What If…A New Global Option

bytebutler (5 months ago) Show Hide

Great Introduction by John Denver talking about how Buckminster Fuller’s idea along with all the rest of us working in cooperation, we can solve global issues!

What If…A New Global Option Part 1

What If… A New Global Option Part 2

new level of sustainability building in MEL

http://www.ecovoice.com.au/enews/enews-48/BUI_GREEN%20WITH%20ENVY.php

Convention Centre makes others green with envy

Melbourne ’s new Convention Centre will be the greenest convention centre in Australia with Premier John Brumby today announcing the project has been awarded a 6 Star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).Mr Brumby said the design of the new Melbourne Convention Centre was put through a rigorous process to achieve a 6 Star Green Star rating and has set a new global standard for convention centres.
“The Convention Centre will not only be a landmark building in Melbourne’s developing landscape, but this new level of sustainability will be a major drawcard for convention organisers in an increasingly environmentally conscious world climate,” Mr Brumby said.“This is the first convention centre to achieve a 6 Star Green Star – Convention Centre environmental rating, the highest possible under GBCA’s rating system, and is further evidence of our commitment to construction of ecologically sustainable buildings in Victoria .
“The new Melbourne Convention Centre’s green credentials are a major selling point for international businesses – many who are keen to show they are taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint on the planet.”Mr Brumby said 18 international conventions were booked for the new centre worth more than $293 million to Victoria and this rating will help draw many more business tourists to the State. “This is further vindication that this government has wisely invested $370 million to deliver the Victorian people a great long-term public project that will help inject an estimated $197million a year into the state economy and create 2500 jobs over 25 years,” Mr Brumby said. Environmental features included in the 6 Star Green Star Convention Centre include: solar panels to deliver all public amenity hot water requirements A black-water recycling plant to recycle waste water to supply toilets, cooling towers and to irrigate landscapes natural light and energy-saving controls on installed lighting lighting fixtures that adjust dependent on the amount of daylight detected in the room many of the building materials are sourced from renewable and sustainable industries Major Projects Minister Theo Theophanous said the Convention Centre being developed by private sector partner, Plenary Group and was on track to open in 2009. “In a further vote of confidence for the convention centre precinct, the commercial sector has injected another $400 million to the overall project, taking the precinct to a $1.4 billion development, underpinning commercial confidence in the project,” Mr Theophanous said. Plenary Group Principal, John O’Rourke said the Public Private Partnership process encouraged long term value for money design initiatives. “This is an extraordinary leveraging of the State’s investment in the new Convention Centre and builds on the vision for this to be the region’s leading business tourism destination,” he said.
New Melbourne Convention Centre 6 Star Green Star – Convention Centre certification – January 2008 The convention centre is the first to be rated 6 Stars under the new Green Star – Convention Centre rating tool The rating for the new Melbourne Convention Centre is the highest possible under the Green Building Council of Australia’s rating system The achievement of a 6 Star Green Star rating is based on a mix of initiatives that creates a natural environment, reduces overall energy use and uses minimal non-renewable resources A key “green” innovation will be a black water treatment plant – an Australian first for a privately built public facility of its kind The treatment plant will recycle wastewater which will then be used for toilet flushing, cooling towers and irrigation. This will maximise water conservation and reduce potable water usage by more than 50 per cent. Summary of major environmental design initiatives Energy Displacement ventilation – low level air delivery and high level air exhaust in the plenary hall and foyer areas provide effective air flow with high indoor air quality at low energy consumption Expansive glass façade allows availability of natural light to the foyer and pre-function spaces and reduces the need for artificial light and provides good thermal qualities in the winter months Solar hot water systems can offset more than 40 per cent of general hot water requirements and can provide 100 per cent of public amenity hot water requirements Light fittings have been selected and positioned in order to minimise resource and energy consumption . For example, energy efficient lighting is design with daylight and motion detection control features Water A black water treatment plant collects building wastewater and some stormwater to provide treated water for toilet flushing, irrigation and cooling towers Water efficient fixtures and fittings, including urinals that use a chemical system rather than a water flush Indoor Environment Quality Radiant slab heating and cooling in the foyer (with pipes in the concrete floor carrying hot or cold water to heat or cool the slab) provides a more comfortable internal environment with good thermal comfort levels Carbon dioxide monitoring and control is part of air conditioning systems and ensures fresh air is continually delivered to the convention centre Enhanced indoor air quality as a result of carpets, paints, adhesives and sealants that are low in (can we just say “pollutants” here?) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and the use of low emission building materials Materials Use of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) timber, which is environmentally friendly, rather than non-renewable timber Use of sustainable furnishings and floor covering Substitution of PVC with more environmentally friendly materials As determined by the Green Building Council of Australia’s Convention Centre environmental rating tool.
more Info: www.vic.gov.au

Plastic bottle rubbish action to ‘Clean Up our Climate’

http://www.ecovoice.com.au/enews/enews-48/AWA_clean%20up%20AUS%20day.php

Plastic bottle rubbish action to ‘Clean Up our Climate’
Clean up Australia Day

Australians bought 118,000 tonnes of plastic drink bottles last year but only recycled 35 per cent of them. The 76,700 tonnes left behind either went to landfill or ended up in our environment as rubbish. “Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, March 2 nd will be a focus for community action to address not just the growing problem of plastic bottle rubbish but greenhouse gas pollution as well,” Ian Kiernan AO, Clean Up Australian Chairman, said. Registrations are now open. Anyone can register a Clean Up site and community organisations are also encouraged to get involved by visiting www.cleanup.org.au or calling 1800 CUA DAY (1800 282 329).
“If people used a refillable bottle instead of buying a new one every time they wanted a drink of water, then we would help to reduce the huge amount greenhouse gases created in making and transporting them. “Recycling is also a simple but effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Kiernan said. “Every aluminium can that is collected and recycled saves 767 grams of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of 1 wheelie bin of greenhouse gas emissions. “Climate change is the greatest challenge facing our and future generations. I encourage everyone to take action by registering a Clean Up Day site. Let’s start today to save tomorrow.” Fast Facts about Clean Up Australia Day: Clean Up Australia Day is the largest community event of its kind in Australia – in 2007 an estimated one million people got involved. A national Newspoll survey in February 2007 found 87 per cent of Australians believe Clean Up Australia Day plays an important role in protecting the environment. Clean Up Day 2008 is a day of action towards Clean Up Our Climate – reducing greenhouse gas emissions from landfill. Clean Up Australia Day has been made possible through the support of major sponsors; McDonald’s and Veolia Environmental Services, sponsor; Sanyo, and suppliers; Paramount Safety, Qantas, Shop-A-Docket, Stockland, BD and Lookprint.
More Info: www.cleanup.org.au/au/

Cube Save water

http://www.ecovoice.com.au/enews/enews-48/PRO_desert.php

 When nature calls…. aim for the environment!
Desert 

The new waterless urinal Desert™ Cube is changing men’s bathroom behaviour all over Australia. By using the Desert™ Cube, a urinal no longer needs flushing. A typical urinal uses around 151,000 litres of water each year. When you think about the number of urinals in Australia, that’s a lot of water down the drain! What is the Desert™ Cube? Desert™ Cube is a small blue cube that is totally biodegradable and non-toxic. The Desert™ Cube sits in urinals, the water supply is turned off, and the Cube does the work. Foul odour in traditional urinals is caused by the bacteria build-up in the water. The Desert™ Cube contains natural microbes that removes odour-causing bacteria. Fresh smelling bathrooms are another advantage of this great little device. Why save water? Only 3% of water on earth is fresh and only 1% of that is available to humans. Australians are the biggest consumers of water per capita in the world, using over a million litres of water per person each year. As one of the driest continents on earth, and with water shortages in Australia at an all time high, it is not difficult to see why the Desert cube is such a great device. Simply place the cube in the urinal, turn off the water supply to the urinal and let the cube do the work. Dob in your workplace! If your workplace, pub or school/university is wasting water unnecessarily through urinal use, dob them in at www.desert.com.au – simply click on the ‘dob in’ button and follow the prompts. We’ll contact them and ask them to give the Cube a go. Or go to www.desert.com.au and request an information pack for your work place.
How much water can the Desert™ Cube actually save? A school with 500 males can save 2,850,000 litres of water per year A large shopping centre can save 13,000,000 litres of water per year An office building with 100 male staff can save around 1,333,200 litres of water per year A small hotel can save around 982,800 litres each year
So besides helping to save the planet and improving cleanliness, what else can it do? The Desert™ Cube also saves your business money. Water consumption costs are significantly reduced, plumbing call out costs are also drastically cut as is the cost of cistern maintenance and deororisers. You also remove the need for harmful chemicals and are able to show yours is an environmentally responsible company. When you order your starter kit you will receive all you need to get started including 50 Desert™ Urinal Cubes, washroom cleaner & accessories, wall signage and instructions. We will even send out someone from Desert™ to carry out the initial clean and train your cleaning personnel. Gentlemen it’s time to take aim for the environment! Go to www.desert.com.au or call 1300 72 18 25 to get started.

solar power

From: http://www.ecovoice.com.au/enews/enews-48/PRO_modern%20group.php

Now is the time for change Modern Group
With all the media hype surrounding global warming at present it is time for the current generation to start looking towards the future and what impact our actions will leave for our kids and their kids and so on. You all would have seen, or experienced the extreme and erratic weather patterns of late and it prompts you to ask that question which is on the tips of everyone’s tongues at the moment – “What have we done to this Planet?” and then the natural question to follow – “What can we do to fix this?” Unfortunately the damage we have done so far is irreversible but what we can do is slow the process down and hopefully bring it to a screeching halt, but this is going to take time and effort; effort from everyone who calls this beautiful place home. Sure there are going to be the sceptics who shrug global warming off like it was an ex-partner coming to say hello, but the truth is we are damaging our home, and jeopardising the quality of life we have come to enjoy, for our future generations. The threat is very real and if we don’t start embracing green technology and instigating change now the results could be catastrophic. Australian’s have one of the highest rates of greenhouse gas emissions, per capita, in the world! With this in mind now is the time for Australia to leap to the forefront on the fight against global warming and start looking at alternative sources of power such as Solar Energy, drive hybrid vehicles and place emphasis on the recycling of goods which can be. The first steps in this long road to recovery were the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol which will provide measurable goals for us to strive for and secondly the Governments support of “green energy” solutions such as Solar Power. One organisation who is giving “solar power to the people” is The Modern Group (known as Bramalco in Adelaide ). An Australian-owned company established in 1979, Modern has defined itself as a leader in the home improvement industry. Modern specialise in a wide-range of products including Window roller shutters, roof restorations, alarms, rainwater tanks and garage doors and with over 300,000 satisfied customers Australia-wide, and branches in every state, you can rest assured your home is in the best of hands when you are dealing with Modern. More recently The Modern Group has joined the fight against global warming and has added Solar photovoltaic Energy to its existing eco-conscious product range such as window roller shutters and Kool Kote reflective roof paint, both specifically designed to reduce the temperature in your home thus reducing your energy consumption. Modern Solar offers a wide range of solar powered solutions suited for everything from a caravan right through to a modern mansion. Modern Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Grid Systems provide a high quality solution to the World’s energy problem. There are many different benefits of installing a solar energy system on your home. Firstly there are the financial benefits. Installing a system on your home will add value to your home or business and is an extremely attractive asset to potential buyers. Another great benefit is the fact that you will obviously be able to produce your own power saving money off your electricity bill. An initiative by the Federal Government has seen them commit to an $8,000 rebate available on the installation of a 1kw system. This offer is ‘for a limited time’ but should be a big enough carrot for the public to get on the global warming band-wagon and start making a difference. As well as the obvious financial benefits of installing a Solar PV system on your house there are the benefits to the environment which a lot of consumers feel far outweigh the cost savings. By reducing the amount of fossil-fuelled electricity you need to import from the grid, your Modern Solar PV Grid System will significantly reduce the amount of harmful greenhouse gas emissions resulting from your day-to-day energy use. Therefore, by installing a Modern Solar PV Grid System on your home, you will be investing in the sustainability of Australia ’s long term energy future and also in the health of the environment for coming generations. Solar Energy is the clean, silent energy alternative, helping the environment. Now is the time to switch to this clean energy source and leave a lasting legacy for our children. Now that we have investigated the benefits of installing a Solar Energy system to your home the next step in the process is finding out which system is suitable for you. Modern have a wide range of Solar PV Systems available with their most basic package being a 6 panel system capable of generating approximately 1Kw (kilowatt) of power, suitable for most single story dwellings with standard appliances. The installation process is quite simple and only takes about half-a-day. The solar panels are installed on your roof in a non-corrosive support frame, an inverter box is fitted on or near your existing power box and before you know it you are helping save the planet!!!! It is that easy!!! Modern use only advanced and proven manufacturing processes for each of its solar systems which provides only the very best in supply of monocrystalline panels to you, the home owner. Stringent quality control in the Modern supply chain ensures that the quality of product installed on your home is reliable, durable and of the highest quality standards. With partnerships both locally and globally, Modern Solar will endeavour to continue and improve the Solar industry in Australia . Via our sales and service network around Australia , we can supply you with a complete, professionally installed Solar PV System backed up by a 25 year manufacturers warranty offering you the peace of mind to invest in a solar system today. Should you wish to find out more about Solar Energy and what you can do about climate change please feel free to give our “Eco Team” of specialist consultants a call to discuss your requirements on 1300 MODERN (66 33 76) or alternatively look us up on the web at www.modernsolar.com.au .

2007 KAB Man short films (BUT K america B)

2007 KAB Man short films

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The Adventures of KAB Man – Episode 1: Enter KAB Man

Episode 2: Recycle or die!

The Adventures of KAB Man – Episode 3: Cry now, litter later

Interesting sites about Sustainable&EcoFootprint

From my research

- http://www.ecovoice.com.au/ecoclubs/

- United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

- Useful Links***

- http://www.treehugger.com/

-http://www.lcacalculator.com/productlifecycle.html

- National Center for Sustainability

ncs@swin.edu.au

www.ncsustainability.com.au

EPA Victoria Eco-footprint web pages
www.acfonline.org.au
www.deh.gov.au
www.ecologicalfootprint.org
www.epa.vic.gov.au
www.greenhouse.gov.au
www.greenpower.gov.au
www.sydneywater.com.au
www.sustainability.vic.gov.au

From Lecture on 5 Mar 08

-www.abc.net.au

-http://environment.newscientist.com/home.ns

-www.csiro.au

Brainstorm From Neal’s Class: 5 Mar 08