Geelong Sustainability

"New York wants to fight climate change through good farming. Here's the dirt."

"I would like to know to what extent regenerative agriculture practices could play a role in reducing carbon emissions and producing food, including meat, in the future. From what I have read it seems to offer much, but I am curious about how much difference it would make if all of our farmers moved to this kind of land management practice. Or even most of them. - a question from Virginia"

"As the world slowly wakes up to the need to electrify personal transport, the range of electric vehicles is starting to ramp up. Lance Turner looks at how Australia is doing in the move away from fossil fuels, and which EVs you can buy now and in the near future."

"Financial services firm Morgan Stanley predicts that up to a million Australian households could adopt home battery storage in the next four years. And, according to the Alternative Technology Association's (ATA) 2015 Household Battery Analysis, grid-connected solar and battery storage systems are likely to become economically attractive for most households by 2020. But there are some situations which may make it a good option before then. We've talked to the experts and combed the research to help you navigate your way into the energy revolution."

"Most Australians are confused about the recyclability of at least one common packaging item. This confusion stems from unclear labelling, changes in recycling systems over time and differences between collection services. That confusion is about to disappear! "

"It has been known for more than 150 years that light can have an effect on the electrical properties of some materials. This is called the photoelectric effect. In 1921, Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his work explaining this. Photovoltaic cells are based on a related phenomenon called the photovoltaic effect, and they convert light directly into electricity. Let's look at how."

"Wind power is now the cheapest electricity to produce in both Germany and the U.K., even without government subsidies, according to a new analysis by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). It's the first time that threshold has been crossed by a G7 economy.1 But that's less interesting than what just happened in the U.S."

"This smart garden uses cutting-edge research in plant biology for higher yields, faster growth and more nutritious produce. It provides plants with the perfect amount of water, light and nutrients at up to 80 percent less than the cost to set up a comparable hydroponic or aeroponic system. It features professionally selected seeds that grow in the nanotech Smart Soil growth medium, ultra-efficient grow lights and electronic precision irrigation (EPI) that makes it possible to use up to 95% less water than traditional farming methods."

"Access to the One Step Off The Grid web-site is free, and so is access to the comments pages on our stories, via Disqus. But if you wish to join the conversation on our forums, and we hope you do because there is much to discuss, you will need to sign in to become a member. Professionals wishing to list their businesses on the web-site also need to join. You can sign up here, it only takes a moment."

"Published on 6 May 2015 This 2-minute "explainer" shows how tiny plastic microbeads are designed to go down the drain and into our rivers, lakes, and oceans and we can do to stop this ridiculous assault on our public waters. TAKE ACTION: http://bit.ly/banthebead"

This is the pdf version of the website. When you reduce your use of energy, you cut your energy bills. It's a guaranteed way to improve the profitability, resilience and value of your business. Despite this, many business owners don't know how to reduce their energy costs. When they do they're often too busy to do anything about it. That lack of knowledge and time is the reason why I've written 'Energy Cut'. It's a simple 20 step guide to cutting the energy bills of your business. Its aim is to save you money and improve your bottom line. You don't have to be an expert in energy efficiency to understand this website, book or other project materials. You also don't have to implement every step - the program is designed to be carried out at a pace that fits in with your busy schedule. - See more at: http://energycut.com.au/about/#sthash.Of0hY6ak.dpuf

When you reduce your use of energy, you cut your energy bills. It's a guaranteed way to improve the profitability, resilience and value of your business. Despite this, many business owners don't know how to reduce their energy costs. When they do they're often too busy to do anything about it. That lack of knowledge and time is the reason why I've written 'Energy Cut'. It's a simple 20 step guide to cutting the energy bills of your business. Its aim is to save you money and improve your bottom line. You don't have to be an expert in energy efficiency to understand this website, book or other project materials. You also don't have to implement every step - the program is designed to be carried out at a pace that fits in with your busy schedule. - See more at: http://energycut.com.au/about/#sthash.Of0hY6ak.dpuf

"Batteries are so ubiquitous today that they're almost invisible to us. Yet they are a remarkable invention with a long and storied history, and an equally exciting future. A battery is essentially a device that stores chemical energy that is converted into electricity. Basically, batteries are small chemical reactors, with the reaction producing energetic electrons, ready to flow through the external device. Batteries have been with us for a long time. In 1938 the Director of the Baghdad Museum found what is now referred to as the "Baghdad Battery" in the basement of the museum. Analysis dated it at around 250BC and of Mesopotamian origin."

"Powerwall is a home battery that charges using electricity generated from solar panels, or when utility rates are low, and powers your home in the evening. It also fortifies your home against power outages by providing a backup electricity supply. Automated, compact and simple to install, Powerwall offers independence from the utility grid and the security of an emergency backup."

"Published on 25 Apr 2015 Some of the world's largest investors continue to make a big gamble on accelerating climate change by investing in heavily carbon-exposed assets, while only a small minority are taking action to ensure a low-carbon world. The third annual Asset Owners Disclosure Project (AODP) index of the top 500 global asset owners finds that nearly a half of the world's investors did absolutely nothing to protect investments under their stewardship from the threat of climate change."

The results of the government's first reverse auction of carbon-cutting projects have been released. Where is the money going? The government will spend A$660 of its A$2.55 billion Emissions Reduction Fund on contracts set to reduce emissions by some 447 million tonnes, more than half of it in "carbon farming" projects to lock up carbon in vegetation. Federal environment minister Greg Hunt described the outcome as a "stunning result" for Australia, pointing out that the average price of A$13.95 per tonne of carbon is cheaper than the previous government's carbon pricing scheme. But critics have pointed to the lack of involvement so far from industry sectors that were covered by the previous carbon tax, and the fact that the new scheme is paid for by taxpayers rather than the businesses creating the pollution. Here are the numbers:"

"Growing veggies is fun, cheap, and worth it. Having a garden doesn't just mean you can grab free and fresh meals from the dirt out back. It means you've create a relationship with the earth. You noticed what type of soil and fertilizer to use. What vegetables are in season and how often they need sun and water. Today's infographic is really the best guide for growing veggies out there. Follow this advice and you will be cookin' up your own gumbo in no time."

"The Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal is designed to assist packaging manufacturers, designers and stakeholders in improving the recyclability of their packaging designs."

"Published on 28 Jan 2015 Rigged prices, fudged figures, and the unchecked electricity industry. Brought to you by The Undercurrent."

"When we talk about greenhouse gases we usually talk about carbon dioxide. When media reports depict climate change, we invariably see the cooling towers of a coal power station. Which is fair, because carbon dioxide, or CO2, is the big one: nearly 75% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions are carbon dioxide. Most of those come from the energy sector and the combustion of fossil fuels. But there are other gases involved in the greenhouse story. Methane and nitrous oxide are also contributors to Australia's greenhouse gas account. And both have a much greater impact on the atmosphere in terms of global warming than carbon dioxide."