Alternative Technology Association, and Bank Australia

If you are already a member of the Alternative Technology Association ATA you will have heard about this new initiative.  If not, perhaps this is a good time to become a member!  ATA is all about supporting their members in making their homes and communities environmentally friendly. They can help you with installing solar power or a rainwater tank. Or help reduce your energy bills with guidance on energy-efficient lighting or insulation.

One area that may still need attention is your banking. While you have worked hard to reduce your home’s carbon emissions, the interest you pay on your home loan may be being used to invest in coal-fired power stations or other greenhouse intensive industries.

To help you in this area the ATA has teamed up with Bank Australia (formerly known as bankmecu) on an exciting new partnership.

Bank Australia is Australia’s first customer owned responsible bank and over the years has supported a number of ATA activities including sustainability webinars, Speed Date a Sustainability Expert, Sustainable House Day and their solar lighting and solar technician training program in East Timor.

Bank Australia is offering another way to support the ATA while helping you make the switch to a responsible bank. If an ATA member switches their home loan or take out a personal loan with Bank Australia, they will give a percentage of the loan amount to the ATA.

It is a win-win situation as you can:

• Switch your home loan to a responsible bank and know that your home loan is not being used to fund carbon-intensive industries
• Support the ATA with Bank Australia giving the ATA a payment for every member who switches [1]
• Know that your home loan will be doing even more when ATA uses the funds to provide the unique and vital role of providing independent and practical advice for a sustainable future

To prove how serious they are, Bank Australia is offering any ATA member who switches their existing home loan or takes out a new home loan a competitive rate of 4.10%p.a. [2] (4.11%p.a. [3] comparison rate), one of the lowest on the market.

Switching your home loan is easy – a small amount of time to make a big impact. Sleep soundly while your home loan adds value to your bottom line without compromising your values.

Join ATA here.

And if an ATA member, if you are interested in having your home loan reviewed, please click here bankaust.com.au/ATA and complete the details. You will then be contacted by a specialist lender from Bank Australia who will help you through the process.

[1] It's a one-off payment of 0.40% of the loan value, but it doesn't affect your interest rate, fees or loan structure in any way.
[2] Variable rates correct as at 17/06/2015, however are subject to change at any time. Check www.bankaust.com.au for the latest rates. Offer available to new and existing borrowers. Excludes investment loans. For existing borrowers the new loan funds must exceed $100,000.
[3] The Comparison Rate is based on a loan of $150,000 for 25 years. Fees and charges may be applicable. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. 

The Wings of the Sun, Sunday 23 August

The movie 'The Wings of the Sun'  is being screened in Hobart as part of Science Week. 

Come along and watch the story of the amazing construction and record-breaking journey of "Solar Impulse", the solar powered plane which flew across America in 2013.  This was the first time in history that zero-fuel flights were achieved between continents and through the night. The screening is in support of the current attempt to fly its successor "Solar Impulse 2" around the world.

Join us for the amazing construction and record-breaking journey of ‘Solar Impulse’, the solar-powered plane which flew across America in 2013. - See more at: http://www.scienceweek.net.au/wings-of-the-sun-record-breaking-solar-powered-aircraft/#sthash.fZfprqEX.dpuf

shows the construction and testing of the record breaking ‘Solar Impulse’ solar-powered aircraft. - See more at: http://www.scienceweek.net.au/wings-of-the-sun-record-breaking-solar-powered-aircraft/#sthash.fZfprqEX.dpuf

shows the construction and testing of the record breaking ‘Solar Impulse’ solar-powered aircraft. - See more at: http://www.scienceweek.net.au/wings-of-the-sun-record-breaking-solar-powered-aircraft/#sthash.fZfprqEX.dpuf

shows the construction and testing of the record breaking ‘Solar Impulse’ solar-powered aircraft. - See more at: http://www.scienceweek.net.au/wings-of-the-sun-record-breaking-solar-powered-aircraft/#sthash.fZfprqEX.dpuf

Where: Stanley Burbury theatre, University of Tasmania
When:  Sunday 23 August, 6pm - 8pm.

More details here:
 http://www.scienceweek.net.au/wings-of-the-sun-record-breaking-solar-powered-aircraft/

Sustainable House Day 2015 - want to nominate your place?

This year the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) is partnering with EnviroShop to hold Sustainable House Day on September 13.

Sustainable House Day is Australia’s largest national sustainability event giving people the opportunity to see and learn from the best environmental homes.

One important change this year will be an upgrade to the Sustainable House Day website to improve it for participating homeowners, local groups and attendees.

ATA has now opened online registrations for:  

• Homeowners with homes that have environmentally sustainable features – to open them and host tours
• Sustainability groups and local councils – to host or co-ordinate local homes and volunteers and/or ancillary events.

Participating homeowners can now officially register and submit their own house profiles via the event website.

The deadline for home registrations is July 31, 2015

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR HOME ONLINE

• Officially register and create your online user profile at http://sustainablehouseday.com/house-owner-registration/
• Once logged into your profile you can create your house profile: 

If you have an existing house profile from SHD 2014

• If the house you are opening was opened in 2014, its profile may already exist on the website. To search for your profile go to: http://sustainablehouseday.com/cat/2014/

(Please note: addresses were taken off the website after SHD 2014 as required by organisers, so you may need to use a few different search terms to locate your profile.)

• Once you locate your profile, click into the profile and scroll down until you see Claim this house. Click on this.
• An email will then automatically be sent to organisers to allocate this property to your profile. Once your property has been allocated and approved you will receive an email notification it has been added to your profile and updated to 2015.
• Please log in back to your profile and update your profile information accordingly. 

If you do NOT have or cannot locate an existing house profile from SHD 2014

• From the my profile page, click on the Create New House Profile button at the top right hand corner
• Complete the new house registration form
• Once submitted the form will automatically be sent to the organisers for approval.
• Once officially accepted you will receive an email notification regarding acceptance and the house profile will be allocated to your user profile. 

We also request you please refer to the T&C’s of participation below:

• All homes must have a minimum of three sustainable features.  You can view a list of suggested sustainable features: http://sustainablehouseday.com/about-shd/forms/
• You must have a current home and contents insurance policy
• You must agree to the terms and conditions of participation at http://sustainablehouseday.com/terms-conditions/
• All applications are subject to a final approval process by the organising committee.

If you are experiencing problems with the website or registering online, please contact Jodie North at Jodie.north@envirogroup.com.au and we will address these issues as soon as possible.

Reclaiming Your Power, 5 October

Climate Action Hobart is running a workshop on 'Reclaiming your power' for everyone who feels dudded by government turning back the climate action clock, 5 October, 1-5 pm in the Philip Smith Centre, The Glebe. 

The program is available through the link below. 

Register by emailing your name and email address to climateactionhobart@gmail.com

View attachments on the web

Rally for Renewables, this Friday 26 Sept, 12pm

We've been contacted by Amanda Sully & Jack Gilding, with this message:

I’m writing today with urgent news. As you know, the very future of solar and renewable energy in Australia is at risk. 

The Renewable Energy Target (RET), a hugely successful policy which says that at least 20% of Australia’s energy should come from renewable sources by 2020, has helped over 1.3 million Australians go solar. But next week Cabinet ministers will decide the fate of the Target and all signs suggest they want it gone. This is despite more than 80% of Australians being in favour of the Target.

Tasmania has enormous potential for economic development through future renewable energy projects and has the most to lose if the RET is reduced. Crucial decisions will be made in the next few weeks and the votes of Tasmanian Senators will be vital to a successful outcome.
The National Rally for Renewables will be held across Australia at key Cabinet Ministers’ electorate offices.  In Hobart it is:

DATE: Friday, September 26

TIME: 12 midday

LOCATION: Office of Senator Eric Abetz, 136 Davey St, Hobart

Will you join us? RSVP to take part in the national Rally for Renewables on Friday September 26?

For further information or to assist contact Amanda Sully sully.amanda@gmail.com (0402) 570-788

The Clean Energy Tipping Point, Tuesday 27 May

In conversation with Giles Parkinson and Paul Gilding

Little noticed outside those in the game, a sense of panic has been creeping through the global utility industry. The driver? An extraordinary and continuing price drop in solar that is causing disruption in the electricity industry and huge losses in the market value of some of its key players.

As the Economist headlined their analysis of the issue:

How to lose half a trillion Euros – Europe's electricity providers face an existential threat, it is hard to overstate the significance and interconnectedness of what is now underway – a shift from fossil fuels to renewables; a transition from centralised utilities to distributed house scale generation; a car industry that might hold the key to energy storage for renewable energy; and perhaps most startling of all the potential for global energy price deflation – a stark contrast to forecasts of peak oil and spiralling prices.

Giles Parkinson and Paul Gilding will present their report on these trends, which was produced for the Tasmanian Climate Action Council, and discuss the potential implications for Tasmania.

Date: Tuesday 27 May 2014

Time: 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm

Venue: Stanley Burbury Theatre, University of Tasmania Sandy Bay Campus

RSVP by: Friday 24 May 2014

RSVP to: Click here or call (03) 6232 7173

Cost: This is a free event but bookings are essential for seating purposes.

About the speakers

Giles Parkinson is the founder of the leading clean energy website RenewEconomy.com.au. He is a journalist of 30 years experience, a former Business Editor and Deputy Editor of the Australian Financial Review, a former columnist for The Bulletin magazine and The Australian, and the founder and former editor of Climate Spectator.

Paul Gilding is a writer, corporate advisor and advocate for a sustainable economy. He is widely recognised as a global authority on sustainability and business and is a Fellow at the University of
Cambridge (Institute for Sustainability Leadership). He authored the book The Great Disruption and is a member of the Tasmanian Climate Action Council.

This event is supported by the University of Tasmania

It's Time - to have your say on Feed In Tariffs for solar PV

Save Solar Tasmania’s  Briefing Paper on the Feed-in Tariff consultation is now available at: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/tas_docs The Briefing Paper has been written to assist people wishing to make submissions to the consultation process  being run by the Electricity Reform Project in Treasury. Submissions are due by Tuesday 11 June and should be sent to: Electricity.Reform@treasury.tas.gov.au Presentations from last week's Fate of the Feed-in Tariff forum run by Sustainable Living Tasmania are now available  at http://slt.org.au/feedintariff and you can view video of the event on YouTube. ================================== Jack Gilding Convenor, Save Solar Tasmania m: (0407) 486-651 e: tasmania@solarcitizens.org.au w: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/tas/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaveSolarTas Sign our petition at: http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/savesolartasmania http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/tas_docs

Fate of the Solar Feed-in Tariff - Forum Thurs 30 May

Fate of the Solar Feed-in Tariff

·         What are the impacts of changing the solar feed-in tariff?

·         What would be a fair tariff?

·         What can you do?

Speakers:

·         Craig Memery, Alternative Technology Association

·         Jack Gilding, Save Solar Tasmania

·         Ben Stevens, Baslec, Tasmanian solar installer

6:00pm - 7:30pm, Thursday 30th May 2013, Entry $5

Lecture Theatre 105, Medical Services Precinct

Corner of Liverpool & Campbell streets, Hobart

Join us afterwards for light refreshments and informal discussion

More details:

Sustainable Living Tasmania

(03) 6234 5566, todd@slt.org.au

http://slt.org.au/feedintariff

Save Solar Tasmania - launch tomorrow

Save Solar Tasmania is a new alliance of businesses, householders and community groups established to promote Tasmania’s opportunities in small and medium scale renewable energy.

The group will be holding a press conference on the steps of Parliament House Hobart at midday tomorrow (Thursday 11 April) to urge the Government to provide guarantees for customers on the existing feed-in tariff and to establish a public consultation and review process that sets a fair price for solar and other small renewable energy technologies in Tasmania.

The group was formed because in the rush to privatise Aurora’s retailing activities, the government has created uncertainty which is jeopardising the future of the solar industry in Tasmania.

A press release and details of the new website established to support the campaign will be circulated tomorrow morning. Existing background information is available at http://waterworksvalley.com/solar/

The press conference will provide an opportunity for the media to talk to members of the group including:

·         solar installation companies

·         householders who have installed solar panels and those who are contemplating installations but are concerned about possible changes to the feed-in tariff

·         businesses that are developing small and medium scale wind and hydro projects.

Come along if you are interested!

URGENT: Tasmanian Solar Feed-in-Tariffs at risk

West Hobartians, please take note:
The Tasmanian government is restructuring electricity retailing in this State, to take effect from 1 January 2014. Associated with these changes it is highly likely that the existing fair feed-in tariffs for rooftop solar panels and other small renewable energy technologies will be reviewed and lost or reduced.

The most immediate way that communities can take action is to make submissions to the Energy Reform project right now.  Even a short email of support for the retention of existing feed-in tariff is useful – you do not have to write a detailed submission.

If you have solar PV installed on your roof or are thinking about doing so, you should read this very informative summary of what is happening here: background information PDF.

And then make a submission!  The deadline is only two days away - no need to make it overly complex.  There is an outline of what you might like to say at the end of the above document.