Clearance Sale

Sustainable Insight is still running it’s clearance sale on remaining stock items. To take advantage of this sale visit www.sustainableinsight.com.au

 

Merry Christmas

We would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and hope you have the opportunity to spend time with family, friends or quite time to reflect.

Quote:

Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light wan’t come in.

- Alan Alda, actor, director, screenwriter and author, best known for his role in M*A*S*H.

A Peak at Power

Energy consumption and energy pricing is a hot topic, no matter whether you do or do not have a keen interest in sustainability. But just what is driving the increase the energy prices across Australia and what can we do about it?

in August 2011 SBS’s Insight ran a televised forum, Power Play, on the power industry and the key drivers behind Australia’s power pricing and the influence of renewable energy generation technologies in Australia’s energy future.

Renewables and increased development of energy transmission and distribution infrastructure were identified in Power Play as contributors to increased energy costs. However the development of new infrastructure and renewables is primarily in response to increased energy demand and, in particular, the need to develop infrastructure to meet peak energy needs.

One could conclude that peak energy, being a spike in demand at certain times, is the main contributor to increased energy costs. If this is true, what can we do about it?

First is to make a conscious effort to reduce our energy consumption during peak times and help reduce the load on our electricity infrastructure. Peak times are generally between 7am and 9am weekdays and 4pm and 8pm weekdays, however they do vary from location to location (best to check with your energy retailer). CSIROs Energy Handbook has great suggestions to reduce your energy consumption, and below are a few of our own:

1. change you hot water tariff to off-peak, better still also change to solar heating
2. use gas where possible for cooking, choose cold meals (salads, etc) during summer
3. make a concise effort to turn off lights during peak period

We would love to hear of any other suggestions you may have.

If you have an interest in renewable energy and energy prices, we highly recommend you view Insight’s Power Play, the start of which is below. We would also love to hear what you think.

http://www.sbs.com.au/insight/video/single/2079414424/power-play

Want to know what size your water tank should be use? Use the Tankulator

The Australian Technology Association (ATA) has launched the ‘Tankulator” and online tool to calculate the required size of your water tank.

The tank size calculator considers your location (Australia only), water connection (mains or off-mains), water usage, and roof area.

Other websites that have information about water tanks include:

• Rainwater Knowledge Centre; and
• The Australian Government’s Water for Future publications.

Can you be a Super Power Bloke?

Here is a fun short clip teaching you 5 easy ways to contribute to saving energy, your power bill and emissions.

What are some of the things that you do to help reduce your environmental footprint?

To learn more about green, sustainable living visit the Sustainable Insight bookstore for reading ideas.

Are cities the future for forests?

news.com.au has published an article on the Bosco Verticale, a new Italian sky scraper that incorporates a vertical forest.

image source: Stefano Boeri Architetti

The new residential sky scraper will support equivalent to 10,000sqm (1 hectare) of forest and 900 tress between 3 and 9 metres tall.

Is this the solution to compensate for the active deforestation and regeneration of this planets plant life?

I also wonder if the planners have considered the impact of the change in altitude will have on the vegetation and plant life selected and whether or not these city forests will attract a biologically diverse and native bridle and wildlife.

What are your thoughts, and are you you aware of other examples of natural environments being incorporated into our cities?

Clearance Sale

Native Plants for Brisbane Suburbs

We have found this great initiative by Greening Australia Queensland (GAQ). GAQ has prepared and makes available on its website a list of native plants for each suburb in Brisbane. This is a great resource for anyone looking to find what native plants best suit their local area. To download the lists visit GAQ’s Plants by Suburb.

Sustainable Insight has a range of books to help you care for your native plant garden. Native plants are usually more durable for your local area and help provide a habitat for local wildlife. To view Sustainable Insight’s books on native plant gardening visit http://www.sustainableinsight.com.au/shop/gardening-books_native-plant-gardening.htm

Australian Native Plants by John Wrigley and Murray Fagg

Should we be pushing for more public transport?

BrisbaneDvelopment.com recently published a blog claiming ‘Brisbane will struggle without rail investment‘. The blog identifies the Wilber Smith Plan, a urban planning strategy that promotes the reliance on private vehicles and urban sprawl.

What do you think. Should more investment be made by the governments and organsiations that help form our cities towards mass public transport?

For more reading on urban planning Sustainable Insight suggests:

• A Climate for Growth: Planning South East Queensland
• Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems
•  Living Cities – An Urban Myth?
• Planning Sustainable Cities