Posts filed under ‘Energy’
May TD Gathering
TD Gathering, Sunday 20 May, 562 High St, Thornbury, 12.30–4pm
PLEASE NOTE even though Hemingway Cafe has sadly closed – we will be meeting out the back as usual.
Come and find out what’s happening in the world of Transition Darebin at our monthly gathering. Along with the TD business end of things, there’s time to socialise, discuss big ideas and learn new things.
This month we will be discussing some exciting new projects following on from the recent discussions on community economy and local solutions. This will include a conversation with DCAN about a new local energy project and a Reservoir Timebanks project (similar to LETS).
12:30 bring a bite and have a natter if you want
1:00-2:30 coordination and project updates and networking
2:30 local project extravaganza
Food for Thought: Local Food Forum + Open Space Session
Transition Darebin hosted a forum on the future of food in Preston on the 23rd of October 2010 at Preston Shire Hall.
After a welcome from Mayor Vince Fontana Michelle Darebin from the City of Darebin’s Environment team updated us on how people in Darebin are faring with food security and what the City of Darebin council is doing on food availability and sustainability. Guest speaker Kirsten Larsen from the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab reported on what climate change and the end of cheap oil means for food in Australia.
Kirsten Larsen (right) from the Victorian Eco Innovation Lab
Over lunch participants met some of the groups in our area who are involved in exciting food-related projects before participating in an ‘Open Space’ session to explore the question: how will Preston feed itself over the next twenty years?
Participants gather for the open space session.
Here is a summary of what participants talked about during this session (PDF, 56KB).
Transition Darebin thanks the City of Darebin for supporting this event.
Home Sustainability Assessment
I decided to host a home sustainability assessment in the lead-up to the sustainable living festival and invite all my neighbours. Eight people came along, including six neighbours I had never met before. Larissa Nicholls, a local sustainability consultant, talked to us about
- how to use less energy in our homes, save on power bills, and be more comfortable
- how free home sustainability assessments work (courtesy of the Green Loans program)
- what owners AND renters can do
For me the really fun part was finding out how to turn down my water heater. Our unfortunately electric water heater is the culprit behind a good half of our electricity bills. Despite the dire warnings that only electricians should meddle with our water heater, with a simple turn of a dial we were able to reduce the temperature from above 80 degrees down to 60 degrees. That should reduce our energy use significantly and the water temperature is perfectly fine for washing dishes. We just don’t have to use as much cold water in the shower now.
Would you like to host a home sustainability assessment? Contact us
Moving house on two wheels: Darebin Bike Move #1
Move over Man with a Van! Bicycles are going to be a critical technology when conventional oil goes into decline, but the challenge will be: how do we move really big stuff around? Enter the Bike Move as a reminder of the capability and versatility of the humble push bike. On Saturday 25th July 2009, a group of courageous Darebinites moved Russell’s entire personal effects from East Brunswick to West Heidelberg (through but not as originally planned within Darebin!). This 15 km trip took us a few pleasant hours, via a scenic route along backstreets, through parks, along the creek and past a storage facility where we picked up more (yes, more!) of Russell’s stuff.
Bike movers ready to go!
Trailers on the trail
Russell takes in the scenery while pedalling his futon and frame, filing cabinets and bookshelf up the hill!
What’s the best part of a bike move? Is it the how-much-stuff-can-I-fit-on-my-bike challenge? Is it the smiles and waves from amazed pedestrians and drivers? Or is it the house warming party at the end?
Perhaps most people won’t ever undertake to move their whole house by bike (although let’s face it, it was pretty fun!), but hopefully this demonstrates that we don’t need a sports utility vehicle to pick up the groceries…
PS. The local paper even did an article about the bike move.
PPS. Check out this fascinating interview of Fatih Birol from the International Energy Association (IEA) by Guardian journalist George Monbiot on the status of conventional oil and its implications for transportation.
Are you a cyclist? Do you live in Darebin? Are you moving house? Get in touch with Transition Darebin and be moved by the power of two wheels!
Transition Darebin 