There is increasing public concern about the rising prices of energy and fuel. Running alongside that is the continuing concern about the impact we all have on the environment.
The 10% Challenge is a timely campaign that gives solutions to both of these concerns.
The aim of The 10% Challenge is to encourage households to reduce their energy and fuel use by 10%.
"Shining a Light on Sustainability is an introductory video from the Australian Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability at Macquarie University, Sydney. This video introduces the concept of sustainability and explains our current situation even before any potential challenges from climate change are involved. What does sustainability mean? Why are we currently unsustainable? What is an ecological footprint? What's the problem with plastic? What about water? And biodiversity? How are people faring? How can we find a sustainable path? What are some great sustainability initiatives?"
"By 2015, more than 50% of organizations that manage innovation processes will 'gamify' those processes (Gartner Inc., 2011). Gamification is the process of taking the concepts used to design games to be engaging and applying them in non-game environments such as innovation, marketing, and training. There is no better way to get all of your employees thinking about how to solve the challenges facing your company than by motivating them to do so through a process of fun and play."
"Australians have come a long way in how we recycle our empty bottles and cans. More people are recycling than ever before through their convenient and easy to use kerbside recycling systems, there is less litter and a greater awareness of the importance of reducing the impact of rubbish on our environment. But there's no doubt that we can all be doing more. Our politicians believe the answer is to introduce a drink container tax where we all have to pay up to 20 cents more for our bottles and cans at the shop - a 10 cent deposit plus a handling fee of up to 10 cents. Instead of being able to recycle these containers at a kerbside collection we would have to wash them, store them and then take them to a recycling depot to have the 10 cent deposit returned."
"Over recent years, mainstream media has reflected the increasing shift in mindset towards "the green agenda", "sustainable lifestyles", and "environmental responsibility". The term sustainability embraces various principles and practices designed to encourage active preservation of our environment and communities, while also promising attractive financial gains. Many companies now realize that millions of dollars can be saved by implementing sustainability programs across their value chains. Anyone willing to take a closer look at the subject can potentially profit from these programs."
"Instead of trying to convince climate sceptics they are wrong, why not start a conversation about why people with centre-right views should care about climate change?"
As much as half of all the food produced in the world - equivalent to 2bn tonnes - ends up as waste every year, engineers warned in a report published on Thursday.
"Gadgets get discarded at ever faster rates and account for millions of tons of consumer electronic waste every year. To feed production, more and more resources are claimed and we are beginning to suffer from the immense burden on the natural and social environment.
What is the purpose of driving the technological advancement? Does it help us create something that will last? Where are we going so fast? We don't know. Or do we?"
This infographic from the US National Environmental Education Foundation looks at reasons for teaching and engaging today's students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths in the context of the environment.
"Materials scientists and electrochemists the world over are joining forces to create new types of batteries that perform better and last longer, are more reliable and demand less of the environment. The latest in a line of promising developments plugs into the properties of certain plants, crops and biological wastes."
Permacities came from the idea of creating social media games like FarmVille that instead of just wasting your money, actually taught you how to farm or kept you up to date with the movement. A coworker of mine once commented on eco-utopian schemes and said, "Well, but what are they going to do about Los Angeles?" Permacities showcases things people are doing right now to upcycle existing environments into ecocities and ecovillages. The game was formerly known as Ecocity Now. We've changed the name to avoid confusion with other games and also to bring attention to permaculture principles of small scale interventions, working with nature, and focusing on both human and ecological needs.
"ACT Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Simon Corbell has used his call-in powers to approve Australia's largest solar farm. Spanish-based company Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) will build the facility on 50 hectares near Royalla just off the Monaro Highway in Tuggeranong. The 20 megawatt facility will be made up of 83,000 photovoltaic panels and produce enough renewable electricity to power 4,400 Canberra homes."
"When building a green home one chooses to do so to reduce the harmful impact on the environment. Careful thought and consideration must be placed on every aspect of this home design, from the roof to the foundation to everything in between - electrical work, air quality, and affordability. It is important to lessen one's footprint and not to disrupt the existing ecosystem. With all the knowledge and resources available to us today there really is no excuse for not being environmentally conscientious."
Which countries in the world emit the most carbon dioxide? How fast has China overtaken the US to reach the number one position? And why does Gibraltar have such high emissions per person? This interactive guide made for us by Craig Bloodworth of the Information Lab gives you a way to navigate the latest Energy Information Administration data