FWR News
eNewsletter September/October 2008
What's going on behind the Four Walls and Under the Roof?
Can you believe it is September already and time for another eNewsletter! Things aren't slowing down for the FWR Team with new clients, projects, and news items to tell all of you about. Plus, find out about our Swiss connection below. Strap yourself in for an info-packed ride!
Do Scuppies want to save the earth?
It was with a slight chuckle that one of the FWR Team came upon 'The Scuppie Handbook' this month gone past. As featured in The Green Pages earlier this year, the author of The Scuppie Handbook, Charles Failla, describes a Scuppie as "somewhere between a Hippie and a Yuppie". So how close does your lifestyle match that of a Scuppie?
The Author goes on to explain that, "It is the unalienable right of every man, woman and child to wear stylish, 100 percent organic, sweatshop-free cotton apparel, and to feel befittingly righteous about it. There should be no need to choose between a car's speed and fuel economy; comfort and conservation; luxury and sustainability". Don't think you are a lost cause just because some of your consumption and lifestyle choices don't stack up to a 10 Star green living rating. There are always ways to make a difference in your own way.
So can Gordon Gecko of Walls Street fame really go green? He or She might be able to if they believe...
…that not only is it possible to be an environmentalist and own a dinner table made from expensive, endangered Brazilian mahogany, but you get status points by explaining to visitors that was well worth spending the extra money because the designer uses only wood salvaged from 100-year-old houses in Sao Paulo.
…that going on a protest march is not only a time-honored Australian way to fight against injustice, but it's also a good opportunity to sneak in a little aerobic power-walking.
…that free-range chickens not only lead more fulfilling lives, but they actually taste better.
…that you'd really admire Angelina Jolie for her efforts to help international refugees, even if she wasn't a total hottie.
The Scuppie Handbook contains an abundance of information and tips that would enable even the most Earth-friendly, social justice-craving Birkenstocks wearer to feel a bit more mindful. That includes advice on redesigning your home, choosing a means of transportation, finding the right job (or making the best of the one you have), dining, fashion, and vacations.
So don't think of yourself as a lost cause just yet, learn more about this practical guide to living well and doing good at www.scuppie.com.
RoofRay - Check Your Solar Potential
Now this is definitely one of the coolest resources on the Web for us renewable energy enthusiasts , specifically of the solar power persuasion. RoofRay is a "solar array modelingservice and community determined to help consumers evaluate solar for their home or business and to create greater awareness for solar overall". RoofRay integrates the use of Google Maps and, from our first few go's at sizing up ourselves, friends, and family for solar PV systems, we think it has lots of potential for creating a more informed and educated consumer.
Roofray gives you the ability to draw a solar array on your rooftop enabling you to calculate your roof's solar potential or check out the potential of your dream house before you buy it. Using Roofray to complete a cost analysis for your potential solar project is a good way to find out if solar is the best option for you. Roofray allows you to input and real-time usage costs to check on the return on investment that your project will provide...giving you the opportunity to see if the project will make sense and cents! You can even add your solar project to the Roofray 'community' and see other solar projects in your neighbourhood.
It took us only a few minutes to get started designing a solar power array for our unit in Brisbane, Australia. Then, through a review of our power bills, we were able to find out about the potential for a solar power system to both provide us with enough power to meet our needs and be cost effective. Now all we have to do is get our body corporate to agree on allowing us to install it! Unfortunately, Roofray does not include a 'negotiating and petitioning function' :-)!
Although Roofray does not take the place of having a solar industry professional assess your options for installing a solar power system, it does provide a means for people to get started, become educated about solar power and empowered to make the right decision concerning their individual needs.
Map out your path to a solar solution today at www.roofray.com...then do your parent- in-law, neighbours, accountants,...you get the point (Roofray and Four Walls and A Roof do not condone 'solar stalking', hahaha)!
Virtual Classrooms - eLearning and eMarketing made simple
A Virtual Classroom (VC) is a place where eLearning and eMarketing can take place via an online, internet-based education and training portal. VC's make it easy for businesses, schools, government, and not-for-profit organisations to both provide engaging product/service marketing presentations; training for their clients and staff; or launch new initiatives to a national/global market, whilst saving on greenhouse gas emissions and travel time.
FWR are now building and facilitating eLearning and eMarketing packages for organisations working with energy, water, and resource-efficient products and services through their newly built Education and Training Portal. After a long process of evaluating and testing software and delivery options for education and training, FWR were able to design a package that allows for easy to build and implement eLearning and eMarketing presentations that can be facilitated with no need to own or download new software to your computer.
FWR are licensed to facilitate eMeetings, eTraining, Webinars, Podcasts, and live product/service demonstrations throughout Australia and the World. In a fast growing and global market, it will give our clients and Organisation the ability to expand our reach for providing education/training and product/service marketing solutions to a diverse and widely-distributed audience.
FWR are currently piloting these education and training programs with a selection of clients. If you are interested in learning more about FWR's eLearning and eMarketing solutions, please contact us.
“Australia's willingness to play its proportionate part in future”
Many of you may have noticed that some of the biggest news being talked about is the release of the Garnaut Report mapping out Australia's carbon future and strategy. The Report's release has turned into the 'climate saga's' biggest event of the year if you believe the hype. The Award for the funniest headline thus far goes to Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane who writes 'Garnuat's target so low, the sea level will rise above it in a year'. Go to Crikey.com to read more from this author.
After a review of the Garnaut Report one can only wonder how Australia is 'playing its proportionate part in the future' of carbon economics, reduction, and mitigation. The following quote from the Report seems to sum up the government's stance on this topic:
"The optimal level of Australian mitigation effort -- the level that maximised the incomes and wealth of Australians -- is easily calculated. It would be zero."
The Reports focus upon increased, or at least maintained, 'income and wealth' does little to evaluate the potential for loss of income/wealth as a result of not being proactive in developing an agressive climate policy and matching targets. Nor does the report seem to efficently evalutate the potential opportunities for new economic growth strategies based upon a more advanced policy. It makes us wonder where all this time and effort has gone...
Have a look for youself at The Garnaut Report website.
AGDF Annual Forum 2008
"Is Sustainability Affordable?”, 2008 AGDF Annual Forum, features, Cuban Professor Fernando Martirena. Prof. Martirena is widely known for his innovation in sustainable techniques and management, and recipient of UN Habitat Award for Ecomaterials in Social Housing Projects. This is the inaugural annual forum for the AGDF, its members and networks. This is a highly interactive forum, including presentations and panel discussions, networking dinner and sustainability tours around south east Queensland.
The AGDF are also kicking off their 'National Construction Road Show' on October 7th. ‘Running on empty' focuses on the Cuban solution to urban development in the face of economic challenges and depletion of resources. This is not ‘doom and gloom' – instead it presents the real issues to our current development industry and the opportunities for solutions. Key note speaker, Dr Fernando Martirena will talk about the Cuban experience on their own oil crisis and the unique construction and community building techniques that he and his team developed as a direct response to their crises.
Contact the AGDF for more information on either of these two initiatives.
Queensland X-Ray gets on board with the Ecofacts Program
Queensland X-Ray is the largest private radiology practice in Queensland, with 40 practices state-wide located in all major cities along the QLD east-coast. FWR are proud to announce QLD X-Ray as the latest member of the FWR Ecofacts Program.
The FWR Team are providing QLD X-Ray with education/training, strategy and policy support, and mentoring in the development of their Environment and Sustainability strategies and actions. FWR have been involved in project meetings and site tours with QLD X-Ray management staff and branch personnel, investigating opportunities for energy, water, and resource savings and the development of actions for both more sustainable operations and the generation of increased business return and client/staff satisfaction.
Our project with QLD X-Ray will be piloted in three branches across Logan City during the next 8 months. We are looking forward to assisting the QLD X-Ray organisation in the development of a stronger business built upon a healthy triple bottom line.
If you would like to know more about the Ecofacts Program, please contact us.
The Climate Challenge - Red Redemption
Red Redemption design 'fun, challenging games, that are grounded in science'. The Climate Challenge and Operation: Climate Control are unique, cutting edge single-player strategy games. The Climate Challenge is designed in the style of the successful "Sim City" series of computer games and uses the most commonly cited and accepted carbon dioxide emission forecasts, which are
produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The game is based on the A1B scenario, from the SRES Report, as it provides a good mid-line scenario for carbon dioxide output and economic growth, which leaves scope for the player to either improve or worsen emissions level.
In late 2007, FWR in partnership with our Climate Active Program formed a strategic alliance with Red Redemption and are currently developing Australian curriculum that will allow The Climate Challenge and Operation:Climate Control to be used as a structured educational resource played by everyone from business, to local government, to primary/secondary schools.
The integration of these games with structured education and training curriculum will allow users to extend their learning beyond just the games online interface. Our shared goal is for these games to both teach about climate change and encourage achievable actions for people to engage in that minimise their impact upon the climate.
If you would like to know more about the The Climate Challenge and Operation: Climate Control, please contact us. Or, visit Games That Make You Think to try the games.
Bringing Sustainability to the Swiss Alpes – Environment and Schools Initiative(ENSI)
ENSI is the Environment and Schools Initiative, a peak international network of education for sustainability and environmental education organisations from across the globe. The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) are members of ENSI.
FWR Team member Michael Duggan has been invited to join the ENSI research seminar and Executive Committee meeting in Switzerland September 20th-30th, 2008 representing Australian sustainability initiatives and the University of the Sunshine Coast (Regional Sustainability Research Group). Michael will be joining sustainability educators/researchers from 15 countries presenting educational initiatives and research from across the globe.
Please note, Michael will be in Europe between September 20th-30th. If he is a little 'late' in answering E-mails and phone calls, please be patient. Contact 1 300 85 11 67 in his absense.
Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability
LOHAS is an acronym for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability, a term used to describe a type of consumer and a marketplace for the goods and services that are sought by these consumers. The 'Living LOHAS 2' report is to be released in late-September and provides the latest insights into the Australian consumer mindset around issues of health, sustainability and environmental products.
'Timed to gauge the pulse of Australian consumers post the release of both the Garnaut Report and the Federal Government's emissions trading green paper, Living LOHAS 2 provides detailed analysis of issues relating to climate change, carbon trading, greenwashing and environmental claims as well as key indicators of individual and community responses to health and sustainability'.
The Mobium Group represent Australia's peak LOHAS research organisation and are the group behind the 'Living LOHAS' research reports. Mobium are also partnering with industry and the Australian Government via an independently audited process (Greenhouse Challenge Plus) to manage their energy use and carbon emissions.
FWR will be presenting information about LOHAS at the upcoming Greenfest event in Brisbane. This information, supplied by Mobium, will include up-to-date market research from the Living LOHAS 2 research report. Please see The Mobium Group for more information on Living LOHAS.
RainwaterHOG news
RainwaterHOG has been an exciting product for FWR to launch in Queensland and Northern NSW. We are excited to be able to announce that we have strategically partnered with Thomas Plastics, premier water tank injection molder and retailer, in the commercial/development sales of the RainwaterHOG. We are also soon able to announce that one of Australia's largest RainwaterHOG projects will be completed in Brisbane by the end of October.
Stay tuned for more information on this exciting project and the use of RainwaterHOG as an educational, water capture/storage, and building material.
If you would like to know more about the RainwaterHOG product, please contact us.
Ecoman news
The Ecoman Energy Saver has been flying off the shelves over the past two months, a result increased ten-fold by its inclusion in the QLD Solar Homes package via our allied partner, Eco-Kinetics. We initially provided the Ecoman as part of corporate/business packages only. However, FWR has recently signed up Australia's premier online sustainability shop to retail the Ecoman online and it will be available from mid- October to the retail market across Australia.
From mid-October you will be able to purchase the Ecoman through NECO, Australia's premier energy, water, and resource efficient product/service online shop. You will still be able to purchase Ecoman directly from FWR as well.
We will be retailing the Ecoman at Greenfest in Brisbane this October and offering the product for an 'event special' of 15% off of the recommended retail price of $95.95. Come visit us at Greenfest and grab a great bargin on this innovative energy saving product.
If you would like to know more about the Ecoman product, please contact us.
Greenfest Update
Greenfest is fast approaching (October 10 -12)! Greenfest was recently featured on channel 7 highlighting the official media release of the event. Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman opened the event and guests and on-lookers were treated to some great live music and their first tastes of 'a place for fresh energy' that will be on display at Greenfest. Check out the Channel 7 coverage of the event here.
In partnership with Greenfest and Ecospecifier, FWR will be offering the 'Green Build' speakers series. Green Build will be held in in a dedicated speaking tent attached to the FWR and Ecospecifier displays. Green Build will include interactive discussions about Green Building and the opportunity to share an organic coffee with friends at our cafe tables whilst learning about green building, materials, and technologies. As part of this fresh new approach to learning about green building, we are offering people the opportunity to book in for a speaking spot throughout the Greenfest weekend. If you are interested in speaking about your green building project, product or service, or just want to gather people together for a discussion about the future of green building in Australia, please contact us to register your interest. If you are exhibiting at Greenfest and have not booked in for a speaking spot, please contact us.
Greenfest Exhibitor bookings are now closed. FWR are strategic partners in the development and implementation of Greenfest. Throughout the weekend we will be hosting speaking events, product/service display sessions, and chairing a panel on Green Building at the Speakers Event. We are already looking forward to an awesome three days in October. Make sure to drop in and join us us for what promises to be a stellar event.
See the Greenfest website for more information.
