understanding of eco-friendly construction methods and materials. Germany's rigorous standards for energy efficiency and sustainability will provide me with invaluable insights that I can adopt and promote back home.

Germany's ambitious target to become greenhouse gas neutral by 2045 further highlights its dedication to sustainability. By immersing myself in their advanced building practices and clear desire to become more sustainable in every aspect, I hope to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to contribute to similar goals in Australia.

Building connections with industry leaders in Germany will open doors to collaborations and opportunities that can further my career and contribute to the global advancement of sustainable building.

“Ella demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainable construction. […] I have great admiration for her attitude to achieve her goals, which is always difficult, particularly in regional areas. Ella can go forward to be a genuine Ambassador and encourage more young women to try a trade. She demonstrates great leadership qualities and would be a great mentor to drive change.”

– Global Footprints Assessors