Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on February 9th, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Holden Street Neighbourhood House has been retrofitted to become an eco-demonstration house. Come along and see firsthand a range of measures including solar panels, water tanks, opening skylights, solar light tubes, insulated blinds, window tinting and much more. Experts will be on hand to answer all your questions.
Saturday 13 Feb, 11.00 am-2.00pm
128 Holden Street, Nth Fitzroy
All welcome, Free event.
More info: Contact Holden Street Neighbourhood House on 9489 9929
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on February 9th, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Image: larryvincent via flickr CC
Keeping track of current national and international developments towards a low-carbon economy can be challenging. Businesses that understand how the transition to a carbon-constrained economy will impact upon their business operations will not only save money, they will also be better placed to capitalise on new business opportunities. The Carbon 101 information session was developed in response to the requirements of small and medium-sized businesses. The briefing will help you cut through the ‘carbon jargon’. Carbon 101 is an essential guide to measuring and managing your business’s carbon footprint, and identifying opportunities for making environmental and financial savings.
What will be covered:
* Navigating the labyrinth of terms, research, facts and figures.
* An outline of new government regulation and legislation.
* Identifying steps to start reducing carbon emissions immediately.
* An explanation of the effects of a low-carbon economy on small and medium-sized businesses.
* Energy-efficiency information specifically tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises.
2-hour sessions running on: 11/02, 22/03, 16/04, 3/05, 17/05
Venue: 486 Albert Street East Melbourne
Cost: $99/ $82.50 for VECCI Members
Contact: VECCI on 8662 5333, kschnekenburger@vecci.org.au or visit the website for more information.
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on February 8th, 2010
Precious Music, Precious Water promises to be a unique community music and water event. It is a call to action – we are at a crisis point and it won’t be Governments that initiate change, it will be driven by people. In two parts, it is designed to inspire and galvanise the audience (and through accompanying media coverage, parts of the wider community) to take a more concerted action regarding a sustainable water future.
The first part consists of The World Premiere live performance of “Tarka,” an original score composed by Harry Williamson and Anthony Phillips, performed by the Whitehorse Orchestra, conducted by Gerald Keuneman with solo guitarists Harry Williamson and Doug de Vries. The second part is a special community focus on water, Our Common Good featuring a public narrative and solo performances from well known Melbourne based artists; Ruby Hunter, Doug de Vries, Michael Johnson, Frank Jones & the Northern Voice Choir and Kavisha Mazzella.
“Tarka,” meaning ‘wandering as water’ is a delightful modern orchestral piece inspired by the natural beauty of waterways teeming with life as depicted in the classic novel ‘Tarka the Otter’ written by Henry Williamson.
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2pm & 7pm
Tickets: Green-Tix
Precious Music, Precious Water is brought to you by The Boite and Spring Studio and is supported by The City of Melbourne, MECU, Emma Whiting Travel and The Victorian Women’s Benevolent Trust.
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on February 8th, 2010
Source: Metropolitan Waste Management Group
The Metropolitan Waste Management Group (MWMG) works with organisations and individuals to promote and achieve Sustainable Waste Management. Their objectives are to collaborate with metropolitan Councils, Sustainability Victoria, the Environment Protection Authority, Department of Sustainability and Environment, industry, business and the community to assist metropolitan councils to undertake individual and collective efforts to:
1. Reduce the generation of waste,
2. Maximise the sustainable recovery of materials from waste for reuse, recycling, reprocessing and energy recovery and,
3. Minimise the damage to the environment caused by waste disposal.
4. Plan, coordinate and facilitate metropolitan councils’ procurement of waste management and resource recovery services, and,
5. Strengthen organisational capacity and capability and empower others to deliver waste and resource recovery objectives and priorities
Over the next few months, they are supporting a wide range of events which showcase the breadth of their engagement with behaviour change. At the moment there are three open for registration:
Green Cleaning: Systems to Erase Waste, A Waste Wise Melbourne Network Meeting, February 18
Sita Landfill and Hallam Road Education Centre Tour, March 16
Learn about the latest waste recovery technologies which reduce the amount of household and building waste going to landfill and gain a firsthand insight into the ways that recycling can reduce landfill and costs.
Sustainability Leadership for Changing Times: A 2 Day Workshop & Retreat, May 6&7
Explore the deeper questions of Sustainability Leadership at this time on Earth; Integrate multiple intelligences, with Deep Ecology and ‘Theory U’ processes in a beautiful natural setting; Broaden your horizons, allowing you to relate to your work and your world with new eyes; This learning journey will leave you empowered and inspired to lead as we navigate unprecedented change in our society; Learning from each other, through authentic collaboration, we’ll unearth a confidence that allows for creative response to the crises we face.
Contact Ellen Regos on (03) 8698 9805 or ellen.regos@mwmg.vic.gov.au for more information.
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on February 5th, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Image: douglemoine via flickr CC
Draughtproofing is the necessary first step to improving the thermal performance of your home. Draughts reduce the effectiveness of your home’s insulation, and can lead to big energy bills. Effective weather seals on all external doors, brush seals on internal bathroom, toilet and laundry doors, exhaust fan seals and elimination of recessed downlights will all contribute significantly to reducing air leakage. In this workshop presented by Maurice Beinat (EcoMaster), we will explore the many sources of draughts, and what you can do to prevent them.
Thu 11 Feb, 7pm – 9.30pm
Meeting Room 3&4, Ringwood Civic Centre, Braeside Ave, Ringwood
All welcome, Gold Coin appreciated.
Info: Chris or Sue, Nth Ringwood Community House 9876 3421 project@sustainablelivingspace.org.au, or visit the website.
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on February 5th, 2010
Source: Melbourne Community Farmers’ Markets
February 2010 Newsletter:
Our thoughts this month are will all those who suffered and are still grappling with the aftermath of last Summer. Not only the fires themselves but the extreme conditions of heat this time last year. We know it’s a long slow road to recovery and we’ll stick with you.
‘Tis the season to be bottling, preserving, jamming and pickling while things are plentiful which means buying in bulk. As well as simply sinking your teeth into fabulous peaches, plums and nectarines, they’re perfect right now to stew and freeze or make chutneys and jams. Raspberries, blueberries and Sylvan berries freeze beautifully too and will keep you smiling in winter.
It’s been fantastic to see so much Victorian garlic around this year…have you stocked up yet? A skein or two hanging in a cool spot will last for months…unlike the garlic from both China and Spain I saw in my local supermarket this week, otherwise boasting its Aussie pride! Other happy dark dwellers are the freshly dug onions and new season spuds which keep well in a cupboard. Then there’s zucchini, eggplant, beans and cucumbers for pickling (look up a CWA cook book or Pietro Demaio’s “Preserving the Italian Way” for hints). You’ll also find radishes, Asian greens, lettuces, rocket, kohl rabi, fresh pistachios, field tomatoes, corn, basil, coriander & much more in Summer spoils around the markets now.
The true season of apples starts this month with varieties such as Ginger Gold, Snow, Gravenstein and Jonathan strutting their stuff first. Nashi and pears will follow soon. To immerse yourself more and revel in all things pome fruit get along to the annual Petty’s Orchard Antique Apple Festival in Templestowe (yes, Templestowe) on Sunday 28th March 10am-4pm. You’ll find more info on facebook.
And on matters of modern networking, you can now follow the Victorian Farmers’ Market Association on facebook [http://tinyurl.com/VFMA-FB] & twitter [twitter.com/VicFarmrsMarkts] for interesting food articles, local food issues and events. MCFM needs to catch up with technology and will be along shortly!
The current Newsletter can also be downloaded from our website in PDF format.
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on February 5th, 2010
Source: Core 77
Image: Core 77
From “Afterlife: an essential guide to design for disassembly“, by Alex Diener
What is Design for Disassembly?
Design for Disassembly (DfD) is a design strategy that considers the future need to disassemble a product for repair, refurbish or recycle. Will a product need to be repaired? Which parts will need replacement? Who will repair it? How can the experience be simple and intuitive? Can the product be reclaimed, refurbished, and resold? If it must be discarded, how can we facilitate its disassembly into easily recyclable components? By responding to questions like these, the DfD method increases the effectiveness of a product both during and after its life.
Where did Design for Disassembly come from?
Our ancient tools, meticulously crafted from natural materials and intended for repair and reuse, are perhaps the earliest example of DfD. During the 1950’s rise of consumerism, fueled by mass production methods, cheap labor, and design fashion, disposability became the norm. Over time, the waste created by planned obsolescence and a throw-away culture was exposed. Organizations studied the negative impacts of toxins found in our product waste and governments began to regulate. In 2004, the European Union passed the landmark WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive, placing the responsibility of disposing electronic products with their manufacturers. This tectonic shift was recognized as a sign of things to come by global manufacturers, driving interest in the DfD strategy.
How do I Design for Disassembly?
Given environmental and cost constraints, our challenge is as much product de-creation as it is creation. And DfD strategies are applied throughout the entire design cycle; designers will need to educate the team, discover waste, set goals, create solutions, and then monitor results through production, release, use, and end-of-life.
Read the full article for more information including:
Pre-Design: Organizational Education + Buy-In
Pre-Design: Research the Recycling Stream
Design: Set goals + Project Planning
Design: Research Materials + Processes
Design: Create DfD Concepts
Post-Design
Posted in Events by ecobuy on February 1st, 2010
Source: EcoBuy
Green purchasing is based on the simple premise that every purchase impacts on the environment in some way, and is about choosing to buy products and services that are less damaging to our environment and human health than competing products and services that serve the same purpose.
ECO-Buy is a not for profit Centre of Excellence in Environmental Purchasing, established to encourage the purchasing of environmentally preferable (green) products and services. To achieve this, ECO-Buy offers support to organisations to ‘green’ their purchasing, providing a wide range of services and resources, from policy and strategy development and implementation to practical tools, templates and advice.
Workshops and training session times are available in the first half of 2010. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on January 21st, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Environmentally-friendly businesses are those that make a conscious decision to choose sustainable practices. Customers, staff and suppliers increasingly want to work with and for these businesses. Sustainability in the workplace is fast becoming essential to give businesses the competitive edge. This workshop is being run by the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (VECCI) for small and medium-sized businesses that wish to adopt more sustainable practices.
What will be covered:
* A brief overview of relevant environmental legislation.
* Opportunities that can lead to reduced resource use, cost savings and reputational gains.
* An introduction to easy-to-use tools to help you successfully measure water, energy use and waste disposal.
* Communicating your business’s environmental goals to staff and customers.
* Expert assistance with the development of a draft Action Plan to reduce your water, waste and energy use.
Handout: A resource pack that includes case studies, information on grants and funding, and useful contacts for future assistance
This one-day course is on offer during February, March & April. Visit the website for more details.
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on January 20th, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Image: Hogan Gallery
This February, four defendants will stand trial in the long running Gunns 20 case. Gunns Ltd – the Tasmanian native forest logging company – is suing three individuals and one grass roots environmental organisation. The case has already cost Gunns Ltd $2.8 million and is likely to cost much more by the end. It is one of the longest running and most expensive cases of its kind in Australian legal history. The case will have far-reaching implications for the right to protest and the right to free speech.
Artists from Tasmania and Victoria are collaborating to bring awareness to the trial and the importance of Free Speech for the exhibition at Hogan Gallery. Printmakers, Photographers, Sculptors, Painters and Makers will show their art that has been inspired by the Gunns 20 case and Tasmania’s threatened wilderness areas, in attempt to gain wider exposure for this history-making legal case.
The exhibition is being curated by the Black Sassy Collective, the artistic arm of the Huon Valley Environment Centre. Huon Valley Environment Centre is one of the Gunns 20 defendants.
Hogan Gallery, Smith St, Fitzroy, Fri 15 Jan – Thu 28 Jan
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