There are now 10 Units of The Natural Edge Program’s (TNEP) Whole-Systems-Design Education and Training Package freely downloadable from:
http://www.naturaledgeproject.net/Whole_Systems_Design_Suite.aspx

The message below has been forwarded from Mike Smith, The Natural Edge Project.
The purpose of the Whole System Design Suite is to provide introductory technical design based teaching material to demonstrate how advances in energy, materials and water efficiency can be achieved through applying a Whole System Approach to Sustainable Design. Whole System Approaches for designing buildings, cars, cities, industry plants, motors, farming and agriculture, and lighting systems are increasingly being seen as the key to the most cost effective reduction in negative environmental impacts. Whole System Approaches to Sustainable Design can help to achieve 75 percent (Factor 4) or greater eco- efficiency savings in new designs. This is because “by the time the design for most human artifacts is completed but before they have actually been built, about 80-90 percent of their life-cycle economic and ecological costs have already been made inevitable.” Newly designed buildings and technologies often have long design lives hence it is critical that all designers ensure that their new designs are as sustainable as possible. Hence it is now widely acknowledged that all designers - engineers, architects, industrial designers and urban planners - need to become more educated and skilled in how to implement Whole System Approaches to Sustainable Design.
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The section below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #31, 9 October 2007. Going Solar, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport.

Facts and Statistics for Victoria
􀂃 1 million additional vehicles registered in last 10 years in Victoria
􀂃 Around 55,000 more heavy vehicles on road in last 10 years
􀂃 Victoria’s freight to double between 2004 and 2024
􀂃 VCEC report estimates total cost of congestion to our economy to be between $1.3 billion and $2.6 billion per year
􀂃 Since 1999, more than $4.8 billion has been invested in building better roads across Victoria, including over $2.1 billion on regional roads, e.g. 1999, $230 million was spent per year on roads. Today, it is $880 million.
􀂃 The last Budget included $30 million congestion package to improve traffic flows at key road and freeway network locations
􀂃 Other specific projects to help ease congestion include the $1 billion Monash West Gate corridor upgrade; and $1.3 billion for upgrading our outer metropolitan arterial roads
􀂃 Committed more than $100 million to trams and buses having on-road priority between 2004 and 2010
􀂃 Currently, there are approximately 1.25 million car trips on the metropolitan arterial road network during the morning 2-hour peak per day, likely to grow by a further 400,000 over the next 25 years
􀂃 Over 12 million trips made each day in Melbourne (including walking and cycling)
􀂃 40 per cent of trips in Melbourne are less than two kilometres long, and 60 per cent are less than five kilometres long
􀂃 83% of all trips to work in and around Melbourne are by car, but only about 7% of these actually occur with a passenger on board
􀂃 Aiming by 2020 to have 20 per cent of motorised trips taken on public transport
􀂃 2,500 boardings at the Doncaster Park and Ride each day
Ref: Facts and figures that were presented in the Minister for Roads and Ports speech at the Victorian Road Based Public Transport Advisory Council Summit held on 29 August 2007. Thanks to VicRoads for this information.

The comment below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #31, 9 October 2007. Going Solar, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport.

More on the VicRoads Survey
It is interesting that VicRoads did a survey on Copenhagen-style bike paths and I would love to see it. I can’t speak about Copenhagen but I did spend some time in Randers, a city further north in Denmark, and found that the three level road system - pedestrian, bike, car - was great! Can’t imagine any egative impacts for pedestrians, as cyclists have their own path so none of the problems that arise with shared bike/pedestrian paths. The fact that the paths are at different levels I think also probably helps avoid the problem of cyclists and pedestrians straying onto each other’s paths, which I’ve encountered in other places. It does of course mean pedestrians have to look out for bikes first, then cars, when crossing roads, but they do anyway on normal roads, and with the separated paths you know what you’re looking for on each path - no problem with bikes appearing out of a mass of cars. I reckon the thing about the separated path system is that it clarifies things and makes everyone feel, and be, safer. I suspect this makes it easier for a wider variety of age groups to cycle, with obvious health benefits. Also it means that people who would otherwise be car drivers are now cyclists, or have family members etc who are, so that they are more careful and sympathetic to the needs of cyclists.
Thanks to Kerry Dawborn for this item.

The only Central Victorian Permaculture Design Course (PDC) this year will be in Bendigo and Castlemaine from 3rd until 17th November. Permaculturists have been teaching sustainable design for many years and this course offers the knowledge and experience of a wide range of experienced permaculturists, including one of the permaculture founders, David Holmgren from Hepburn, and local permaculture author, Ian Lillington.

Getting out of the classroom and experiencing working permaculture systems is also very important to the learning process, and the course offers a wide range of fieldtrips in Central Victoria. These include large and small suburban gardens, a community garden (Gravel Hill Gardens), a town/shire seeking to be sustainable (Castlemaine/Mt Alexander), an ecovillage (Fryers Forest) and various sized farms. One of the highlights of the course is the visit to “Melliodora”, David Holmgren and his partner Su’s home
base.
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Manningham City Council - Get ClimateWise Now!
Workshop Program 2007-08

Cost: Free
Bookings essential: Kay Toussaint 9840 9348 or eepadmin @manningham.vic.gov.au
Venue: Council Chambers, Manningham Civic Offices, 699 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster (Mel 33 F12)
Times: Arrival: 6.45 pm Finish: 9.00 pm

Oct 18 Carbon Rationing & Green Financing
David Spratt “Carbon Rationing Action Groups”
Carbon Rationing Action Groups (CRAG’s) have sprung up all over England and are now spreading across the globe as citizens take individual actions to actively reduce their own carbon emissions. We’ll discuss what’s involved, how to take action, setting up a CRAG and the benefits. David is from the carbon-equity Group in Melbourne.

Leigh Watkins “Green Financing”
Changing the way we do things sometimes requires a change in equipment for energy generation, solar hot water & transport. Learn more about how to get lower interest loans, how to refinance a loan, green personal loans, carbon offsets for travel etc. Leigh is from the Bank of Bendigo.

Nov 22 Solar electricity: the options
Andrew Bailey “Solar Photovoltaic Panels—Electricity”
Andrew will talk about the different kinds of solar PV panels that are available and their pros & cons, as well as the ways to set up a grid interactive PV system at your own home.

Willem Biesheuve “GreenPower renewable electricity”
Willem from Origin Energy will talk about the different kinds of renewable energy you can purchase through the electricity retailers, GreenPower accreditation, as well as Origin’s other products in solar hot water and PV installations.

Dec 13 Transport alternatives: Bio-diesel & Electric vehicles
Mick O’Conell “Bio-Diesel”
Mick, president of the Alternative Technology Association will discuss the biodiesel phenomenon from the home made to commercial production. How does it work? Can I use it in my new diesel car? Where can I buy some? How beneficial is it?

Ross Blade “Electric cars”’
Ross of Castlemaine’s Blade electric vehicles will discuss the benefits of electric cars and what’s available now. How much? How far will it go? How fast will it go? How many people can I transport? What happens if I need to get further that the battery limit?

Kelvin Blake “Electric scooters”’
Kelvin of EVT will discuss the benefits of electric powered scooters, as well as how much, licensing, how fast and how far? How long to recharge? How long do the batteries last ? Can you get replacement batteries?

Scott “Electric Bicycles”’
Scott of Electric Vehicles P/L will discuss the benefits of electric powered bicycles and how much, how fast and how far? How long to recharge? How long do the batteries last ? Can you get replacement batteries?

Professor Karl Linden will be presenting ‘Environmental Sustainability: The Water (Re)Cycle’ on Thursday October 18.

Professor Linden is an RMIT Foundation Visiting Research Fellow who is working with the Water Engineering Research Group in the School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering.

Venue: Storey Hall, RMIT City Campus
Time: 6.00-7.00pm

Please see the attachment for further details and how to register online.

Free Public Lecture pdf

Now that spring is on its way, it’s time to stop hibernating, and start getting yourself out there! EJN’s Greendrinks is a great way to meet other environmentally friendly people and informally chat about jobs, careers, networks and the environment.

The past few months have been a great success with positive feedback from all involved - make sure you don`t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to be part of a network of people who care about the
environment and their careers!

October Greendrinks will be held on Thursday 18 October from 6-8pm at Word bar – 14-18 Goldie Place Melbourne (off Lonsdale Street – Melways Ref 43 G8). See www.wordevents.com.au for more details. No RSVP required. For more information, go to: http://www.environmentaljobs.com.au/events_db/view.php?job_ID=406.

If you’ve been putting it off, now is the perfect time to check out this intimate Environmental Careers Workshop series put together by EJN, Square Peg Careers and Principal Consulting. This hour of presentations, group discussion, and Q&A time with recruitment and career professionals from the environment industry also offers insights into the Australian environmental jobs market from a variety of speakers, along with more detailed strategies to successfully develop your own career.

Stick around afterwards for finger food and an opportunity to make connections with other individuals interested in this exciting sector. Cover charge also includes the EnviroPLUCK DVD, packed with career advice & information, hints and secrets.

The next workshop will take place at 6:15pm Tuesday 23 October, at the Royal Standard Hotel at 333 Willliam Street, North Melbourne. Don’t miss out, book now! For more info, go to http://www.environmentaljobs.com.au/events_db/view.php?job_ID=382.

Open 10.00am–7.00pm daily
Melbourne Exhibition Centre
Adults: $15; Student/Concession: $13; Children under 14 free

Building a house? Drought proofing your garden? Greening your home or workplace? Melbourne is hosting Australia’s first Expo focussed entirely on ways to save water and energy and reduce the impact of climate change. In partnership with Sustainability Victoria, the Save Water Save Energy Expo is a one stop shop for environmental solutions for homes, schools and businesses. Learn about green building products, solar hot water systems and heating, rain tanks, grey water systems, energy efficient appliances and lighting, water savers, and much more. See the Carbon Cops in action, attend free seminars, get advice from the experts, and buy using the various government rebates.

For more information, please visit the Save Water Save Energy Expo website http://www.savewatersaveenergyexpo.com.au/

When: 7-9 pm, 18 October
Where: Copland Theatre, Economics & Commerce Building, The University of Melbourne
(see http: //www.amos.org.au/Melbourne/cc_lecture.html for a map of the campus)

This lecture gives you the opportunity to hear about the latest information on climate change from some of Australia’s leading change scientists who were closely involved with the latest UN Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change Report (IPCC).

Climate Change: science in a nutshell
Dr Scott Power, Principal Reasearch Scientist, Centre for Australian Weather & Climate Research, Bureau of Meterology
Mr Kevin Hennessy, Principal Research Scientist, Climate Impacts and Risk Group, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research

Climate Change: mitigation
Mr Roger Beale, Senior Associate, Allen Consulting Group

This event is organised by the Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society (ACSIS)
www.acsis.unimelb.edu.au/