The Encyclopedia of Earth website is an new electronic source of information about the Earth, its natural environments, and their interaction with society. It’s a free, fully searchable collection of articles written by scholars, professionals, educators, and experts who collaborate and review each other’s work. The articles are written in non-technical language. To visit the website go to http://www.eoearth.org/.
The Technology in Society journal addresses some of the varied issues experienced by the world’s cities in a climate of change. Edited by George Bugliarello and A. George Schillinger, this special issue of Technology in Society addresses important issues of urban sustainability from multidisciplinary perspectives. The collection covers urban sustainability in both industrialized and developing countries, and includes such topics as land use, transportation, and high performance buildings, containing epidemics, and safety and security. To find out more information about this visit: https://enduser.elsevier.com/campaigntypes/specissue/index.cfm?campaign=sustainable_cities.
The section below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #68, 15 July 2008, compiled by Stephen Ingrouille. Going Solar, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport.
Electric Cars in Paris
“First came self-service bicycles. Now Paris is to provide electric cars that drivers can pick up and drop off anywhere in the city. Mayor Bertrand Delanoe has announced that, from the end of next year, 4000 electric cars will be placed around Paris and its outskirts for drivers in the scheme to help themselves for short journeys. … In less than a year, Paris’ army of cheap, on-street hire-bicycles, called Velib, has transformed transport habits. The company behind that scheme, JCDecaux, has had talks with the City of Melbourne to launch a similar scheme in Australia. The fleet of carbon-neutral hire cars, called Autolib, is the Socialist Mayor’s next phase in green transport. Paris city hall said 700 Autolib pick-up points would be set up, including 200 underground. Recharging points would be scattered across Paris.
‘There will be a computerised system which allows you as soon as you collect the car to announce where you’ll drop it off, so there will be a parking space available’, Mr Delanoe said. It would operate much like the Velib bike scheme. Users would take out an annual subscription or be able to approach a hire point on the spur of the moment or perhaps pay by using their public transport pass. One target group is young couples with children who occasionally need a car but cannot afford to run their own.”
Ref: Angelique Chrisafis, The Age, 21/6/08, URL
Please find information below about the 21st EAROPH World Planning & Human Settlement Congress and Mayors’ Caucus as listed on the Globalism Research Centre Bulletin July 2008, http://www.rmit.edu.au/globalism/bulletins.
Japan will be holding the 21st Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Housing (EAROPH) World Congress and Mayors’ Caucus on 21-24 October 2008. EAROPH is a non-government multi-sector organisation encompassing the private, public and academic sector. It was established to foster the exchange of insights and experiences among countries in the EAROPH region. The objective of this 21ST EAROPH World Congress and Mayors’ Caucus is to contribute to city development in respective member countries of EAROPH by holding lively discussions on these subjects.
Dates: 21 to 24 October 2008
Egret Himeji and Awaji Yumebutai
International Conference Centre, Japan
For more information:
Email secretariat@ earoph.info
Website (including registration): www.earoph.info
SustainableMelbourne.com and the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab in association with the University of Melbourne’s Entrepreneurs Week would like to invite you to:
The Sustainable Cities Round Table on Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Tuesday 12 August night, 6 – 8pm
Copeland Theatre, Economics & Commerce Building
University of Melbourne
RSVP now to save your seat at rsvp @sustainablemelbourne.com
The challenge of climate change presents many opportunities for new sustainable ventures. Entrepreneurs working in this space are able to creatively develop innovative solutions that have environmental, social and economic benefits, yet like all entrepreneurial ventures it is not without risks. At this Sustainable Cities Round Table we will showcase examples of proactive entrepreneurs who have taken this step and bravely gone where no mainstream business has gone before!
The evening will feature a series of short presentations, musical interludes, networking opportunities and more!
Speakers include:
Nick Savaidis, Etiko Fair Trade;
Mitch O’Sullivan, Waterwall Solutions;
Samantha Parsons, Family of Sam design;
Alexi Lynch, Australia Manager, Cities for Climate Protection, ICLEI & Co-founder, the Environmental Jobs Network;
Cathy Parry, Owner of Ron D Swan: Bags and Cycling Accessories;
Bruce Rowse, Director, CarbonetiX;
Cam Hines, Co-founder & owner, Mountain Goat Brewery;
Elizabeth Boulton, Founder, Logistick – Sustainable Supply Chain Solutns;
Aldo Penbrook, Central Victorian Carbon Auditing Service.
The Sustainable Cities Round Tables are a regular series of events that showcase local environmental initiatives and encourage networking for people working in urban sustainability issues across the government, academic, industry and community sectors. To view footage of previous events visit www.sustainablemelbourne.com/category/sustainable-cities-round-table/.
Please forward this invitation to others who may be interested in attending.
Best,
Ferne
Ferne Edwards
Sustainable Cities Research Officer
Victorian Eco-Innovation Laboratory (VEIL)
Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society (ACSIS)
Green TECH 08, www.greentechshow.com.au, is proud to present an international Trade Show and Conference with a core focus on green building, sustainable design and clean technology . GreenTECH 08 special features include SRD ChangeX 08 , Green Inventors Showcase , Eco House of the Future Competition and a Green Living Zone. Please find more information about the event below.
International and Australian authorities will present keynote topics in their respective fields of expertise. Subject categories will include:
Built Environment
Carbon Trading
Climate Change Science
Clean and/or Renewable Energy
Ecological Sustainable Development
Energy and/or Water Security
Energy Efficient Building Design
Water & Energy Conservation
Environmental Engineering
Exhibitor Product Launch
Government Policy
Low Emission Technology
New Inventions
Permaculture Design
Sustainable Cities
Sustainable Product Design
Steps to apply to present a seminar at Green TECH 08:
Email your seminar title, a brief overview and biodata to: info @greentechshow.com.au (include any website details)
On our review and acceptance you will be required to fill in a Confirmation Form.
Submission deadline: September 30, 2008
Review GREX 07 speakers here: http://www.grex.com.au/conferenceinfo.shtml
Keeseh Studio invites students and design enthusiasts to celebrate the pursuit of ecodesign through an international competition to utilize waste material.
A given manufacturing facility creates many copies of a product; therefore they create many copies of their waste material as well. Waste material can be used as raw material for other products or processes; this concept is known as upcycling.
The goal of the competition is to promote upcycling by encouraging the use of wasted materials to generate innovative designs. This competition will provide a stepping stone to help educate viewers of the vast opportunities and future development of environmentally friendly processes, materials, and products.
All entries must be received digitally or by mail no later than October 1st. 3 entries will win media coverage and recognition of their product or process and one will win a cash prize of $1000. Visit www.makesomegreen.otherpeoplespixels.com for more details.
Please find information below about “The Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhoods: Strategic Local Climate Solutions”, originally published by the National Association of Counties.
The Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhoods: Strategic Local Climate Solutions, a web-based resource, provides strategies, tips, and tools that counties can use to take immediate action on climate change through: green building, green neighborhoods, and sustainable infrastructure. The Playbook is designed both for communities that are considering making the first steps toward these, as well as for those who want to take existing efforts to a new level.
This webinar from the National Association of Counties addresses how counties can put the Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhoods to use. This is just one of a series of webinars that NACo is offering through the Green Government Initiative.
Registration is required; the webinar will run from 1:30pm – 3:30pm Eastern time.
In addition to county case studies, this webinar will cover:
An explanation of the link between climate change and green building, neighborhoods and sustainable infrastructure
How to utilize the playbook, regardless of what stage your county is at
Additional resources available to assist your county in your efforts.
To find out more about this resource visit http://www.greenplaybook.org/.
As part of its Spring-Summer 2008 series, Re: NY Recycle | Retrofit | Reinvent the City,
The Skyscraper Museum presents:
New Verizons
Date:July 22, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM
Location:
NYPL Donnell Library Auditorium,
20 West 53rd St. between 5th & 6th
“New Verizons” looks at the high-value real estate portfolio of buildings erected for 20th-century telephone technology and how developers, architects, and engineers are retrofitting and re-positioning these properties.
Project teams present two case studies:
375 PEARL STREET
1095 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
COST
Payment may be made in cash at the door. 1.0 CEUs available. Please contact programs[AT]skyscraper.org or call 212-945-6324 with any questions.
Posted on the InfoLink website, www.infolink.com.au, is a story about how the Gold Coast’s Ecovillage at Currumbin has recently been awarded three prestigious sustainability awards. Please find an abstract of this article below and to view the entire article visit http://www.infolink.com.au/c/Ritek-Building-Solutions/Australian-ecovillage-receives-sustainability-awards-n806190.
Australian ecovillage receives sustainability awards
The Ecovillage has been acknowledged as the world leader in ecologically sustainable development. Beating more than 100 international commercial and residential developments, the Ecovillage took out the highest honour in word real estate Environmental Development category at the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Prix d’Excellence Awards in the Netherland’s recently. In the same week, the Ecovillage was awarded the United Nations Association of Australia’s Environmental Development Award.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has just announced the GreenSmart Award for the Australian Building of the year and the winner is, you’ve guessed it - an Ecovillage building, the Living Laboratory Home.
At the heart of the award winning home is the roof, providing many unexpected benefits to designer Will Collins. Will said, “The owner originally specified the Ritek custom roof panel which I had not incorporated in my designs before. The roof’s strength allows for large unsupported spans of up to 8 metres and the sleek aesthetic curves complement the Ecovillage’s unique natural environment. The brilliant cantilever capability of up to half the back span provides protection from the summer sun. The thin profile and simplicity of construction meant that supports such as purlins and rafters were unnecessary. The galvanised finish on the roof also ensures high quality water is harvested from the rain and dew.”
To view the entire article visit http://www.infolink.com.au/c/Ritek-Building-Solutions/Australian-ecovillage-receives-sustainability-awards-n806190.
