Professor John Ballinger began his academic career as a tutor in the Faculty of Architecture at UNSW in 1973 and was president of the Australian and New Zealand Architectural Science Association from 1982 to 1985.
A long-time resident of Balmain, he was part of the team established by Peter Hall of Hall, Todd and Littlemore to redesign and complete the Podium area of the Sydney Opera House after Jørn Utzon left the project. After the Opera House was completed in 1973, he began his academic career as a tutor in the Faculty of Architecture at UNSW.
During the 1980s and ‘90s, Ballinger was also steward of the World Solar Challenge and inaugural chairman of the Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society.
He was the technical founder of the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) in the late 1980s and helped set up the Window Energy Rating Scheme in the 1990s.
Among his many achievements, Ballinger was instrumental in setting up the Glass Mass and Insulation Council in the late ‘80s to recognise good design. The GMI Council was the forerunner to NatHERS.
He had over 50 solar efficient buildings and 150 publications to his name. In 2001, Ballinger was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to architecture, particularly in the development of solar energy use and efficient design.
John Ballinger is survived by his wife, Dr Susan Ballinger, their two children, Richard and Mary Alice, and grandchildren Mirei, Nora, Molly and Emma.
Source: https://www.energy.gov.au/news-media/news/vale-professor-john-ballinger-technical-founder-nathers
Picture: Twitter/ Getty Images
