CarbonetiX

76 Percent of Victorian’s Want Government Action on Climate Change

A new survey of attitudes on the environment has found that most Victorians believe the state government has a responsibility to reduce greenhouse pollution. Among the survey’s major finding are: 76 percent of Victorians expect State Government action to reduce greenhouse pollution Massive public support for renewable energy and energy efficiency, while support for coal founders Just 22 percent of Victorians think the 2km wind farm buffer is fair Both ‘rusted on’ Coalition voters … read more

New data indicates the continuation of a long-term decline in summer ice underway since at least 1979. Researchers say roughly half the decline can be attributed to global warming. On Thursday, the extent of summer sea ice in the Arctic Ocean fell to its lowest level for any Sept. 8 since satellites first began to monitor conditions there in 1979, according to researchers at the University of Bremen's Institute of Environmental Physics. Recent work by researchers at the US National Center for … read more

The TV stations don’t. Fairfax doesn’t. News Corp doesn’t. The NY Times Does

Across Australia power bills are going up and the climate is clearly changing. So you would think that our mainstream media would be bringing us good news stories about how we can cut our power bills and reduce carbon emissions, with a fast payback on investment. But no. The focus is doom and gloom.The reporting I see is about how reducing carbon emissions is expensive, about how programs to reduce carbon emissions push up prices. Have you ever picked up The Australian, The Age, The Sydney Morning … read more

Energy efficiency – if you “get it” tell someone!

Today’s Financial Review front page news was about the desperate need for more power stations in Australia. The article stated that according to the Australian Energy Market Operator electricity consumption is increasing at 2.5% per year, and we need between 700 and 900 MWh of extra generating capacity per year. And that to cope with increased demand and a carbon price, Australian power generators will have to invest up to $120 billion in new electricity assets over the next 20 years. These comments, … read more

The Venny – a sensible low energy building with an experimental green roof

On the weekend I attended the opening of the new Venny, an adventure playground for children from the ages of 5 to 16 in Kensington near the public housing estate. The new Venny replaces an older building, and from an energy perspective has outstanding, passive-solar design. I’d encourage other local governments to learn from the Venny with any new community facilities they are building. The key principles being: High levels of insulation, properly installed A well sealed building Lots of … read more

The Victorian Climate Change White Paper Implementation Plan

The Victorian State Government’s Climate Change White Paper – Implementation Plan, shows determination to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, with the aim of lowering emissions by 20% compared with 2000 levels, whether or not there is global agreement on greenhouse gas abatement targets. Around the world other states and countries have also set abatement targets. California has set a target of returning to 1990 emissions by 2020. And the UK aims to reduce emissions by 34% relative … read more

Wanted – A Leader To Develop Australia’s First Retrofitted Zero Net Energy Building

For around a year now I’ve been fascinated with the idea of being able to convert a building to zero net energy. To my knowledge, there is not one commercial building in Australia that has been converted to zero net energy use. Its challenging, but not impossible. I’m looking for someone who wants to take up the challenge with me and demonstrate leadership in what can be done with existing buildings.

A revolution in energy efficient commuting – 20 km/hr for just 35 watts!

Shweeb, a NZ company, has come up with a fantastic low energy commuting concept that could transform our city scapes. Its based on a monorail concept under which an enclosed recumbent bicycle operates. The aerodynamic fairing reduces wind resistance, and as the rollers are steel on steel (a bit lot a railway) rolling resistance is very low. Its absolutely brilliant! Check out the shweeb website: http://shweeb.com If you are a cyclist you'll really appreciate the following elements of the shweeb … read more

Raising the profile of energy efficiency

Last week I attended the All Energy conference in Melbourne. Running over 2 days, with over 30 conference sessions, just one was dedicated to energy efficiency. Rob Murray Leach, head of the Energy Efficiency Council who chaired the session, kicked it off by saying that this was the most important session of the conference, as 65% of the world’s carbon reduction by 2020 to come from energy efficiency according to the International Energy Agency. But is energy efficiency getting 65% of the … read more

Solar Thermal Energy – The Neglected Renewable Energy in Australia

Contrary to what the terminology suggests ‘solar thermal energy’ is not a recent development and it is certainly not something that has just been invented as another answer to reduce greenhouse emissions. According to the Renewable Institute for Sustainable Research, the first solar powered engines were constructed back in the 1860s by a couple of French mathematicians. During the past 30 years a number of solar thermal plants have been built and operated around the world to produce guilt-free … read more

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Category Archives: Climate Positive