08 January 2010
04 January 2010
First meeting for 2010
The first CRAG meeting for 2010 will be on Wednesday, 20 January at 7pm at 2 Broadway Street, Red Hill. Hope to see you all then!
03 January 2010
Our PV system
We had a photovoltaic system installed in November last year, and so far it's all systems go. It's a 1Kw system supplied and installed by eco-Kinetics. Thanks to a deal they had going back in August 2008, total cost was $365 for the system (after rebates) plus about $1,000 for a new switchbox (which also had to be relocated).
On a sunny day, it produces about 6 KwH of electricty. We use an average of not much more than 6 KwH of electricity per day so allowing for cloudy days we should end up with well over half of our electricity usage provided through solar. Energex will pay us 44 cents per KwH that we export to the grid, through the Solar Bonus Scheme. Even with the extra we're paying to have 100% GreenPower, we should get a decent refund off our next bill. It's due in February, so I'll let you know then how we went.
On a sunny day, it produces about 6 KwH of electricty. We use an average of not much more than 6 KwH of electricity per day so allowing for cloudy days we should end up with well over half of our electricity usage provided through solar. Energex will pay us 44 cents per KwH that we export to the grid, through the Solar Bonus Scheme. Even with the extra we're paying to have 100% GreenPower, we should get a decent refund off our next bill. It's due in February, so I'll let you know then how we went.
Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2010! It'll be a big start to the year for the North Brisbane CRAG, with plenty on the agenda. We'll be doing our first annual tally of members' annual emissions, which will be very interesting - who will have made their target and who will have missed it?!? We will also be working out who will be the beneficiary of the funds that we raise through penalties paid by those who've missed their targets. We are looking to identify a community group on the north side that we can help to reduce their emissions. If you've got any ideas, let me know!
The other big question for the group will be to decide a target for 2010. Do we go for another 20% reduction? Or start to ease back? And how will we be able to reduce emissions while enjoying overseas and interstate holidays? Stay tuned for the answers to all these questions, and more! Or better still, come along to our next meeting...
The other big question for the group will be to decide a target for 2010. Do we go for another 20% reduction? Or start to ease back? And how will we be able to reduce emissions while enjoying overseas and interstate holidays? Stay tuned for the answers to all these questions, and more! Or better still, come along to our next meeting...
07 October 2009
Update on last meeting
It's interesting to notice a common theme coming up in the last couple of meetings - flights and offsetting! Flights is the big elephant in the room with carbon reduction. It's the single biggest contributor to our emissions as a group, the easiest one to reduce or eliminate, and the one that no-one wants to give up! It'll be really interesting to see how flights have affected everyone's emissions totals at the end of the year...
So in looking to come up with a least-worst approach (after avoiding and then reducing), we've been looking into offset providers with a view to using the most effective provider available. Steph has found a handy website at http://www.carbonoffsetguide.com.au/ that allows you to search for providers using a number of criteria.
Remember, of course, that not emitting in the first place is far more effective than offsetting!
So in looking to come up with a least-worst approach (after avoiding and then reducing), we've been looking into offset providers with a view to using the most effective provider available. Steph has found a handy website at http://www.carbonoffsetguide.com.au/ that allows you to search for providers using a number of criteria.
Remember, of course, that not emitting in the first place is far more effective than offsetting!
11 June 2009
North Brisbane CRAG at Greenfest
North Brisbane CRAG enjoyed a speaking slot at Greenfest on 7 June 2009 at Brisbane's Botanic Gardens. Mike and Rowan gave the short and long description of what the CRAG does, took questions from the audience and handed out a quick carbon calculator to explain where the carbon lives in our lifestyles. There was plenty of interest from those assembled so maybe we'll see a few more recruits in coming weeks. Or maybe even a new CRAG begin elsewhere in the city...
Mike at Greenfest
Mike at Greenfest
07 April 2009
Earth Hour - what is it good for?
This year's Earth Hour was an amazing success - hundreds of millions of people in over 4,000 towns and cities in 88 countries switched off their lights for an hour in the largest collective action on an environmental issue ever seen.
Earth Hour alone won't save the planet, and no-one connected with it has ever suggested that it will. But Earth Hour is a powerful and valuable part of the strategy for moving the world towards strong action on climate change.
On one level, the symbolism of so many people uniting for a common cause sends an undeniable message that the global community wants its leaders to take action.
Earth Hour also begins a conversation, and this is perhaps its most important aspect especially in a country like Australia. People begin to hear a message about climate change and the need for action. And they begin to see that while one person may not be able to make much of a difference, when one person's action is combined with those of many, many other people a powerful force is set in motion.
Changing the way that a society thinks about how it lives its life cannot happen overnight. The transition has to begin somewhere, and Earth Hour is one of those starting points.
Earth Hour alone won't save the planet, and no-one connected with it has ever suggested that it will. But Earth Hour is a powerful and valuable part of the strategy for moving the world towards strong action on climate change.
On one level, the symbolism of so many people uniting for a common cause sends an undeniable message that the global community wants its leaders to take action.
Earth Hour also begins a conversation, and this is perhaps its most important aspect especially in a country like Australia. People begin to hear a message about climate change and the need for action. And they begin to see that while one person may not be able to make much of a difference, when one person's action is combined with those of many, many other people a powerful force is set in motion.
Changing the way that a society thinks about how it lives its life cannot happen overnight. The transition has to begin somewhere, and Earth Hour is one of those starting points.
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