Archive for February, 2012
We know people in green buildings are healthier and more productive. Buildings with green people are healthier and more productive too!
Join us for an informal talk about Talking Buildings — buildings that engage their occupants in a conversation about sustainability and building performance.
We’ll discuss the concepts, provide some case studies, and get down and dirty with some of the technology required. This will be an industry focused event — food and drinks are on us — with plenty of opportunity to chat and network. Places are limited so make sure you RSVP as soon as possible.
Typical mining town house
The North West of WA can be a harsh environment and the mining boom means more of us have to live and work there. Air-conditioning is essential, but air-conditioners in such a hot environment can use a lot of electricity. How can we create more sustainable, efficient homes in the north-west, homes that provide a comfortable living environment and use less energy and water?
Rio Tinto is exploring this question in Karratha and Paraburdoo. They have selected Greensense View to provide real-time monitoring of electricity, gas and water use as they retrofit a number of homes in both towns. While this isn’t our first foray into residential housing, we’re particularly excited by the potential of this project, and by the opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable mining industry.
I know, the title doesn’t sound that exciting, but if you’re a community group or local government you need to know about this one.
Today the Federal Government announced the official opening of three new grant schemes under the Clean Energy Future banner.
- The $40 million energy efficiency information grants scheme is offering funding of up to $1 million to industry associations and non-profits for the development of information resources targeted at small and medium-sized businesses and community organisations.
- The $200 million community energy efficiency program is offering grants to councils and community organisations of up to $5 million for energy efficiency projects targeting community-use buildings, facilities and lighting.
- There’s also $100 million set aside for the low income energy efficiency program which offers grants of up to $10 million trial and evaluate projects to help low-income households become more energy efficient.
It’s the second one on that list that we’re particularly excited about, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s been a long time coming! It was parked ahead of the Clean Energy Future legislation so it could be unveiled again with all the other sweeteners to help the carbon tax go down easily. It’s also good to see the Federal Government sharing the love around. The local government and community sector hasn’t had much attention when it comes to handouts in the energy efficiency space, with the commercial building sector seemingly getting the lions share, most recently via the feeding frenzy that was the Green Building Fund. And, we have a lot of councils on our client list and we’ve already been chatting to excited councils about what they might be able to achieve with the help of a grant.
So, what’s the Community Energy Efficiency Program all about? Quoting verbatim from the guidelines:
The objectives of the Community Energy Efficiency Program (the Program) are to:
• support a range of local councils and community organisations increase the energy efficiency of different types of non-residential council and community-use buildings, facilities and lighting
• demonstrate and encourage the adoption of improved energy management practices within councils, organisations and the broader community.In addition to the objectives above, the Program will provide the following benefits:
• better services and improved amenity of buildings and community facilities
• minimising energy consumption and costs to manage the impacts of the carbon price
• building the knowledge and capacity of the energy services and construction industry, and supporting competitive Australian energy efficiency technology and equipment manufacturers
• contributing to the national effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Sounds pretty good to us. Specifically focused on community and councils but broad in terms of what kinds of projects might get support. One point I should make is that solar PV installations will not be eligible. Solar has had a pretty good crack of the whip in recent times so it’s good to see a scheme focused purely on energy efficiency.
The full details are in the guidelines but get your skates on as round one applications close on March 23.
In partnership with Greensense, the Department of Sport & Recreation has just launched an industry resource to assist sport and recreation organisations, reduce their environmental impact and improve their sustainability.
The resource has come out of an Environmental Ethics Working Group that has run over the last 2 years with the WA Football Commission, Football West, Triathlon WA, Rowing WA, Surf Life Saving of WA and Royal Life Saving. The group was facilitated by the Department of Sport and Recreation and Greensense was engaged as the technical advisors.
The working group was formed to raise awareness of environmental issues and allowed each participant to share ideas on sustainability initiatives they were implementing, learn from each others experiences and ensure that the sport and recreation industry continues to take a lead role in the community, by providing and promoting environmentally sound practices.
While the resource has been targeted at the sport and recreation industry it clearly provides value to many organisation and we would encourage our clients to take and look and see if it can be used for you own purposes. As well as a general introduction to the issues facing us around climate change, energy, water, waste and biodiversity the resource provides very practical recommendations on what your organisation can do to respond to these challenges with supporting tools, templates and documents to help you get started.
The Environmental Sustainability Pack was launched by the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Terry Waldon MLA, with presentations from yours truly, West Coast Eagle player Sam Butler and a panel of some of the working group members. As part of the presentation the Minister announced funding of $200,000 over 2 years to support sport and recreation organisations progress their sustainability initiatives.
At Greensense we value the opportunity to be involved in sustainability projects that deliver real outcomes as the success of this project has exemplified. If you would like our help in finding innovative ways to improve the sustainability of your organisation then make sure you get in touch.
