Archive for the ‘Models’ Category
Models refer to existing sustainable models or frameworks of action that are occurring in Melbourne. A model could possibly be applied elsewhere in a different context. For example, “permablitz” is a model of urban agriculture installation that many people are applying in different parts of Victoria. Sustainable Melbourne strongly encourages environmental organisations and institutions to post their own environmental initiatives (ie. “models”) on the site to share with others. To do so visit the “How to use this site” page and follow the prompts.
Sustainable Consumption: Design for Disassembly
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
Tags: behaviour change, consumption, industrial design
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Carbon calculator online: Zero Carbon Moreland
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on November 13th, 2009
Source: Zero Carbon Moreland
Zero Carbon Moreland are happy to introduce their new online carbon calculator.
This tool will make it easier to calculate your carbon footprint and to create your own, personal action plan online. Many Zero Carbon Moreland participants have been posting, emailing and phoning in their carbon footprints or calculating them at workshops with their friends and neighbours. If you have done so, thank you! It is vital to the campaign that we have your data before and after you take action.
If you have not submitted your footprint yet, it has just become very easy to do so using the online calculator and action plan. Get online and try it out. The calculator will also provide you with information about the actions you can take, helping you create your own personal action plan – which can be printed out and put on your fridge.
We hope you enjoy it! Feel free to let us know what you think. If you have any problems please contact Jessica or Jenneke on 9385 8517 or info@zcm.org.au.
Tags: carbon footprint, consumption, moreland solar city, new tools
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If this product could talk: Product Roadmaps
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on November 6th, 2009
Source: the Hub
Image: Potato Roadmap, Net Balance Foundation
A series of tools and resources have been developed to expand responsible business practice in Australia across a wide range of companies including small and medium enterprises. Product Roadmaps, available on the Hub, identify the social and environmental impacts of a specific sector/product throughout the supply chain and then identify areas for improvement, cross-participant opportunities, government responses and tools that can assist to increase responsible business practices. The product road mapping concept provides a common ground for participants along a supply chain (from primary producer through to consumers) to engage in meaningful dialogue about broader social and environmental issues that are typically harder to address in their entirety.
Roadmapping allows:
* end consumers and businesses along the product roadmap to be better informed of where their product comes from and the related sustainability issues associated with their supply chain
* supply chain participants including business, government regulators and industry bodies to assess and address the processes, costs and issues involved across the whole roadmap within which they participate.
Product Roadmaps are part of a national project housed at St James Ethics Centre and funded by the Federal Government (through Treasury).
Tags: behaviour change, business, consumption, education, governance
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Kingston Raingarden Tour: design, construction & maintenance challenges
Posted in Models by Clearwater on September 21st, 2009
Image: Kingston City Council
Join Clearwater and the City of Kingston on a half day tour of raingardens and biofilters in Kingston. Raingardens play an important role in reducing stormwater flows and pollutant loads which drain into our creeks, rivers and bay.
The City of Kingston is recognised as an industry leader in retrofitting water sensitive urban design (WSUD) into council projects. This half day tour is lead by Alan West, Kingston Council’s Engineering Design Team Leader. You will be taken to WSUD sites developed over the past ten years to discuss successes and lessons learnt from each of the projects.
Thursday 22nd October 2009
Tags: education, urban design, water
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FarmGAS Calculator Launched
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on September 4th, 2009
Source: Cleanfood, the Future Climate newsletter
Image: Hannam Vale
The Australian Farm Institute has launched its FarmGAS Calculator.
The Calculator is an online application which enables farmers to model both the financial and greenhouse gas outputs of farm activities and the implications of changes in enterprises. The FarmGAS Calculator is available free online for anyone to access. The FarmGAS Calculator includes individual calculators for the major livestock and cropping enterprises, and any combination of these enterprises can be added to create an individual farm business. Farmers can come back to the calculator at any time to update or change their production data, or complete the process in stages. The Calculator applies the same methodology that is used by the Department of Climate Change in the estimation of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Accounts; and provides reports on the annual amount of methane and nitrous oxide emitted by each enterprise expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-e). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: carbon neutral, enabling technologies, farm, Food
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Sustainable House Day
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on September 2nd, 2009
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Sustainable House Day is on again!
Sunday 13th September 2009. Houses open between 10am and 4pm
This is the 8th year of the successful Sustainable House Day – where houses across Australia are opened to show you how to live more sustainably.
And this year it’s FREE!
Environmental awareness – or being ‘green’ – is great, but putting it into practice around your own home is the best contribution you can make to living in harmony with our planet.
Find out direct from home owners who’ve put sustainable living into practice, about reducing waste around your home, saving water, natural home heating and cooling and more.
http://www.sustainablehouseday.com/
Tags: education, houses, sharing, urban design and built form
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Clearwater: supporting a water sensitive future
Posted in Models by Clearwater on September 2nd, 2009
Clearwater is a non-profit organisation that aims to create water sensitive urban environments across Victoria. We offer training, advice, technical information and events for those who plan, design, develop and manage our cities and towns. Our aim is to change the way our urban environments are designed to result in sustainable water use and improved stormwater quality.
Established in 2002 as part of the Victorian Stormwater Action Program, Clearwater was initially funded by EPA Victoria, Municipal Association of Victoria, and Stormwater Industry Association of Victoria. Melbourne Water became a major funding partner of the program in 2006 and additional funding is currently provided by DSE and EPA. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: education, governance, water
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Soil & Organics Recycling in Gippsland
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on August 20th, 2009
Source: Smart Water Fund
A new waste plant that will process 3000 tonnes of contaminated soils, 13,000 tonnes of organic waste and up to 20 megalitres of liquid waste a year has opened in Gippsland.
The Soil and Organic Recycling Facility (SORF) at Dutson Downs, 20km south-east of Sale, will manufacture high-quality compost that will be used for pasture improvement, land rehabilitation or beautification projects.
Contaminated soils retrieved from disused petrol stations or gas works can be treated and recycled at the SORF as an alternative in many cases to landfill disposal. Other wastes, including animal fats and petrol-based pollutants, will be converted (using naturally occurring microbes) into their component parts – carbon, water and beneficial soil organics. The plant will also recycle liquids such as waste oils and washdown water from factories, food processors and machinery plants – including car washes.
Gippsland Water Managing Director David Mawer said: “Contaminated water is a valuable resource that previously has gone to waste. This new plant can now take 20 megalitres a year. That’s water that once it is treated, can be reused for agricultural purposes.” “We believe industry will soon recognise the usefulness of this facility and it has been planned to further increase in capacity as demand grows.” Mr Mawer added. The SORF is within Gippsland Water’s existing Resource Recovery Facility, which occupies 250Ha of the 8000Ha Dutson Downs site.
Source: Smart Water Fund
Tags: new systems/services, recycling, waste, water
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Climate Design Wizard for energy efficient homes
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on August 10th, 2009
Source: GreenRazor, the GreenPages Newsletter
The Climate Design Wizard provides homeowners, builders and architects with clear and simple information about their local climate, as well as simple design strategies that can help achieve a more environmentally sustainable outcome. The information is compiled from a century of climate data across Australia’s varying climate zones – as an energy efficient house in Sydney would have very different needs to an energy efficient house in Darwin.
Taking a walk through the Wizard might seem a little daunting – at first. There’s charts and schematics and mountains of climate data to consider. But the tool clearly outlines some of the most important principles for good climate performance.
Tags: built form and urban design, education, energy efficiency
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Sharing Spaces: Creative Caravan
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on August 3rd, 2009
Source: Springwise
Launched earlier this month, Creative Caravan is a property listing service for people working in the creative industries, devised to help film directors, make-up artists, painters, photographers, etc find a place to (sub)let or swap. The Australian service aims to make it easier for people who are constantly on the move find short-let properties at short notice, anywhere from Northamptonshire in the UK to Sydney in Australia. Registration is free for anyone wishing to browse or list a housing ad.
Tags: community, new systems/services, sharing
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