Sep 15, 2026 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Electrification, State climate policy
Support for solar, efficient electric appliances and clean energy – all up for grabs this November. This is election is make or break for issues as diverse as electrification funding, off-shore wind and Victoria’s ground breaking Treaty legislation. Join...
Jul 19, 2026 | Carbon markets, Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Electric vehicle, Lighter Footprints Events
Going electric improves exports and increases resilience Right now we are experiencing how vital it is for Australia to have a resilient energy system. Australia has world-beating renewables resources. Dr Monique Ryan MP along with financial analyst Tim Buckley,...
Feb 27, 2026 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy
Clean economy, expanding green exports Superpower 2026 with Simon Holmes à Court and Reuben Finighan Energy analyst and renewables expert Simon Holmes à Court outlined Australia’s progress in transitioning to renewable energy and green exports. Dr Reuben...
Nov 13, 2025 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Economy, Environmental protection, Kooyong
Ambition, levers, supporting policy for a safer climate future For our last public meeting of 2025, Lighter Footprints asked the Federal member for Kooyong, Dr Monique Ryan MP, to speak about her climate priorities for her second term in Parliament, and her...
Oct 6, 2025 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Electrification, Forests
How do we effect change for a cleaner and safer environment? 2025 first preference votes suggest the major parties are struggling to represent the people of Australia. Background In a recent blog we explained why many Australians have felt seriously let down by...
May 14, 2025 | Biodiversity, Boroondara Council, Calendar of events, Carbon, Clean Energy, Climate change, Climate Policy, Energy, Energy Efficiency, Federal election, Forests, Gas, Nuclear, Volunteering
Labor was returned with a very large majority, and Greens hold the balance of power in the Senate. We have read through some expert responses and given you a comprehensive look looking at opportunities for climate action and potential challenges in what could be a...
Mar 7, 2025 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, Lighter Footprints Events, Nuclear
Held for the first time in the Malvern Town Hall, the Lighter Footprints annual energy transition event featuring Simon Holmes à Court and Ric Brazzale was a big success. The 400 attendees were treated to an inviting array of community organisation stalls, an engaging...
Feb 25, 2025 | Clean Energy, Federal election, Kooyong, Vote Climate
The community really turned out to launch our 2025 Kooyong Votes Climate campaign. Starting off with a bang! Sarah Hegarty said that the campaign launch was fantastic. “A highlight for me was to see the venue packed out with people – just about standing...
Feb 4, 2025 | Clean Energy, Federal election, Kooyong, Local government, Taking Action
One on one conversations really matter They are our most effective form of communication with our community. Our Saturday morning conversations interrupt people in their daily lives and say implicitly, “Look up, climate change matters, you need to think about this...
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...
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 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...
May 1, 2024 | Clean Energy, Electric vehicle, Electrification, Energy Efficiency, EV, Gas, Lighter Footprints Events, Solar
On 17th April 2024, we held a public meeting at the Balwyn Park Centre to discuss what changes are likely between now and 2030 in our homes and our neighbourhoods. Three knowledgeable speakers addressed the issues followed by a lively Q and A session. You can watch...
Aug 6, 2023 | Clean Energy, Economics, Electrification, Solutions
HEAT PUMP HOT WATER Units — de-mystified: What type of heat-pump do you need? There are essentially two types of heat-pump hot water (HPHWS) units available. I. A “split” arrangement has a water storage cylinder as one part, and a fan coil unit (like the outdoor...
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...
Oct 27, 2022 | Clean Energy, Climate change, Coal, Electrification, Paris commitment, State climate policy
Photo credit: Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio speaks to media during an announcement at PowerPlus Energy, in Melbourne, Friday, October 21, 2022. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele) NO ARCHIVING Summary The Climate and Energy Minister,...
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 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...
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...
Feb 24, 2022 | Chisholm, Clean Energy, Economics, Vote Climate
Chisholm Federal seat is so quiet on climate and creating clean jobs With a razor thin margin of 0.57%, the Chisholm Federal Seat is poised on a knife edge. Chisholm is probably one of a the critical seats where a win for a climate candidate could have a very...
Nov 16, 2021 | Clean Energy, Climate Policy, National campaigns, Vote Climate
Australia has been awarded yet another Colossal Fossil, this time at Glasgow, for “appalling performance” on climate. Although moving away from fossil fuels was mentioned in a COP statement for the first time, Australia has helped to water down the text,...
