Posts Tagged ‘sustainability’
CERES Global India Information Sessions: Cultural Exchange Program
Posted in Events by ceres on July 12th, 2011
| 19 July , 2011 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:30 pm |
This year marks CERES Global’s 7th year of connecting with grassroots organisations in rural India to create better understanding between the two countries and to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world. CERES Global participants absorb local life and culture, while learning from and working with local communities passionate about tackling climate change in locally appropriate ways. Come and learn more about our upcoming India program at an Information Session.
CERES Global – India Cultural & Skills Exchange Program – Information Sessions
Tues 19th July 6.30–8 pm
Thurs 25th August 6.30–8pm
Wed 21st Sept 6.30–8pm
Thurs 20th October 6.30–8pm
All Sessions are at the CERES EcoHouse (just inside the Lee Street gates)
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Sustainability On Show: Building & Home Improvement Expo
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on July 1st, 2011
| 15 July , 2011 | ||
| 16 July , 2011 | ||
| 17 July , 2011 |
Sustainability On Show within this year’s Building & Home Improvement Expo, on from 15 – 17 July 2011 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre will offer visitors not only the broadest array of the latest products and technologies available, it will also provide a forum in which you can learn from experts and gain insight into the best sustainable investments for your home.
At the Building & Home Improvement Expo visitors will have the unique opportunity to discover 100s of manufacturers and suppliers of renewable energy technologies, solar water & solar power technology, grey water systems, heating & cooling systems, energy conservation technologies, insulation, glazing, home energy auditors, water harvesting, carbon reduction technology & more.
Sustainability highlights include:
- Modern Methods of Construction
- Housing Sustainability Pyramid
- Sustainability Hot Spot
- Free Seminars including 10 Star Challenge; Maximising your ‘Green Cred’; and Sustainability Cost Justified
15-17 July 2011
Melbourne Exhibition Centre
www.buildexpo.com.au/events/sustainability-on-show
Does your organisation have a culture of sustainability?
Posted in Models, Research by timc on June 28th, 2011
Awake has recently developed the Sustainability Culture Indicator (SCI), an online survey tool designed to help organisations and groups evaluate the extent to which critical enablers of sustainability exist in their culture.
The information provided by the SCI allows the organisation to
- Identify the features of the organisation which are supporting, and hindering, the development of sustainability as a core aspect of the culture
- Ensure the design of activities and actions to promote sustainability are targeted to the areas of greatest need
- Set a baseline against which to track the impact of future efforts to embed sustainability
The factors measured in the SCI are derived from academic and organisational research, as well as being developed and refined through surveys conducted by Awake in several organisations and communities throughout Australia and New Zealand.
More information, including a sample report and brochure are available at the SCI webpage
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“One Man, One Cow, One Planet”: Film Night
Posted in Events by TransitionTownPortPhillip on June 9th, 2011
| 13 June , 2011 | ||
| 7:30 pm | to | 9:30 pm |
A simple recipe to save the world? One old man and a bucket of cow-dung!
Modern agriculture causes topsoil to be eroded at 3 million tons per hour (that’s 26 billion tons a year). Human mass is replacing biomass and other species. The carrying capacity of the earth is almost spent. To maintain our comfort zone lifestyles we will soon need five earths to sustain us in the style to which we have become accustomed. The mantra of free trade has failed the world’s poor. There is a better way. Biodynamic agriculture may be the only answer we have left.
Join us Monday 13 June, 7.30pm for 8pm (sharp) screening of “ONE MAN, ONE COW, ONE PLANET”
SlowDown!@Harley Court, 56 Acland Street, St Kilda (opp McDonalds)
Tickets $11 on the door (subject to availability). Includes locally sourced produce nibblies & glass of wine. Arrive earlier for vegan pre-screening menu from 5-7pm
Proudly presented in partnership with SlowDown@ Harley Court, Transition Town Port Phillip and Port Phillip Urban Fresh Food Network, supported by Veg Out Community Gardens & Slow Food Melbourne.
Yarra Energy Foundation Launched
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on April 21st, 2011
From “The Yarra Energy Foundation launches with energy smart public housing ‘revolution’ and unique web hub“:
The Yarra Energy Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation set up by the Yarra City Council, to make the municipality carbon-neutral by 2020, [launched on April 14] at the Richmond Public Housing Estate, announcing its first project – the High- Rise Revolution. The project, a roadmap for permanently reducing residents’ electricity usage at the Richmond, Fitzroy and Collingwood public housing high-rise estates, will make living in these estates cheaper and reduce overall carbon pollution.
Alex Fearnside, Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) CEO said: “More than 8,000 people live in these estates and over the years small steps have been taken to make them energy efficient. However this project is about identifying a big step – a revolution – that will not only help residents but also contribute to the Yarra Energy Foundation’s target of carbon neutrality by 2020”.
Yarra Mayor Alison Clarke said she was particularly pleased that public housing was the first project for the new Foundation, which had been set up to make the Council’s ambitious target of carbon-neutrality by 2020 a reality. “Soon after the election of the current Council we realised we did not have the resources or expertise to hit that target in time and needed help to get there. We knew a community-minded organisation with a sole focus on delivering local sustainable outcomes was needed,” Cr Clarke said. The Council has already provided $600,000 to set up YEF and intends to double it over the next two years. “In under a decade, the City of Yarra will be truly carbon neutral. Our focus is on projects that can expand and deliver benefits to the community and business.” Mr Fearnside said.
In another first, the Yarra Energy Foundation is using the Thinking Daily network, on the Quango platform, as the basis for its website – a world first. Quango enables organisations to rapidly form communities around their core mission because visitors are both content creators and commentators. It seamlessly links with the most popular social media sites; and unlike comments on newspapers or blogs, fully visible to search engines. “Our website is like a public forum, a wiki, a website and social media combined. It’s a like borderless online gathering dedicated to enabling zero-carbon communities here in Yarra and worldwide,” Mr Fearnside said.
The High-Rise Revolution project is supported by the Victorian Government Sustainability Fund, managed by Sustainability Victoria.
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Cultivating Sustainability: Workshop
Posted in Events by timc on April 19th, 2011
| 3 May , 2011 | ||
| 9:30 am | to | 4:30 pm |
Cultivating Sustainability is a 1-day workshop which provides sustainability advocates with insights, models and tools to trigger the psychological drivers of sustainable behaviour.
This workshop will assist you to…
- Identify what people need in order to embrace sustainability
- Target your efforts and resources to the points of most leverage
- Incorporate psychological principles to your sustainability programs
- Communicate about sustainability more effectively
- Meet others who are dealing with similar challenges and share ideas and success stories
Presented by Tim Cotter, a psychologist specialising in the psychology of sustainability.
Melbourne, May 3rd, 9.30am – 4.30pm
$140pp Individuals/Community Groups – $225pp Not for profits/Govt – $275pp Corporates/For profit
Further details at www.awake.com.au
“The workshop provides you with simple practical tools to engage around sustainability and behaviour change”. (Cathy Crawley Leader, Arup Sustainability, Brisbane”
“I found the experience valuable in reigniting my passion and belief that I can effect change by taking responsibility myself. Also gathered valuable tools and concepts which resonate with me a lot more from this experiential format than text and seminar”. (Briony Pomplun, Environment Manager, Operations, SunWater)
“A useful, challenging and worthwhile workshop. It will give me lots of new techniques and ideas to follow up”. (Tracy Fulton, Project Officer, Sustainability, City of Okaparinga)
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Discussion Group: Sustainable Design in Denmark
Posted in Events by Mark Ogge on April 12th, 2011
| 18 April , 2011 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Source: Beyond Zero Emissions
A monthly discussion group hosted by Beyond Zero Emissions focusing on energy solutions to climate change.
Birgitte Hoffmann is Associate Professor at the Technical University of Denmark’s Department of Management Engineering. Birgitte will join us in person for a special mid-month discussion group on sustainable transitions within water management, energy production and consumption, sustainable urban development and the social and political aspects of achieving a 50% wind energy target in Denmark. She has published reports on energy efficient buildings, urbanising facilities management, built environments, teaching and implementing sustainable design and regularly presents at conferences.
Note: This discussion group will replace the May discussion group previously scheduled for 2 May
Time: 6:30- 8pm Monday 18 April 2011
Entry: Gold coin donation
Fritz Loewe Theatre (entry via level 2)
McCoy Building, University of Melbourne
Cnr Elgin & Swanston Streets, Carlton
Further reading:http://www.learninglab.dtu.dk/English/om/personale.aspx?lg=showcommon&id…
Thank you to the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute, our Zero Carbon Australia project partners for joinig us in bringing you this event.
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Food Challenge Awards 2011: Now Open
Posted in Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on April 5th, 2011
Image from Food Challenge Awards 2010
The Food Challenge Awards were established by Food Magazine in 2004 to recognise and reward best practice and innovation in food and beverage processing in Australia and New Zealand. Now in its 7th year, the Food Challenge Awards has become a pivotal date on the food and beverage industry’s calendar; drawing together the great and the good, from newly launched boutique operations, to fully established international enterprises.
Categories include Organic & All Natural and Sustainable Manufacturing
Nominations are now open for the Food Challenge Awards 2011 until May 10th.
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Sustainable Building: Does it measure up?
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on February 24th, 2011
| 19 May , 2011 | ||
| 20 May , 2011 |
In the name of energy efficiency, Australians are pro-actively rebuilding and retrofitting their homes in an effort to go green and dodge rising energy and water rates. But how can we measure the extent of our efforts? How does your sustainable building really measure up?
Find out at the Sustainable Building: Does it measure up? conference, which will reveal how and why accurate energy measurement should underpin energy efficiency with seminars by Sam Mostyn (Director of Sydney University’s Institute of Sustainable Solutions), Dr Ralph Horne and Professor Alan Pears (RMIT), Ivan Donaldson (Australian Building Codes Board), Mike Hill (Westwyck Director and Developer for Sustainable Projects), Tone Wheeler (Environmental Architect) and many more.
Sponsored by the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) and held in the first and only ’6 Star Green Star’ environmentally rated convention centre in the world, the 2-day conference will examine the tools, processes and products enhancing sustainability.
Register before March 15 for an early-bird discount.
Visit the website for more information on the program, workshops and pricing. https://secure.absa.net.au/index_absa.htm
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12th Annual Sustainable Living Festival
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on February 14th, 2011
| 12 February , 2011 10:00 am | to | 27 February , 2011 6:00 pm |
In 2011 the Sustainable Living Festival is on a mission, a safe climate mission. There’s already too much carbon in the atmosphere and that’s heating up our planet at a staggering rate. But what does that mean? Isn’t a hotter climate good for getting a tan and hang’n at the beach? NO way! Heating up the planet is causing crazy climate chaos; it’s melting our ice caps, causing floods and sea levels to rise. But so what! How does climate change affect us living here in Australia? Well major damage to our ecological systems threatens our way of life. The environment that we depend on relies on a stable climate that helps us to produce basic things like food and water supply, in fact, our whole economy depends on it. Your country needs you for this vital mission. So step up and let’s cut our emissions to restore a safe climate and sustainable future. The Festival is full of great ways to help you take the leap and get down to ground zero emissions. How carbon low can you go?
The Sustainable Living Festival 2011
February 12 – 27
Melbourne & Beyond!
http://festival.slf.org.au/
Brought to you for the twelfth time by the Sustainable Living Foundation.
Download the Festival program.
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