Nov 18, 2024 | Climate change, Climate Policy, Communicating climate change, Federal election
Trump’s election and climate Although a major setback, climate impacts can be lessened if other countries stay the course Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics writes “The energy transition is now well under way. The economics of renewable technologies are so...
Nov 18, 2024 | Boroondara Council, Lighter Footprints Forum, Local government
What a win! From a pretty conservative Council to a strong climate-active majority The result is historic, a profound shift, and a testament to the huge volunteer efforts for individual progressive Councillors across Boroondara. As Lighter Footprints committee member...
Nov 17, 2024 | Boroondara Council, Kooyong, Local government, Planning
Activity Centre Proposal Camberwell has been designated by the state government as an Activity Centre ‘pilot’ with the plan to implement the rules developed across metropolitan Melbourne. The State government’s Camberwell Activity Centre includes the Commercial ‘Core’...
Sep 4, 2024 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Energy, Gas, Nuclear
Energy Policy: Facts and Fiction with Dr Dylan McConnell In order to be strong advocates for the energy policy Australia needs to rapidly decarbonise the Lighter Footprints community seeks information from well credentialed experts. On Wednesday 21st August we were...
Sep 2, 2024 | Electrification, Energy
Can you believe it? Attendees at the upcoming Electrify Boroondara Expo could probably save a total of $100,000 per annum if they used the Victorian Energy Compare website! Let’s justify this claim! In December 2023 the ACCC published a report into the National...
Aug 29, 2024 | Boroondara Council, Electrification, Gas
Presentation of Petition to the City of Boroondara The Kew Recreation Centre is undergoing a major redevelopment, however in October 2022 a section of the steel roof structure partially collapsed. There is more detail on progress here on the Boroondara Council’s...
Aug 12, 2024 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Energy, Nuclear
After all these years of numerous detours, blind alleys or failed energy plans, coupled with Peter Dutton’s nuclear challenge, it’s time for a clear-eyed look at some energy supply facts. What about nuclear, and what is the likely impact of the Liberal policy? What...
Aug 2, 2024 | Clean Energy, Electrification, Energy Efficiency
Despite the wintery conditions, was an enthusiastic audience to listen to our speakers Tim Forcey, David Coote, Ken Parker and David Strang, learn about electrifying and increasing their home’s energy efficiency, and launch Tim Forcey’s new book, The Efficient...
Jul 15, 2024 | Solar, Solutions
What can we do and why? The road to net zero is one we must travel and it is important that we arrive as soon as possible. The good news is that every individual can play their part even if the heavy lifting must be done by Government and Industry. Lighter...
Jul 2, 2024 | Carbon, Clean Energy, Climate change, Coal, Gas
The Macroeconomics of Australia’s Energy Transition: Wednesday 19 June, 2024 at the Balwyn Park Centre There was a full house of over 150 attendees to hear Richard Denniss, Executive Director of the Australia Institute, in conversation with Heidi Lee CEO of...
Feb 5, 2024 | Bushfire, Carbon, Forests, Lighter Footprints Working Groups
AUGUST UPDATE New Threat: Vic Forests reinvents itself as the “Healthy Forests Foundation” ABC journalist Michael Slezak writes that senior Vic Forests staff, have “teamed up with other powerful industry bosses to set up a new organisation”, to...
Sep 25, 2023 | Forests, Lighter Footprints Events, Lighter Footprints Working Groups
Family forest adventure and Greater Glider spotlighting On Saturday 16th September Lighter Footprints, Boroondara ACF and Kinglake Friends of the Forest hosted our first Family Forest event. It was a most wonderful event. We had over 60 participants ranging in age...
Sep 19, 2023 | Energy Efficiency, Lighter Footprints Events
Learn more about being cooler in summer and warmer in winter Lighter Footprints members were delighted to welcome two experienced industry speakers talking about increasing home comfort (and lowering energy bills) through draught proofing and insulation. A big thanks...
Jun 14, 2023 | Clean Energy, Electrification, Gas, Lighter Footprints Events
On May 24th Lighter Footprints was delighted to welcome home energy expert Tim Forcey and public health physician Dr Genevieve Cowie to our meeting on electrification. The summary below has blue links in bold to the full video presentation chapter points. You can...
Jun 11, 2023 | Clean Energy, Climate change, Climate Policy, Electrification, Sustainable Building
Sustainable Architecture: Passivhaus (Passive House) vs Passive Solar Buildings This article relates to alterations, renovations and new builds. It attempts to clarify the differences between the passive solar design and Passivhaus design approaches. Many people...
Mar 14, 2023 | Clean Energy, Electric vehicle, Gas, Lighter Footprints Events, Offshore wind
Annual Energy Update 2023 with Simon Holmes à Court It’s been a momentous year in 2022. In Australia, we are close to fossils/renewables crossover, Victoria’s electricity is now 40% clean, and in the US a Tesla Model 3 is now cheaper to drive away than the...
Aug 26, 2022 | Biodiversity, Boroondara Council, Climate Policy, Planning
Canopy tree and climate change in Boroondara. Why should we be concerned? Benefits of Canopy Trees Whether in public spaces or on private land, trees enhance our sense of well-being, help reduce the urban heat island effect and support biodiversity. Canopy trees cool...
Aug 9, 2022 | Carbon credits, Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Economics, Electric vehicle
Overview Labor’s climate bill passes the lower house Amended by Greens and independents to make 43% by 2030 a floor, not a ceiling, Labor’s climate bill passes the lower house, and heads to a Senate inquiry which is due to report by the end of August. The...
Jul 25, 2022 | Carbon credits, Carbon markets
The situation with carbon markets is becoming more fluid by the day! Welcome to this diary style blog, with updates and links to useful papers, public discussion and media responses to issues recently raised about the integrity of our carbon markets. Lighter Footpints...
Jul 6, 2022 | Gas, Methane, State climate policy
Summary Although the Victorian Gas Substitution Roadmap (VGSR) creates an expectation that Victoria will move away from fossil gas, the limited measures proposed fall short of what is needed to move Victoria, the heaviest gas-using state, away from gas at a speed that...
Jul 3, 2022 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Lighter Footprints Events, Offshore wind
Lighter Footprints: June 29th on Offshore Wind We were fortunate to have Naomi Campbell, the Development Director of Star of the South and Pat Simons, Yes2Renewables Coordinator speaking at our June 29th event on offshore wind. You can listen to our speakers again on...
Jun 28, 2022 | Clean Energy, Offshore wind
Offshore Wind in Australia Australian Potential The potential for offshore wind is huge. University of Technology, Sydney experts writing in the Conversation state that “Offshore wind projects can provide a win-win-win for Australia: creating jobs for displaced fossil...
Jun 22, 2022 | Biodiversity, Climate change, Forests
The Bill has passed the Upper House. It was proposed by Mary-Anne Thomas, Minister for Health, (03) 8392 2261 on reception.thomas@minstaff.vic.gov.au or mary-anne.thomas@parliament.vic.gov.au, Electorate Office (03) 5428 2138. With proposed legislation that includes...
May 23, 2022 | Taking Action, Thank Yous & Celebrations, Volunteering, Vote Climate
Finally a climate election! No-one will forget watching the results on Saturday 21st, glued to the screen, excitement mounting as results trickled, then flooded across the country. As Vote Compass reminds us, the top voting issue in all of our electorate is climate,...
Mar 2, 2022 | Clean Energy, Climate change, Climate Policy, EV, Lighter Footprints Events
Australia is so well positioned to transition rapidly to clean energy, with vast potential to rapidly clean up our manufacturing and value add clean energy in decarbonised exports. Our energy system is becoming more resilient and distributed, and households are likely...
