Posts Tagged ‘energy efficiency’
Where to find Australia’s Climate Change Leaders (psst – it’s not Canberra)
Posted in Movements, Opinion by CarbonetiX on August 17th, 2010
Image: Linfox
If you are sick of the climate change talkfest in Canberra and looking for the kind of leadership where actions and results do the talking, jump on tram 59 going past Essendon, put your bike on the train and head on past Frankston to Hastings, or catch the Epping line train and get off at Preston.
Your first stop is near Essendon airport, with a brisk ten minute walk to the offices of Linfox. You’ll get a clue of what is happening when you notice that the trucks won’t be idling in the car park. In a training room there is a group of drivers, listening to a burly presenter talking about the likely impacts of climate change if we do nothing. David McInnes, Group Manager Environment and Climate Change, then takes you aside and quickly goes through the ten principles of fuel-efficient driving that the drivers are learning in the Eco Drive training. He explains that “Linfox takes the position that climate change is real, that it is most probably caused by human activity, and that Linfox sees that it has a responsibility to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.” To reduce its emissions Linfox have been following a eight step cultural change process developed by Harvard academic John Kotter.
Since 2007 Linfox has quietly gone about creating a sense of urgency in the organisation about the importance of reducing its carbon footprint, then acting on that sense of urgency. Without quite knowing how it would do it, its board of management set a target to reduce greenhouse emissions per km by 15% by 2010. As a result of this leadership stand, late last year Linfox announced that it had reached its target early, and had in fact achieved a 28% saving, translating into substantial savings in diesel costs. McInnes is quick to point out that “this has required significant investment, but that to date the savings outweigh the costs.” He attributes the saving to cultural change, and how thousands of drivers changing how they drive has slashed their diesel use. Linfox has now set a target of reducing its emissions per km by 50% by 2015, and is willing to go beyond business as usual with the additional investment that will be required to achieve this.
Your next stop is Westernport Secondary College. You catch the train to Frankston then ride your bike for an hour to Hastings, or else then catch the Stony Point line train and walk for ten minutes to the school from Hastings station.
Assistant Principal Hannah Lewis greets you and shows you round the school. You see how the old centralised heating system is now idle, replaced with energy efficient gas space heaters in each classroom. Light fittings have been “de-lamped” – that is, a fitting with two fluorescent tubes has had one removed and a reflector put behind the remaining tube to increase its light output. She explains how “a lighting assessment has ensured that de-lamping has been undertaken selectively so that illumination levels are still in accordance with the Australian Standard.” This low cost measure has resulted in a halving of energy use in those light fittings that have been de-lamped.
Earth Building Conference 2010
Posted in Events, Movements by Kate Archdeacon on August 11th, 2010
EBAA 2010 Earth Building Conference
Is Insulation the answer to energy efficiency? Has the approach since 2003 been a success? Are 5 Star homes really that good? What about thermal mass and good design? We have had difficulty understanding why computers don’t like earth buildings. Some high profile academics also have concerns with NatHers. How can you build an energy efficient earth home? How can you build a Bushfire safe home? What is the best material in flame zone construction? What about fire bunkers? How to use earth in ways you never dreamed of revealed in a day of workshops? Get your hands dirty! Conference speakers are still being confirmed, but the focus areas will be: – Affordable housing – Flame zone and bunkers – Challenging bunker regulations – Forum: energy efficient earth houses – Workshops including Building a fire bunker Soil & brick Testing Brick production – Guest speaker dinner, Saturday night at Montsalvat.
17 & 18 September 2010
Eltham Community and Reception Centre
801 Main Road, Eltham 3095
Check out your next issue of Dirt and www.ebaa.asn.au for updates.
—
The Climate Change Act in Scotland: What are the lessons for Victoria?
Posted in Events by Mark Ogge on May 31st, 2010
A monthly discussion group hosted by Beyond Zero Emissions focusing on energy solutions to climate change, held on the first Monday of every month.
A discussion with Sally Moxham, who has long worked in the sustainability field, and who has just spent a year heading up the Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Policy Unit in the Scottish Government. While in Scotland she worked on the Scottish Climate Change Act – which sets out greenhouse emissions reduction targets of 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. Sally will speak about her experiences, namely her work on the Scottish Government’s ambition on energy efficiency and microgeneration front as they relate to the built environment.
Please note: We are back at Kindness House this month.
Event location: 2nd Floor, Kindness House, 288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Time: 6.30 – 8 pm, Monday 7th June 2010
http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org/events/discussion-group
—
The Climate Change Act in Scotland: What are the lessons for Victoria?
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on May 10th, 2010
Source: Friends of the Earth Melbourne
Image via flickr
Sally Moxham, from DSE Urban Sustainability Team, who has long worked in the sustainability field, has just spent a year heading up the Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Policy Unit in the Scottish Government. Sally will speak about her experiences, namely her work on the energy efficiency components of the new Climate Change Act in Scotland, the work practises of the Scottish Civil services (which are radically different to the Victorian Public Service) and the Scottish Government’s ambition on the energy efficiency and microgeneration front as they relate to the built environment. Please join us for a glass of wine or beer to hear from Sally and have a chat with others interested in action on climate change, energy efficiency, micro generation and similar concerns.
Friday 14 May, 5.30pm for a drink and chat, 5.45 pm start, til 7pm.
Venue: Friends of the Earth
312 Smith street, Collingwood (#86 Tram from Bourke street, one block from Johnston Street buses).
Please rsvp: cam.walker@foe.org.au
—-
Resource Efficiency Training: VECCI Course
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.
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.
Insulation: Homeowner and Renter Rebates
Posted in Policies by Kate Archdeacon on July 23rd, 2009
Source: GreenRazor, the GreenPages Newsletter
Image: greenbydesign
Starting from 1 July, the Australian Government will be launching the main component of its Homeowner Insulation Program. The exciting new program will mean essentially zero up-front costs for insulation installations that costs less $1600 for most households.
Also starting from July, homeowners will also be able to access an online register of qualified insulation installers.
Meanwhile, landlords and tenants will also be able to take advantage of the benefits of insulation through the Low Emission Assistance Plan for Renters, which essentially qualifies rental properties to receive assistance of up to $1000 for insulation installation. The average cost for installing insulation is estimated to be about $1200 per home.
Ken Guthrie, Sustainable Cities Round Table – The Energy to Change, 20 May 2009
Posted in SCRT Videos, Sustainable Cities Round Tables by Virginia on June 10th, 2009
Ken Guthrie represents an initiative by Sustainability Victoria in developing a concept called Smart Energy Zones. A Smart Energy Zone aims to promote energy generation closer to where it is consumed, enabling individuals and local communities to take ownership of and manage their own energy supply. Using a combination of localised supply and demand energy solutions, communities can dramatically and cost-effectively reduce their greenhouse intensity.
Marie Andrews, Sustainable Cities Round Table – The Energy to Change, 20 May 2009
Posted in SCRT Videos, Sustainable Cities Round Tables by Virginia on June 10th, 2009
Marie Andrews represents Kildonan Uniting Care whose aim is to empower people to improve their lives, through the provision of effective community services and addressing issues of social and economic hardship. One of their projects is to advise to households to manage their energy demands to reach both social and environmental goals.
Michael Ambrose, Sustainable Cities Round Table – The Energy to Change, 20 May 2009
Posted in SCRT Videos, Sustainable Cities Round Tables by Virginia on June 9th, 2009
Michael Ambrose, from CSIRO, presents the Zero Emissions Home Project, where they aim to envision and build houses with zero net emissions of green house gases. The project is a collaboration between Sustainability Victoria, Henley Properties Group, and Delfin Land Lease.
