Archive for the ‘Visions’ Category
Visions refer to ideas for a sustainable future in Melbourne. Visions links in strongly with the overall Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) project, which designs visions to change our current direction towards a more sustainable future. Posts here on Sustainable Melbourne relate to visions produced by people and organisations based in Melbourne, while more information can be found about the VEIL visions on the VEIL website. If you are involved with a local environmental visioning project you are welcome to post information about your work on Sustainable Melbourne. To do so visit the “How to use this site” page and follow the prompts.
Solar Power Bulk Buying Neighbourhood-closes April 22nd, 2009!
Posted in Visions by solar.homes on April 16th, 2009
Melbourne residents may have recently heard of our fantastic solar power offer on ABC 774 Radio or seen our editoriials in the Whitehorse Leader Newspaper in the past two weeks.
From our own search for affordable solar power for our own homes, we have formed our own bulk buying solar group-Whitehorse 2 Solar Neighbourhood – which we would like to invite our community neighbours to join us. (Residents of the City of Whitehorse -Melbourne-and surrounding areas).
Our solar neighbourhood takes advantage of huge savings from bulk purchasing and installation of solar power systems as well as making the most of the $8000 Government Rebates before the cut-off time at the end of June.
Timing is crucial as April 22nd is the close-off date for the solar neighbourhood to ensure that all paperwork is submitted to the Government in time to claim the rebates.
Please contact us at solar.schools@ hotmail.com or healthvitalitynow@ gmail.com or phone: 0414 656 590 for more information.
VOTING ON THE FUTURE – Audiences responses from the ECO-CITY Melbourne Exhibition
Posted in Visions by Ferne Edwards on March 24th, 2009
At the recent Sustainable Cities Round Table on Sustainable Sharing, 26 February, which was held in collaboration with the ECO-CITY Melbourne Exhibition by VEIL, the audience was asked to identify from the posters “What is the most exciting, positive and desirable aspects / ideas of what life could be like?“. Their responses – a sporadic list of vibrant topics and themes – can be read below. To learn more about the VEIL ECO-CITY Melbourne exhibition read this article in The Age and check out the VEIL website here.
1. Water solution – storm water recycling, wetlands
2. Water solution – visible water tank
3. Eco-business – “more than onceâ€
4. Office-farm
5. Vertical farm
6. Community initiatives e.g. nature strips/rooftop gardens –reducing food miles, encouraging interaction + public health initiative all in one
7. More than once eco-friendly supermarket
8. Visible water tanks and pipes
9. EBD mobility
10. Fridge
11. Bikes
Read the rest of this entry »
Eco suburb plan unveiled for city
Posted in Visions by Ferne Edwards on February 25th, 2009
The article below announces the ECO-CITY Melbourne Exhibition – an outcome of the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab. To read the full article click here.
Eco suburb plan unveiled for city
Jason Dowling and Natalie Craig, The Age, February 25, 2009
A VISION for a suburb of the future with no cars, an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions and the ability to grow its own food has been unveiled by a State Government-funded thinktank. And it could happen on a site just two kilometres from the centre of Melbourne.
A 20-hectare site for the new green suburb has even been identified on land owned by VicTrack, the government body that owns the state’s rail assets. The lease on the site known as E-Gate, just off Footscray Road, expires in 2014 and Major Projects Victoria has been working with VicTrack on possibilities for the land.
Now, the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab, a university-based thinktank funded by the Government, has come up with ideas for a new environmentally friendly suburb at the site.
An exhibition of the proposals from 200 university students, known as Eco-City Melbourne, will go on show from tomorrow.
Future Canvas and Reforestation (Urban Farming) launch blogs!
Posted in Visions by Ferne Edwards on February 3rd, 2009
Future Canvas and Reforestation welcome people’s participation in their conversation on living sustainably everyday…
General Future Canvas Blog – “Global Conversation”: http://futurecanvas-conversation.blogspot.com/
Reforestation Blog – “Urban Farming”: http://futurecanvas-reforestation.blogspot.com/
Also, as Future Lab have recently moved into a creative hub with Open Channel (http://www.openchannel.org.au/) at Shed 4 in the Docklands. Here is their new address;
Victoria Harbour
Shed 4 North Wharf Road
Docklands, VIC 3008
Australia
Sustainable Melbourne and VEIL wish you a Happy Christmas and a fantastic New Year!
Posted in Visions by Ferne Edwards on December 24th, 2008
Sustainable Melbourne and the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab would like to wish you a Happy Christmas and a fantastic New Year! Sustainable Melbourne will be on hold from 25 December to 12 January. We look forward to working with you all to achieve significant sustainable change in 2009!
Best,
Ferne Edwards
Sustainable Melbourne moderator
A new look to the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab website
Posted in Visions by Ferne Edwards on December 22nd, 2008
The Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) has recently launched a new look to their website. Beautifully designed and easy to navigate, the new website features news about VEIL activities, showcases the VEIL visions, reveals the present at VEIL in terms of project work in current sustainability initiatives and has heaps of resources for public access such as publications and videos. The parent of Sustainable Melbourne and Sustainable Cities Net, the ongoing outcomes of the VEIL project are beautifully presented for all to enjoy. Visit the new look VEIL website here.
Post your sustainability events, initiatives, research & even questions for free DIRECTLY on SustainableMelbourne.com!
Posted in Seeking, Sustainable Cities Round Tables, Visions by Ferne Edwards on October 1st, 2008
This is to reminder that you are welcome to post your sustainability events, initiatives, research & even questions & ideas for free DIRECTLY on SustainableMelbourne.com!
SustainableMelbourne.com is a communications hub for re-inventing Melbourne as ecologically, socially and culturally sustainable. This blog serves to to deliver information, to connect people and projects, to accelerate the citys transformation. Since it’s beginning just over a year ago, SustainableMelbourne.com has drastically grown its readership to receive international recognition. By posting your sustainability events, research & even questions & ideas on this site, your post may also be selected to feature in the Sustainable Melbourne Newsletter which has a growing audience based of over 1,300 people based locally in Melbourne!
To contribute a post click here and follow the instructions. If you have any problems posting your data please contact either:
Ferne Edwards, Project co-ordinator & site moderator at fedwards @unimelb.edu.au or
Simon DAlfonso, Technical support at dals @unimelb.edu.au.
Australia’s 2020 carbon pollution reduction potential
Posted in Visions by Devin Maeztri on September 15th, 2008
The abstract was recently listed on Australian Policy Online. To see the original document visit Australia’s 2020 carbon pollution reduction potential
Australia’s 2020 carbon pollution reduction potential
The Climate Institute and McLennan Magasanik Associates
Posted 02-09-2008
The newly developed Australian Emissions Reduction Model can be used to identify the technologies and strategies needed to meet a user defined emission reduction target. This policy brief provides a preliminary snapshot of one scenario of how Australia could achieve a 25 per cent reduction in emissions below 1990 levels by 2020.
To read the full document visit: Australia’s 2020 carbon pollution reduction potential – full document
Launch of Future Scenarios website
Posted in Visions by Ferne Edwards on August 25th, 2008
David Holmgren, well-known permaculturalist, has developed his global scenario planning into a website called Future Scenarios, www.FutureScenarios.org.
As stated by Holmgren on the site:
“FutureScenarios.org presents an integrated approach to understanding the potential interaction between Climate Change and Peak Oil using a scenario planning model. In the process I introduce permaculture as a design system specifically evolved over the last 30 years to creatively respond to futures that involve progressively less and less available energy.”
A press release about this new website can be found at: http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/2008/05/futurescenarios/.
Seeking submissions – Sustainable Design Scorecard – due 18 September
Posted in Models, Policies, Research, Seeking, Visions by wynne.ma on August 11th, 2008
Please see a message from the City of Port Phillip below.
Originally developed in 1999, the Sustainable Design Scorecard is intended to assess and quantify the environmental performance of non-residential developments (such as commercial, industrial and retail developments), with the STEPS tool complimenting it through the assessment of residential developments (see www.morelandsteps.com.au). The Scorecard facilitates a more sustainable approach to design through seven main categories; Energy Efficiency, Transport, Water, Waste, Materials, Indoor Environment Quality and ESD Excellence.
2008 UPGRADE DISCUSSION PAPER
As part of the City of Port Phillip’s commitment towards achieving a sustainable built environment we are currently undertaking a full review and upgrade of the Scorecard. The first phase of this is the release of this Upgrade Discussion Paper which aims to establish Council’s intended direction and also invites feedback from the community, industry and government on the future need, content and usability of the Scorecard.
Copies of the Scorecard and Upgrade Discussion Paper are available online at www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/sds, with physical copies of the Upgrade Discussion Paper available from the St Kilda Town Hall throughout August.
Alternatively, you can download the following files here:
Submissions must be received before 5pm (AEST) on Thursday 18th September.
For more information visit: www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/sds
