Green Skiing Tips

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on Green Skiing Tips
Jun 122017
 

Hi everyone,

The ski season officially opens this weekend. The keen skiing enthusiasts amongst us will be hoping for lots of snow and already thinking about heading off to do a bit of skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing. Some of us might even be thinking about a visit to simply check out the lovely snow covered scenery and no doubt many have already booked a trip.

If you’re planning to hit the slopes this year, please consider the environment while you’re there.  Here’s some tips to get you started:

  • Transport is probably the biggest environment impact of going to the snow – avoid flying if you can, catch a bus, train or car pool
  • Choose ski resorts close to home rather than overseas to reduce the transport miles
  • Carbon offset your travel
  • Use public transport to get to the slopes and use public transport or walk to get around the resorts
  • Choose skis and snowboards from companies that follow green principles and make products from sustainable resources such as bamboo
  • Look for eco-friendly ski gear and vegetable- based snowboard wax
  • Recycle / Donate your old equipment and ski gear
  • Don’t litter, use recycling bins where available and carry a rubbish bag around with you in case there’s no bins when you need them. You could even take that extra step and pick up litter you see.  Note: At high altitudes, orange peel takes up to 2 years to break down and cigarette butts up to 5 years
  • Respect out-of-bounds areas and stay outside  national parks whenever possible
  • Consider cross-country skiing or snow walking as these activities don’t need cleared, graded slopes, chairlifts etc.
  • Choose environment friendly resorts – check environment pages on resort web sites
  • Turn down the heat to 20 degrees and wear an extra jumper etc inside to keep nice and warm and turn off the heat when you go out
  • Switch off lights when leaving rooms and electrical appliances when not in use, just like you would at home
  • Take shorter showers (e.g. 4 mins max), turn down the hot water pressure and be frugal with water usage
  • Reuse towels when you can instead of getting fresh ones every day
  • Take your own refillable water bottles

Source: G magazine, Issue 12, July 2008, pg 57, www.gmagazine.com.au, How to Go Green: Skiing & Snowboarding, treehugger, http://www.treehugger.com/htgg/how-to-go-green-skiing-snowboarding.html#tips

Practice green skiing tips when you next venture to the snowfields and do something good for our precious environment

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

Share
 Posted by at 12:30 pm

Christmas Gift ideas

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on Christmas Gift ideas
Dec 112016
 

Hi everyone,

 

Christmas is approaching at lightning speed and there’s still so much to do before the big day.  Some of you have probably already exhausted your ideas of what to get some of your loved ones. How about something that hasn’t travelled thousands of miles to get here and supports our locals?

 

Here’s some more gift ideas:

 

  • Shout them a haircut at their local hair salon or barber
  • For the ladies, a bit of pampering at the local beauty salon would be a real treat or opt for the massage which everyone would love
  • How about  a gym membership to get them fit and healthy
  • For those who hate washing their car (that’s me!), a car detail gift certificate would be most appreciated
  • Do you know someone who has been putting off getting an oil change? A voucher from the guy at the local garage would be perfect for this
  • Give them a break from the lawn mowing, which comes around ever so quickly during Summer, and arrange for the local lawn mowing service to call around
  • What about a voucher at the local cafe or restaurant for a decadent leisurely breakfast or nice meal out during the holidays
  • To help them get rid of some of those things that have been on the To Do list forever, get a gift certificate from a local handyman
  • Who’s Mum wouldn’t appreciate getting a local cleaning lady in for a day to help with those big jobs like cleaning the windows
  • For lovers of live music, seek out tickets to an event featuring local talent
  • How about tickets to see a play or ballet at your local theatre
  • Handmade, local arts and crafts are a good option for those looking for something more personal
  • For a lasting gift, get them a gift certificate for a family portrait
  • Golf enthusiasts would love a round at the local golf course

 

Source: Christmas 2011 — Birth of a New Tradition email – source unknown

 

This Christmas, consider giving gifts that are kind to the environment and helps our local community too.

 

Many thanks

 

Lila

 

Resource Management Specialist,

Share
 Posted by at 11:32 am

“Buy Nothing New” month – October

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on “Buy Nothing New” month – October
Sep 232016
 

Hi everyone,

I’m getting in early to let you know about “Buy Nothing New” month which kicks off on the 1st of October as there’s a public holiday in Melbourne next Friday and I didn’t want you to miss it. A month-long buying fast that makes a whole lot of sustainable sense. Beg, borrow, barter, swap, rent, share, repair or buy second hand to be a part of this great challenge.

The Buy Nothing New challenge is asking you to stop shopping for JUST four weeks. This doesn’t mean you can’t buy anything.  Obviously you’ll still need to buy food, drink, medication and anything you need to maintain your health and wellbeing. During this time you can learn some new buying habits, reassess how much you really need, look at where our stuff comes from and make wiser decisions when you do head out to the shops.  It’s also a reaction to our “throwaway society” where we see precious resources turning into landfill all too quickly. No greater evidence of this is around my neighbourhood at this time of year as it’s the annual hard rubbish collection. Masses of stuff in good condition gets thrown out on the nature strip ready to be collected and taken to landfill.

Buy Nothing New month aims to extend the life and maximise the value of existing stuff by promoting recycled, free-cycled, up-cycled, second hand and eco-friendly alternatives to buying new. And, by not spending on stuff we don’t need, increasing our savings for the things we do need.

To make your pledge, go to:

http://www.buynothingnew.com.au/pledge/

Source: Buy Nothing New Month http://www.buynothingnew.com.au/

Pledge to Buy Nothing New during October and challenge over consumption.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

Share
 Posted by at 11:18 am

National Tree Day happening this Sunday 31 July

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on National Tree Day happening this Sunday 31 July
Jul 292016
 

Hi everyone,

I’m back from holidays just in time to remind you about National Tree Day happening this Sunday 31 July.

National Tree Day is Australia’s biggest community tree planting event held every year around this time. Thousands of people get together at numerous sites around the country.  We plant truckloads and truckloads of native trees and shrubs which goes a long way in helping to offset gas emissions as well as heaps of other benefits. This year we’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of National Tree Day. Since National Tree Day started in 1996, 22.3 million native trees and shrubs have been planted by more than 3.8 million volunteers.

I’ll be going down to the foreshore just near home and spending a couple of hours planting.  I get a real buzz out of it and love to see the kids down there helping out.

It’s being organised by Planet Ark.  To find a tree planting site near you, go to http://treeday.planetark.org/find-a-site/ or call the Hotline 1300 885000.

Further information can be found at:

http://treeday.planetark.org/

Source: National Tree Day, Planet Ark, http://treeday.planetark.org/

Let’s all get involved in National Tree Day and get our hands dirty to help our precious planet!

Many thanks, Lila

 

Resource Management Specialist,

Share
 Posted by at 10:15 am

Sustainable Skiing

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on Sustainable Skiing
Jun 212016
 

Hi everyone,

The ski season is officially open. The keen skiing enthusiasts amongst us will be hoping for lots of snow and already thinking about heading off to do a bit of skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing. Some of us might even be thinking about a visit to simply check out the lovely snow covered scenery and no doubt many have already booked a trip.

If you’re planning to hit the slopes this year, please consider the environment while you’re there.  Here’s some tips to get you started:

  • Transport is probably the biggest environment impact of going to the snow – avoid flying if you can, catch a bus, train or car pool
  • Choose ski resorts close to home rather than overseas to reduce the transport miles
  • Carbon offset your travel
  • Use public transport to get to the slopes and use public transport or walk to get around the resorts
  • Choose skis and snowboards from companies that follow green principles and make products from sustainable resources such as bamboo
  • Look for eco-friendly ski gear and vegetable- based snowboard wax
  • Recycle / Donate your old equipment and ski gear
  • Don’t litter, use recycling bins where available and carry a rubbish bag around with you in case there’s no bins when you need them. You could even take that extra step and pick up litter you see.  Note: At high altitudes, orange peel takes up to 2 years to break down and cigarette butts up to 5 years
  • Respect out-of-bounds areas and stay outside  national parks whenever possible
  • Consider cross-country skiing or snow walking as these activities  don’t need cleared, graded slopes, chairlifts etc.
  • Choose environment friendly resorts – check environment pages on resort web sites
  • Turn down the heat to 20 degrees and wear an extra jumper etc inside to keep nice and warm and turn off the heat when you go out
  • Switch off lights when leaving rooms and electrical appliances when not in use, just like you would at home
  • Take shorter showers (e.g. 4 mins max), turn down the hot water pressure and be frugal with water usage
  • Reuse towels when you can instead of getting fresh ones every day
  • Take your own refillable water bottles

Source: G magazine, Issue 12, July 2008, pg 57, www.gmagazine.com.au, How to Go Green: Skiing & Snowboarding, treehugger, http://www.treehugger.com/htgg/how-to-go-green-skiing-snowboarding.html#tips

Practice green skiing tips when you next venture to the snowfields and do something good for our precious environment

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

Share
 Posted by at 11:14 am

Autumn – time for green manure

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on Autumn – time for green manure
May 232016
 

Hi everyone,

Autumn is a great time of year to get out in the garden. It’s when good organisation can set you up for a successful growing season. For the veggie growers amongst us we will be busy clearing our plots from the spent crops and thinking about what to do next. If you’ve decided to opt out of planting a Winter crop and leave the veggie patch empty then planting green manure is a good option.

Green manure is a crop grown in your garden to add life back into your soil. Once it gets to its peak you simply dig it back into your veggie patch. The use of green manure crops in a rotation has long been a practice of sustainable farming. It also stops the weeds from moving in.

Common green manure crops include:

  • Legumes – such as cow pea, mung bean, broad bean, fenugreek and soybean. These add nitrogen (vital for food crops) to the soil. Broad bean is a favourite.
  • Grains and grasses – such as millet, buckwheat and oats.

These crops can often be sown together to give a combination of nitrogen fixing crops and strong addition of organic matter.

For more details, go to:

https://cityfoodgrowers.com.au/blog-latestposts.php?catid=101

cityfoodgrowers

Source: Autumn Tasks for Winter Gardens, Green Lifestyle, http://www.greenlifestylemag.com.au/node/20450, Green Manure in your food garden, City Food Growers, https://cityfoodgrowers.com.au/blog-latestposts.php?catid=101

Consider planting green manure this season to give your soil a healthy boost.

Many thanks, Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

Share
 Posted by at 10:47 am

MCA Clothing Exchange: A mass-swap event – The Sydney Clothing Exchange (Sydney) – Meetup

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on MCA Clothing Exchange: A mass-swap event – The Sydney Clothing Exchange (Sydney) – Meetup
Jul 182012
 

MCA Clothing Exchange: A mass-swap event – The Sydney Clothing Exchange (Sydney) – Meetup.

MCA Museum of Contemporary Art

140 George Street, The Rocks (map)

Selected By: kirsten fredericks

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney has invited us to hold a mass clothes swap event with them on Sunday the 22nd of July. We would like to invite you and the whole family to come along.

 

HOW IT WILL WORK

  • There is a limit of ten items per person for clothing and/or accessories, e.g. if you bring eight, you can take eight or less home
  • There are two categories: clothing (includes men’s tops, men’s bottoms, ladies’ tops, ladies’ bottoms, kids and babies, dresses, jackets and suits) and accessories (includes hats, scarves, shoes and bags). You can swap an accessory for another accessory and clothing for any piece of clothing. You cannot swap a piece of clothing for an accessory and vice versa

YES – Kids and babies’ clothing will be accepted!

Share

Latest SustainabilityNews

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on Latest SustainabilityNews
Jun 182012
 
The Australian PV Market and the Meaning of Grid Parity

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 06:21 PM PDT

 June AuSES, NSW Branch
6.00 for 6.30 pm, Tuesday, 26 June 2012
University of Technology, Sydney
Haymarket campus, CM05D.01.10

(Note the venue change; this is on the UTS Haymarket campus, close to Chinatown)

Main Speaker:  Muriel Watt (Australian PV Association
The Australian PV Market and the Meaning of Grid Parity

Future Directions Speaker:  Jonathon Dore

To confirm seating, please RSVP by 12 noon Tuesday, 26 June at our online event register: ausesnswjune.eventbrite.com or email nswbranch@auses.org.au

Original Article

Big Solar is Coming

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 06:19 PM PDT

7.00 pm, Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Moonshine Bar, Steyne Hotel, Manly

This is a special event to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit and to launch the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.

Speakers: Mark Ogge (BZE), Mark Diesendorf (UNSW), Warren Yates (Clean Energy for Eternity)

Free and open to the public, but bookings are essential.

To confirm seating, please RSVP to Manly Environment Centre, (02) 9976 2842 (business hours).
Further information: Jodi Adams 0402 577 690

Original Article

Petition to End World Wide Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 11:42 PM PDT

The Rio Earth Summit starts tomorrow, Monday, June 18, and there is a very important message we can be sending the world’s leaders there. That is we demand an end to government subsidies paid to polluting fossil fuel producers. Get on board with the Twitter Storm which will display, in public sites world wide, the tweets being sent making this demand.  Simply sign up and tweet from 6PM Sydney time tomorrow.

There is a gathering at Portobello Cafe, No.3 Circular Quay – just in front of Sydney Opera House to watch the tweets unfold.  If you’re available in the evening, feel free to drop by and say hi!  Food, wine and beer for supporters are discounted at 20% 🙂  Here’s the link to it’s facebook Event page.

Original Article

Share
 Posted by at 5:52 pm

Website title change

 Uncategorized  Comments Off on Website title change
Jun 162012
 

A Website title change from

Share
 Posted by at 11:17 am