Posts Tagged ‘behaviour change’
Green Office Briefing: September & October
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on September 3rd, 2010
| 23 September , 2010 | ||
| 12 October , 2010 | ||
| 26 October , 2010 |
Simple steps to green your office
The shift towards a low carbon economy and introducing environmentally friendly practices into the home has been embraced by Australians, with many people doing their part to reduce energy, water and waste consumption. However, a new trend is emerging with an increasing demand for businesses that embrace environmentally friendly practices. Consumers, suppliers and employees alike are choosing business that can demonstrate environmentally friendly policies and practices over those that cannot. The importance for businesses to adopt and integrate business practices that result in reduced carbon emission outputs is quickly becoming an essential business success factor.
The Green Office Briefing was developed for small to medium-sized and large business who wish to educate their staff to become more environmentally conscious and empower them to implement green practices in the office. The two hour briefing clarifies common myths around the usage of electrical appliances and is an essential guide to manage paper use, electricity consumption, waste disposal and purchasing attitudes in and around the office. The interactive hands on briefing empowers staff to take immediate action.
What will be covered?
* Myths and realities
* Identifying opportunities to save energy, paper, water use and waste
* Green office equipment
* How to use green office equipment
* Actions to reduce energy, paper, water usage
* Actions to purchase environmentally responsible office equipment stationary
* Actions to reduce your office waste
* Actions to promote sustainable transport
Dates
23/09/10: East Melbourne
12/10/10: Dandenong
26/10/10: East Melbourne
Visit the website for more information.
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Green Moves: Sustainable Properties in Australia
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on September 1st, 2010
Source: Green Renters
In the past we (Green Renters) attempted to start our own listings service for environmentally friendly rental property and that didn’t really work…
Then we linked up with a US site, that didn’t really work either…
So imagine how happy we were when we came across a new Australian based service called ‘Green Moves’, who do exactly what you’ve all been asking for and much more! Green Moves not only list your sustainable property but also assess them (to current Australian standards) to create a reliable and consistent standard for listings across the site.
So if you’re a tenant looking for a new home, or a landlord looking to list your property to like minded tenants, then drop on by!
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2010 Great Northern Clean Up
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on August 23rd, 2010
Source: EcoVoice
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, Clean Up Australia has announced the 2010 Great Northern Clean Up will be held on the weekend of 11 and 12 September. Created after feedback that March weather made it difficult for North Australian communities to participate in Clean Up Australia Day, the 2010 Great Northern Clean Up is a great opportunity to get things ship-shape at the end of the tourist season and before the big wet kicks in.
Ian Kiernan AO, founder and Chairman of Clean Up Australia said, “Last year’s community spirit, passion and support was fantastic, with over 90 tons of rubbish removed by nearly 1800 volunteers across Northern Australia.
“We know as the tourist season draws to an end we’re likely to find new pockets of rubbish around, with bottles, cans, plastic bags and cigarette butts the main offenders. Once the wind picks up and the rain comes in, much of that rubbish will make its way into our waterways where it can harm or kill local wildlife.
“I urge people to think about areas in their community that need cleaning up, then register your site before the cut off date – August 29″ Mr Kiernan concluded.
Anyone can register a Clean Up site or volunteer for the 2010 Great Northern Clean Up on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th September just by visiting www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au or by calling 1800 CUA DAY (1800 282 329).
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Walking Breaks: Banishing 3.30-itis
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on August 4th, 2010
Source: Victoria Walks
Workplace Walking Ideas: Walking breaks and walking groups
Are you regularly stuck between four walls and a desk? How about stepping out for some fresh air? The National Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that adults participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, preferably everyday. You can achieve this through short ‘snack sized’ bouts of activity by doing simple things like taking a few 10 minute walking breaks every day, or joining a regular workplace walking group. Here’s how:
* Banishing 3.30-itis with a daily power walk - Michelle’s story
* Lunchtime walking group a hit at work – Gabrielle’s story
* How to start a workplace walking group
* Walking group poster (you can adapt this for your workplace)
Visit Victoria Walks for more information and ideas.
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Join the commuter revolution: Register for Ride To Work Day
Posted in Events, Movements by Elysia on July 20th, 2010
More and more Australians are joining the commuter revolution, and they want the world to know about it. Record numbers are registering for Ride to Work Day on 13 October, and are proud to proclaim their commitment to a healthier and congestion-free way to get to work. Ride to Work Day, the only nationally recognised event of it kind, provides a day in the workplace calendar for those thinking about commuting by bike to start or re-energise cycling habits deterred by the winter months.
Ride to Work Day registrations are crucial in ensuring the continuous improvement of bike facilities across Australia. Ride to Work Day spokesperson, Mr Max Goonan, said the biggest barrier to riding to work was poor facilities. “Registering for Ride to Work Day is a sure way for bike riders to make their ride count,” Mr Goonan said. “Registering your support is a critical means of capturing valuable data on bike commuting.” “We use this data to convince Governments and business that there is massive support for riding to work amongst Australians, and that it is time to get investment rolling to meet the burgeoning demand.” Bicycle Network’s Ride to Work twelve month behavior change program has been a strong influence in the dramatic increase of people choosing to ride to work. Ride to Work Day post-event surveys revealed that over 50% of those who weren’t riding to work in 2009 are now riding to work in 2010.
Register online for Ride to Work Day 2010 at https://ride2work.com.au/register/
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Bike Futures 2010 Conference: Call for Papers
Posted in Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on July 15th, 2010
Source: Friends of the Earth Melbourne
The 2010 Bike Futures conference is a once a year opportunity for national and local leaders, planners, designers and builders to come together around the opportunities and challenges we all face in meeting the ever rising demand for bicycle transportation. The 2010 Conference will tackle issues specific to bike transportation such as:
• Separating riders from traffic and tuning traffic signals
• Designing effective shared paths and developing shared use
• Applying the new AustRoads guidelines
• Links to workplaces and public transport and end of trip facilities
• Bikes plans, land use and high return investments
The Conference will bring you up to date with the latest and best solutions. The practical presentations will enable you to unlock the solutions to the problems you face and take advantage of the many benefits that bike riding brings to your community. If you feel that you are struggling on your own with bike issues the conference will put you in the network. Participants last year said things like ‘From a professional perspective it puts us in touch with a whole lot of people who we would normally not meet’. Bike Futures is a Bicycle Network project that supports people who are working in, with or alongside Local Government in Australasia.
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne: Thursday 14th – Friday 15th October 2010
The Call for Papers is open until August 31st.
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Creating Sustainable Neighbourhoods: State of Design Forum
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on July 14th, 2010
© Jacqui Monie, University of Melbourne
Creating Sustainable Neighbourhoods will explore how behavioural change and precinct development interrelate. Together, these forces can create sustainable neighbourhoods. This forum demonstrates how design plays a critical role in creating vibrant, sustainable development. We will also explore the role of design in creating sustainable outcomes through innovative building projects, urban and infrastructure design and by creating strategic frameworks.
A sustainable precinct is more than just sustainable built forms. It also requires the support of a sustainable community; new practices and patterns of living. Yet how do we sell the benefits of sustainable futures? Individuals respond to visionary ideas, especially if they can see them translated into real actions. For example, five or six star green star buildings have set new benchmarks that others have been inspired to follow. In light of this, what might a 10 star green star precinct and community look like? The forum presents a number of iconic projects that are currently inspiring change and encouraging innovative design practice.
The forum is aimed at those in design and non-design fields with an interest in the contribution of designers and the design process in creating sustainable neighbourhoods. It demonstrates how designers collaborate with diverse stakeholder groups and the key role designer’s play in activities such as master planning and community interaction. The forum includes the presentation of case studies from guest speakers, a Q&A panel discussion and a chance for audience members to envision elements of a sustainable precinct in a collaborative workshop exercise.
Come learn, collaborate and innovate.
Friday 23 July, 2010, 10.00am – 12.30pm
Free, registration for forum essential: stateofdesignrsvp@sustainability.vic.gov.au
Village Roadshow Theatrette
State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Presented by Sustainability Victoria, Sponsored by Victorian Eco Innovation Lab (VEIL)
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Ride the Talk at Maroondah City Council
Posted in Events by Nelly on July 13th, 2010
Want to find out how you can save money (and be kind to the planet) by making simple changes at home? Then come to this free public event and hear John Knox Ride the Talk on 21 July. John Knox has decided that, rather than simply complain about the lack of action on Climate Change, he needs to do something positive about it, so he is taking his knowledge of energy efficiency around Australia by bicycle.
Wednesday 21 July, 2010
7.00-9.00pm
Maroondah City Council, City Offices Ringwood, Braeside Avenue
RSVP by 20 July to Nelly on 9298 4261 or nelly.belperio@maroondah.vic.gov.au
Come along and bring some friends to share the savings.
For events in your area, see the calendar at www.ridethetalk.com.au
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No Junk Mail Campaign: Waste Reduction & Fundraising
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on July 2nd, 2010
Source: EcoVoice
Keep Australia Beautiful has partnered with Eco Voice to encourage all Australians to read their catalogues online to reduce waste and litter. Figures on how catalogues impact on the environment are scary:
* There are around 8 billion catalogues delivered around Australia each year.
* Junk mail makes up 6% of all paper used in Australia, equating to 240,000 tonnes of paper per year.
* One tonne of catalogue pages uses 90,000 litres of water to produce.
* We could fill 8,640 Olympic swimming pools with the water used to produce a year’s worth of catalogues.
(Source: Robert Wong, CEO of Catalogue Central)
Seeking Help
Keep Australia Beautiful needs help to get “No Junk Mail – I read my Catalogues Online at Eco Voice” stickers on as many letterboxes across Australia as possible. Eco Voice will soon have bundles of stickers available for schools & community groups to use as fundraisers to spread the word and make revenue (perhaps) for their other sustainability programs. So get your school or community group involved today. By getting involved, you will be helping the environment by:
* Reducing the junk mail litter that ends up on our streets
* Saving water and paper used in printing the catalogues
* Raising funds for your school or group eco project and
* Raising funds for Keep Australia Beautiful
Keep Australia Beautiful Week kicks off on Monday 23 August.
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Queen Vic Market: Plastic-bag free
Posted in Events, Movements by Kate Archdeacon on June 29th, 2010
From July, Deli Hall and Meat Hall traders at Queen Victoria Market will be going plastic bag free with a campaign to ‘Bag the (Plastic) Bag’. In an effort to encourage patrons to rethink their use of plastic bags and their impact on the environment, traders will be offering alternatives such as biodegradable cornstarch bags in place of regular plastic.
There’s much more to the Market’s sustainable practices than many people may realise. When the solar panels were installed onto the shed rooves in 2003 the project was the largest urban gridconnected solar photovoltaic installation in the southern hemisphere. The rainwater harvesting project reduces the Market’s potable water consumption by around 25%; saving approximately 6 Olympic swimming pools of water each year.
The Market team has been working closely with traders in the Deli and Meat Halls on the plastic bag project and now has a full time Sustainability Officer on board to work with traders and staff on initiatives to further the sustainability efforts including the Bag the (Plastic) Bag campaign. The goal is to encourage patrons to bring re-usable bags into the Market and eventually have the entire Market plastic bag free – an ambitious goal but an important one. The aim is to provide customers with a high quality, lifestyle experience, and we consider running a sustainable operation to be very much a part of that experience. Plastic bags will be phased out of the Deli Hall and Meat Hall from July.
Queen Victoria Market will be holding a plastic bag amnesty on Thursday July 1 and Friday July 2, giving shoppers the chance to pick up a FREE re-usable QVM bag in exchange for making a pledge to use less plastic bags.
Market Staff will be at the following locations from 10am to 11am:-
* Therry Street entrance Deli Hall
* Queen Street entrance Meat Hall
* Market office, 513 Elizabeth Street Melbourne
Patrons can also hand in their old plastic bags for recycling in the Market office.
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