Could electric bikes be Hobart's clean transport solution?

Come along to the Hobart Regatta Grounds on Monday 31 Jan at 6pm to find out. There'll be a range of electric bikes for people to test ride. Visiting from Sydney is Maurice Wells, one of Australia's leading electric bike experts. He will be able to give advice on what to look for in an electric bike as well as what is most appropriate for you. Find out how good electric bikes are on Hobart's hills! Maurice and his partner are about to ride their electric bikes from Hobart to Launceston via the Central Plateau. Thanks to the electric motor, they will cover this distance in just three easy days, taking hills in their stride and enjoying the wonderful scenery. No lycra, no sweat. Organised by eco-Bikes, a South Hobart-grown small business.

Changing the Dream Symposium

5 Feb, 12.30pm - 5.30pm, Philip Smith Centre, Hobart.

This one-day Symposium explores the current state of our planet from a new perspective, and connects participants with a powerful global movement to reclaim our future. Through dynamic group interactions, leading edge information, and inspiring multimedia, participants are inspired to reconnect with their deep concern for our world, and are empowered to make a difference.

If you are ready to be disturbed, inspired and moved to action, then join in exploring the most critical concerns of our times, and discover new opportunities to make a real difference in accelerating the emergence of an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on this planet!

Designed by The Pachamama Alliance with the collaboration of some of the finest scientific, indigenous and activist minds in the world, the next Tasmanian Symposium will be held at the Phillip Smith Centre in Hobart on Saturday, February 5th from 12.30-5.30pm. The cost for the day, including refreshments, is $40 waged, $20 unwaged. Although payment can be made at the door, people are required to register online at www.changingthedream.org.au, with a discount available for online payment at the time of registration.

For more information, or to register online, go to www.changingthedream.org.au , or contact Phil Everist,0413 383 206 , or phileverist@gmail.com

Solar Hot Water Heaters - Eco Tasmania

EcoTasmania is a Hobart-based company providing the Apricus evacuated tube solar hot water heaters. The company developed out of the bulk buying project of the Waterworks Valley Community, a sister group of WHEN. Their website has lots of useful stuff to help with your decisionmaking. Looks like the place to start when thinking about moving to solar hot water!

'A city with people in mind'

This evening in Sandy Bay, Jan Gehl (of Gehl Architects, who have been commissioned by the council to provide a development plan for the area directly surrounding the Hobart CBD) gave a public lecture on the fruits of the research conducted by his firm over the past year.

In it, he addressed many significant issues--from traffic and accessibility, to 'greening the urban' and sense of community.

Provide above is a link to the Hobart City Council website, from which the results of Professor's Gehl's research may be downloaded and digested.

It is our responsibility as members of the greater Hobart community to be aware, informed, and engaged in the process of transforming our urban center, so as to ensure harmony between our public spaces and our personal ethos.

Walk Score website

Found on the web:

Walk Score (www.WalkScore.com) is the leading measure of walkability. It works on any address and gives you a score and a map of nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc.

The designers of this website are clearly in touch with sustainability values. They say:

Walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to the environment, our health, our finances, and our communities.

Environment: Cars are a leading cause of climate change. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.

Health: The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.¹

Finances: One point of Walk Score is worth up to $3,000 of value for your property. Read the research report.

Communities: Studies show that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.

The Walking West Hobart map group will take a good look at this tool to see how it can help with our project.

The Sharehood

The Sharehood was referred to us by new member Colin. This is what The Sharehood says it is about:

The Sharehood is all about sharing resources within your neighbourhood and helps you to meet and make friends with people in your local area. All sorts of things can be shared, such as sewing machines, vegetables, wheelbarrows, tools, cars, books and computers. Skills can be shared too: gardening help, bike fixing, accountancy, language skills, childminding, how to make wine or dance the tango.

Perhaps this might be a useful way for West Hobartians to connect and share goods and services etc with each other?

Green Traders

A new group has been set up to make it easier to share goods. Here's what they say:

Somewhere in the world, for a multitude of reasons, a fruit tree overburdened with deliciously ripe fruit rots and withers away, without a soul to eat it. Whilst somewhere in the world, for a multitude of reasons, someone goes hungry and cries, without a soul to help feed them.
We saw a void that we wanted to help fill and thus, Green Traders was born. In this world with ever increasing costs, everyday there are people that have to go without. Imagine how amazing it will be to trade green products such as fruit, vegetables, eggs, manure, seedlings and compost with others. This is Recycling at its very best and is a wonderful way to help the environment.
By reusing products that you do not need or want it will allow for less packaging and therefore less wastage. By giving away or trading what you do not use or want, you will be helping your fellow mankind. This will also give you a great sense of community, knowing that you are assisting people within your own neighbourhood.

This way of communicating and sharing could be very useful for getting (or getting rid of) gardening or household goods.... Check it out, at:

Green Traders

Walking West Hobart map project - update

The Walking West Hobart map working group has met again to look at several excellent maps provided by the Hobart City Council.

I have created a Google "My Map" which looks like a pretty accessible way for people to contribute ideas. Here is the link.

Walks in West Hobart

A collection of shortcuts and best walking paths in West Hobart. Blue lines are laneways, fine for prams. Red lines indicate there are some steps. Green bicycles indicate best bike routes.

Have a go, it's fairly easy to add shortcuts etc that you know about.

Current ideas are that perhaps this "My Map" could be the online version of the Walking West Hobart map, and that we could use the information gathered here to create a printed paper map for on the street enjoyment!

Also Maria and John have created a Tassie Urban Walks website to showcase urban walks

Take a short walk in your lunch hour or on a weekend, to discover some of the unusual places hidden in the heart of Tasmania's urban areas.

We can use this site to publicise particularly lovely walks around West Hobart. Please contribute ideas to this page too!

So, plenty of ideas, and your input is welcome.

Walking West Hobart map - Meeting 13 October 2010

Tonight Margaret convened a meeting of the Walking West Hobart Map working group, held at Anne's. Present were:  John and Maria, Helene, Di, John and Carol, and Suzanne.

Margaret and Di outlined some background of the project, and there was some enthusiastic discussion of the objectives of the project.  These include: to encourage residents to walk, to enjoy what West Hobart has to offer, to connect more with each other, to improve health, to reduce dependence on the car, to identify little known shortcuts and to publicise them.   Perhaps in summary it is about celebrating West Hobart and promoting  walking.

The group discussed the geographic scope of the project.  It was felt that it would be wise to focus on West Hobart in order to keep the project manageable.  When this is complete we may be able to extend the concept into Sandy Bay and Lenah Valley in the future.

Many good ideas about what to show on the map were thrown in, such as : shortcuts, walking times, fruit trees, views, bus stops,  safe street crossings, contours, shortest routes to (State Cinema, etc), bike paths, parks, seats, toilets, points of interest, coffee shops, "park and walk", alerts for steps or non-pram-friendly paths.   People had some good ideas for improved signage of shortcuts including adding signs to "No Through Road" signposts.  Quite a few shortcuts and rights of way have already been contributed by Paul and several were suggested tonight.

It is likely that we will make a version of the map available online, but printed maps will definitely be produced.  There will be some thinking to do about what size and shape the printed maps could be.

Where to next:
Margaret will see whether Hobart City Council's mapping department can provide large and detailed maps that already show some shortcuts and rights of way. She will also enquire as to what level of support they can offer towards graphic design and production.

The group will meet again on Monday 25 October to start mapping ideas directly onto a map, 7.30pm at John and Carol's.   Contact Margaret for details if you would like to come along.

There will be more meetings to refine the map and to consult with more residents to gather more ideas.  One idea is to showcase the map at the Back To West Hobart day in May 2011.

Green Moves Australia

If you want to sell or lease your home, you can list on the Green Property List as long as your house meets a sustainability test.   Read all about it at: Green Moves Australia.

Did you know Mandatory Disclosure is coming in May 2011?

This means you must disclose your home's energy efficiency at point of sale or rent from May 2011 onwards. This company also provides more information about what this is all about, and offers guidance on how you can improve your home's sustainability features.  

Solar Hot Water Forum 2008

From the WHEN archives:  We had a very worthwhile Solar Hot Water Forum in 2008 with about 75 people attending. Thank you very much to all who were involved in making the day such a success. Six suppliers attended the event and five of them have offered discounts to those who were there or who are members of WHEN. Please let them know that you are from the group if you contact them.

Here are the details of the offers (in alphabetical order).

APRICUS

Mark Rickard,
EcoTasmania

6224 0166

mark@ecotasmania.com

www.ecotasmania.com

I am happy to offer 5% discount off the quoted system prices to all WHEN members, and if 10 or more systems are ordered by members of your group, then I will rebate to you a further 5%. To get much more than 10% I would need to get a sizeable order - for maybe around 30 or so systems, I could give 15%. There's not that much margin in them, particularly as I already give 5% from each system to Eco Tasmania the not-for-profit, who use that money for lobbying, education, etc.

See: http://www.apricus.com.au/ for details about the Apricus systems.

 

ECOSMART

Neil Edney,
Ultimate Hot Water Pty Ltd

neiledney@bigpond.com 
www.ultimatehotwater.com.au

We can offer $100 off the installation price.  For orders of 5 we can offer a $200 discount off the RRP per system and this can be paid using our Easy Pay Plan or payment on completion.  For orders of 10 or more systems we can offer a discount of $400 per system with payment via cash, cheque, visa or mastercard only.

See : http://www.ecosmart.com.au/ for details about the Ecosmart systems.

 

HILLS SOLAR SYSTEMS

Mal Blood,
Sackett Services,
37 Derwent Park Road,
Derwent Park

6272 7776

mblood@sackettservices.com.au

I am offering a special price of $500 dollars off the normal system price for group members.

See : http://www.hillssolar.com.au/arbitrage/pages/Home for details about the Hills Solar systems.

 

SOLAHART

Aaron Sommerville,
CGA TAS Pty Ltd,
159 Main Road,
Moonah
62728188
aaron_cgatas@iprimus.com.au

Solahart is offering a $400 discount until the 30 September 2008. Also, if you can get at least a group of three people to buy and install three systems in one street within two days there can be savings of about $1000 per group off of the installation price.

See: http://www.solahart.com.au/default.asp? for details about the Solahart systems.

SUNPLUS SOLAR

Rob Manson,
Electricians Shed,
45 Burnett Street,
North Hobart

6231 0002

rob@electricians-shed.com.au

Yes, we can offer discounts for bulk purchases. Please have any one interested contact me via email or phone or come into our shop.

See: http://www.sunplussolar.com.au/ for details about the Sunplus Solar systems.

Remember the responsibility is yours to check out the pluses and minuses of the various systems. Please send me an email if you would like a copy of a sheet containing buying tips.

Regards,

John

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Making our Homes Sustainable

John Carpenter, convener (6231 6349)
Carol Graham
John Hunter
Cindy Hull
Tricia Viera
Justin Welch

The group welcomes new members. 

---

As their next activity, the group is looking at running a demo home energy efficiency audit in someone's home and possibly doing another forum around rainwater tanks. If you would like to offer your home as the venue for the home audit or if you are interested in being part of the rainwater tank forum team, please contact John on 6231 6349. 

Peak Oil Community Workshop, 18 September 2010

Join us in a vibrant discussion with people of like mind.  Help strengthen our community response to Peak Oil and Climate Change.  Workshop on  Saturday, 18th September , Philip Smith Education Centre 1 - 4 pm .  Soup, bisquits, tea and coffee provided. Donations greatly appreciated.   RSVP info@sustainablelivingtasmania.org.au    or  phone 62345566 .

Sustainable House Day 2010 - Sunday, 12 September 10- 4pm

The Australian Solar Energy Society invites you to visit five sustainable homes in Southern Tasmania - in Acton, Howrah, Sandford, Lower Snug and Woodbridge. This is a good opportunity to see how other Tasmanians are tackling how to make their homes more energy conservative. You can see how it looks in practice and ask the owners how they did it!

Source Wholefoods Coop is also open on the day, to show off its strawbale construction and other features!

There are some details about these houses and information on opening times on www.sustainablehouseday.com

Southern Tasmania Energy Descent Action Planning Workshop with Transition Tasmania

Saturday, 18 September 10-4pm @ Phillip Smith Centre, Glebe
WHEN members will be attending this important workshop. Join us and others from similar groups in Southern Tasmania to start tackling some of the bigger issues around Transition. Its all about stepping up the impetus that is already driving us - the need to rapidly develop community and personal resilience in the face of a very uncertain future. Many are concerned that energy prices are due to rocket within 5 years and that this will place immense hardships on not only the Tasmnaian economy, but also on communities and individuals. Simply put: We are not Ready! With this in mind, Sustainable Living Tasmania in concert with Transition Tasmania invites you to a one day stimulating workshop to explore this theme.

Many people throughout the State are doing inspirational things, but at the same time we also need to challenge our own comfort zones. We need to find smart ways to accelerate our activities and draw in the broader community at a much faster reate. Tasmania needs to have an Energy Defence strategy in place. Please do join us. See the attached flyer for the program and further info.

Please RSVP by email to lissa@sustainablelivingtasmania.org.au or call 6234 5566.

Sandy Bay Walking and Cycling Project - public comment period

Submissions in response to the proposed Sandy Bay Walking and Cycling Project close Fri 3 Sept!!
This is your last chance to provide feedback to Hobart Council on the proposed Sandy Bay Rd bicycle project which aims to provide a traffic-free and comfortable place for all sorts of people to ride their bikes (including families and children) with complete separation from motor vehicles. Walkers will have their own footpath adjacent to the protected bike lane. Let Hobart Council know there is support for this project by filling in an on-line form.

World Sunlight Map

Here is a link to a detailed story of implementation of a large photovoltaic system in Canberra. The owner has been generous in telling his story, including the calculations he made, installation issues, and ongoing analysis of performance. He now reports that he is achieving a 10 per cent return on his investment. Conditions there would be comparable to Hobart?


And this is a fun toy:

West Hobart residents vote for climate change solutions

I was interested to see how many WH residents voted "green" in the Federal election on 21 August 2010.

Based on these assumptions:
1. That votes cast in West Hobart booths were largely from West Hobart residents (some would be from other suburbs of Denison) (while some WH residents would vote in other parts of Denison or elsewhere); and
2. That, based on policy platforms alone, votes cast for Greens (Geoff Couser), Independent (Andrew Wilkie), Socialist Alliance (Mel Barnes) represent active votes for urgent solutions to Climate Change;

I calculate that 53.7% of residents voted for Federal Govt action on climate change!!!!!

By Booth:
Elizabeth College, N Hobart (on border) 55.6%
Hobart West, Goulburn St School 61.4%
Lansdowne Cres Primary School 53.2%
Newdegate, Lawrenny Court 47.4%
St Peters, cnr Bris & Harrington Sts 56.4%
Swan St, N Hobart (on border) 52.2%
Total (3338 out of 6214) 53.7%

I'm sure this is a big increase from last election, has anyone had a look at that?

How do I insulate the walls of my old house?

Many of us have insulated our ceilings and floors, but what do we do about our weatherboard walls??? Up to 25% of heat loss is through the walls, and an even greater percentage once the ceilings and floors are done!

Waterworks Valley community group has produced an excellent pamphlet describing how it is possible to retrofit insulation into the walls of an existing building. There are ways to insulate from the inside and also from the outside! This pamphlet gives tips on what to avoid, and names some useful suppliers in the Hobart area.

Sustainable transport: free public lecture, 10 August

This lecture is presented by the Tasmanian Office of Climate Change as part of its Blue Sky Series. Dr Lee Schipper, Nobel Peace Prize winner 2007, will talk about sustainable transport solutions in the Tasmanian and global context. 10 August at 5.30pm at the Stanley Burbury Centre, Sandy Bay campus, Hobart.

Healthy Transport Hobart

This group, Healthy Transport Hobart, must be the definitive group promoting bicycle riding and facilities in Hobart. They are very active, organising the regular Critical Mass bike rides and publicising great activities and initiatives. They also have lot of links to other related groups. Check it out!