Archive for the ‘Energy systems’ Category

Don’t forget that it’s Melbourne Open House this weekend and it unlocks your city. You’ll be able to explore 75 incredible buildings for free, including ACF’s 60L Green Building.

What: ACF 60L Building is part of Melbourne Open House

When: This weekend 30 and 31 July, 10am-4pm

Where: 60 Leicester St, Carlton

The 60L Green Building is a building like no other. It is a living, breathing, dynamic space of light, colour and fresh air. It has changed the way we work and live, and showcases the future of our cities.

Fun on the day includes:
Sustainable seafood seminar and tastings
Diggers Club roof top garden talks
Earthkids dirtgirl from dirtgirlworld will be there for the kids
Live music entertainment
‘Meet a Campaigner’ talks
Guided tours of the building every 15 minutes! (All you have to do is turn up)
GreenHome interactive seminars
GreenHome competition with great prizes
An ACF raffle
You can turn up on the day for activities, talks or a building tour. Or visit ACF online to secure your place.

Melbourne Open House is for residents, visitors, families, design buffs, architecture fans – anyone who loves Melbourne is invited to explore great contemporary, historic and sustainable buildings and spaces.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Beyond Zero Emissions will be presenting their award winning Zero Carbon Stationary Energy Plan detailing how Australia can have 100% renewable energy in 10 years for only $8 per household per week.

Developed in partnership with University of Melbourne, the Plan is fully costed, provides baseload power and uses technologies commercially available NOW.

The Plan will be presented in a way that is accessible and interesting to a lay audience.

Come, be inspired by the possibilities and have your questions on alternative energies answered.

When: Sunday 1st May, 10am-11am

Where: Williamstown Literary Festival, Williamstown Town Hall upstairs – 104 Ferguson St, Williamstown.

Price: $7.70 adults; $5.50 Concession

Bookings: http://www.willylitfest.org.au/program-and-events/the-program/full-program/details/113-repowering-australia

If…

you are anxious about the future or our children and grandchildren

you want to see Australia take a lead in combating climate change

you want our economy to profit from new technology…

come and hear award-winning research, produced by Beyond Zero Emissions (an independent group of engineers and scientists) explained in layman’s language:

“A Plan for Re-powering Australia”- our pathway to 100 % renewable energy

Sunday 27th March 2.00 – 3.00pm

Heaths Road Library, Werribee Plaza.

Cnr Derrimut & Heaths Rd, Hoppers Crossing

More info: contact Marg 9328 5357 and www.beyondzeroemissions.org

Free Lunchbox Session

Topic:
Reading your energy bills

Are you being ripped off?
Are there savings to be made?
How smart is your Smart Meter?

Presenter: Chandra Sundareswaran
Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd*
Date: Wednesday 23 March, 12.30-1.30pm
Location: Functions Room
Maribyrnong City Council Offices
Cnr Hyde and Napier Sts, Footscray

Find out how you can get more out of your energy dollar by attending this free session. The session will help you discover:

1. What those charts and graphs really tell you.
2. Is going solar worth it and what are ‘time of use rates’ and other jargon used in solar agreements?
3. How you compare to families similar to yours?
4. Keeping down with the Jones, without dramatically changing your lifestyle?

Come along and get the facts that will enable you to act and save money and the planet.

*Moreland Energy Foundation Limited (MEFL) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to sustainable energy. They undertake community engagement, do research, consult, train and advocate on energy efficiency, renewable energy and related policy and planning issues.

Maribyrnong City Council are running FREE Green Lunchbox Sessions:

Come along to our FREE green lunchbox sessions, and listen to our great line up of presenters.
BYO lunch – healthy snacks provided.

February
Topic: Avoiding toxins in your home environment.
What are some of the most common household toxins and what are the alternatives?
Presenter:  Keith Loveridge,  Maribyrnong city Council Sustainability Officer
Date: Wednesday 23 February 2011, 12.30-1.30pm   Location: Functions Room

March
Topic: Reading your energy bills
Are you being ripped off?  Are there savings to be made? How smart is your Smart Meter?
Presenter:  Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd
Date: Wednesday 23 March 2011, 12.30-1.30pm Location: Functions Room.

April
Topic: Sustainable Clothing
A stitch in time saves money and the environment!
Discover the secrets of ‘Up Fashioning’, ‘Garment Re-birthing’ and ‘Jean-etic Modification’.
Live a less material lifestyle that could save the very fabric of our planet!
Presenter:  Fiona Sicurella, Maribyrnong City Council Sustainability Officer and Fashionista
Date: Wednesday 20 April 2011, 12.30-1.30pm Location: Functions Room

May
Topic: Eco-friendly travel
How to make sure that the planet is still there when you get back.
Presenter:  To be advised
Date: Wednesday  25 May, 2011, 12.30-1.30pm Location: Functions Room.

June
Topic: Cookery for the Weekday Vegetarian
A hot trend overseas!
Lessen the impact of meat-eating on your health and the environment while still enjoying your favourites.
Great tips and recipes that will reduce your footprint and your thigh print!
Presenter:  To be advised.
Date: Wednesday 22 June, 2011, 12.30-1.30pm Location: Functions Room

All FREE green lunchbox sessions are at Maribyrnong City Council Offices, corner Hyde and Napier Sts Footscray unless otherwise specified.

What is biogas?

Biogas is a naturally produced fuel, capable of powering stoves, lights, refrigerators, and anything that natural gas or propane can power. It is a gas composed almost entirely of CO2 (carbon dioxide) and methane (CH4) produced by an ‘oxygen free’ composting process known in as anaerobic digestion. Almost anything that was once alive can produce biogas, but plants provide a good deal more biogas than manure, pound for pound. It is a simple and cost effective process that’s used in many countries around the world, particularly where the cost of propane gas has been prohibitive. Thanks to the growing demand in renewable energy, it is now receiving a resurgence of interest in Australia.

About the presenter

David House is the American author of the internationally acclaimed book, ‘The Complete Biogas Handbook’. He will be visiting the Wimmera and Wimmera Machinery Field Days to promote Biogas through a series of workshops and presentations. David has a diverse background with experience in computers, IT, medical devices (Cochlear implants), alternative energy (Biogas and wind power generation). He is a published author and social activist. With more than thirty years of experience, David is highly regarded in his field, travelling extensively, lecturing and teaching a variety of subjects in more than twenty countries.
About the workshop

David will be conducting a two-day Biogas workshop at the Kaniva Shire Hall from 5th – 6th March, 2011. Saturday (Day 1) will consist of several lectures, from a basic introduction right through to the design, construction and production of Biogas. On Sunday (Day 2), all participants will put their knowledge to use, and build their own small Biogas producer to take home and use. The comprehensive two-day course includes morning and afternoon tea, lunch, a copy of ‘The complete Biogas handbook’, CD (including additional information and digester designs) and the digester kit.  The cost of the comprehensive two-day workshop is $330. Places are limited and interested participants are urged to book now for this not to be missed workshop.

Alternatively for people who do not wish to do the full 2 day Beginners Biogas course, tickets are available to attend the Saturday workshop only, with tickets priced at $66 which includes morning and afternoon tea plus lunch. Books (including CD) and digester kits can then be purchased separately at the Saturday workshop if required.

For more information visit http://www.bebioenergy.com/biogas.html

There’s lots of talk in the media on the pros and cons of wind power and how it fits (or doesn’t fit) into the Australian electricity grid.

Sustainable Energy Australia has produced a detailed briefing document on exactly this topic.

Click here to read the pdf document.

Developments in micro power generation, or distributed small scale power generation, is now reaching a critical point and starting to show potential as an realistic power solution to centralised power generation. Developments in micro Combined Heat and Power units (Micro CHP) have been announced in the last 6 months in Australia, Germany and Japan.

Micro CHP units can provide backup power during grid outages, and support the grid in peak demand times. They increase the generating capacity without the need to build more centralised coal fired generators or nuclear power plants.  The green house gas emissions are up to 60% less compared to coal fired. And they provides hot water and heating to the home in addition to electricity.

In Germany, through a partnership between Volkswagen and green power supplier Lichtblick, micro CHP units are being rolled out to 100,00 homes. Using a Volkswagen gas turbine, the unit fits easily into a home’s basement, and is the size of a large fridge. Click here for more details.  The 100,000 power plants would generate 2,000 megaWatts of power, enough to replace 2 nuclear power plants. The cost of each power plant is €5,000 (approx AUD$8,000), and also provides hot water and heating.

In Japan, Honda has already installed their power plants into 50,000 homes.

In Australia, a fuel cell based micro CHP is available, called BlueGen. The first BlueGen unit has been installed at a VicUrban sales office in the Aurora Housing Development in the Melbourne suburb of Epping. VicUrban’s Aurora project is the first six-star energy-efficient community development in Australia. Go here for the press release. Neco is taking orders for the units; see here. According to the manufacturers of BlueGen (Ceramic Fuel Cells), a 2 kW solar panel array saves about 3 tonnes of CO2 in Victoria; a BlueGen system running constantly at 2 kW for a year will save 18 tonnes of CO2 in Victoria. However, the price for the BlueGen units is around $20,000 – $30,000 at the moment. The expectation is that the prices will go down to $8 to $10,000 once production scales up.

Janet Rice wants you to know about the following

Rally this Thursday

Victoria should start exporting brown coal to the developing world.

If this statement drives you to despair,
then we need you!

Our Energy Minister, Peter Batchelor, wants to allow some ‘entrepreneurs’ to get their grubby mitts on some of Victoria’s dirty coal, so they can sell it to India and make big bucks. Never mind that it increases global emissions at a time they need to be cut.

A number of climate action and environment groups think this is just plain crazy. So crazy in fact, that we’re organising a lunchtime protest this Thursday to let the Premier know he needs to nip this one in the bud.

We need you to come along on Thursday to help us tell the Premier that exporting brown coal is…well, stupid, actually.

START: 12.30pm, Thursday 22nd October

WHERE: Steps of Parliament House, Spring St

FINISH: 1.10pm – plenty of time for lunch and getting back to work!

RSVP: Let us know you’re coming by sending a quick email to exportingcoalisdumb@yahoo.com.au