Saturday March 31
10:20am Climate Action Newcastle
Welcome to the Expo from Climate Action Newcastle
Bringing you the annual Smart Energy Expo, CAN is one of the Hunter’s most active community groups advocating for real solutions to climate change. Hear about current campaigns such as the national ‘Let’s Build Big Solar’ project. www.climateaction.org.au
10:30am Transition Newcastle
Transition Streets Challenge – coming to your street?
The Transition Streets Challenge is an opportunity for neighbours to support each other in becoming more energy and water efficient, more vibrant and more connected. Hear how it’s done and how to sign your street on to The Transition Streets Challenge. www.transitionnewcastle.org.au
10:50am Ben Latta – Hunter Community Environment Centre
Is our future really in coal?
This talk is a look at the realities of the ‘coal chain’ from the disappearing paddocks, villages and biodiversity of the Hunter, the negative health impacts, through to climate change impacts being exported from Newcastle Harbour. The coal industry currently accounts for 10% of Australia’s GDP and employs less than 2% of the workforce, while its impacts on other sectors of the economy are also proving destructive. With cleaner smarter options in front of us, why would we accept the quarry vision for the Hunter? www.hcec.org.au
11:10am Mike Collins – Climate Action Newcastle
Campaign launch “Let’s Build Big Solar”
It’s time that Australia, the sunniest continent on earth, got serious about building big solar power plants that have the potential to replace all of our ageing and dirty coal and gas-fired power plants. This is the Newcastle launch of this inspiring National community campaign. www.100percent.org.au
11:30am Dr Paul Taylor – Beyond Zero Emissions
Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan
The ZCA 2020 Stationary Energy Plan demonstrates that 100% renewable energy is achievable and affordable. It designs a fully costed and detailed system of concentrated solar thermal plants and large scale wind farms, and proves that with existing technologies, renewable energy can power Australia within 10 years. www.beyondzeroemissions.org
12:10pm Stephen Tansing – Beyond Zero Emissions
Zero Carbon Australia Transport Plan
The ZCA 2020 Transport Plan currently in development aims to demonstrate that there are no technical barriers to zero emission transport in Australia. The Plan focuses on increased deployment of electric rail in all regions – light, heavy and high-speed intercity, alongside rollout of zero-emission electric vehicles and reducing average travel distances through better urban planning and localised access to services. www.beyondzeroemissions.org
12:40pm Mark Squires – NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
Home Power Savings Program
Efficiency is the quiet achiever of the new energy scene. Significant reductions in household power consumption are being achieved by this NSW Gov’t scheme through simple efficiency actions. The program is free and aimed at assisting low income households. Find out if you’re eligible and how to sign on. www.savepower.nsw.gov.au
1:20pm Alex Burton – CSIRO Technology
Concentrating Solar Thermal Energy
Concentrated solar thermal energy has the potential to be an important renewable source of energy for Australia. The CSIRO has designed and built Australia’s largest solar thermal research facility in Newcastle, consisting of two high concentration solar towers, which combined use over 600 heliostats. Hear an update of developments in this exciting area of technology. www.csiro.au
2:00pm Ben Latta – Hunter Community Environment Centre
Is our future really in coal?
This talk is a look at the realities of the ‘coal chain’ from the disappearing paddocks, villages and biodiversity of the Hunter, the negative health impacts, through to climate change impacts being exported from Newcastle Harbour. The coal industry currently accounts for 10% of Australia’s GDP and employs less than 2% of the workforce, while its impacts on other sectors of the economy are also proving destructive. With cleaner smarter options in front of us, why would we accept the quarry vision for the Hunter? www.hcec.org.au
2:30pm Dr Paul Taylor – Author The Biochar Revolution
Biochar – sequestering carbon and improving soil
To reduce global warming, not only do we need to cut carbon emissions, but we also need to draw excess carbon down out of the atmosphere. Author-editor Dr Taylor explains the process of converting carbon pollution into soil enrichment. www.biochar-books.com
3:00pm Evan Steverson, Stakeholder Relationships Manager Ausgrid
Smart Grid, Smart City
The Smart Grid, Smart City Program is a $100 million Federal Government initiative and is Australia’s first fully integrated, commercial scale Smart Grid demonstration program. Smart grids combine advanced communication, sensing, metering and control technology with the existing electricity network.
With a focus in the lower Hunter Region, the Smart Grid, Smart City Program was developed by the Australian Government and a consortium led by Ausgrid. The program will gather and share information to inform the business case of smart grids in Australia. The program includes the deployment and testing of new, world-class technologies such as advanced smart meters, in-home feedback displays, gas fuel cells, storage batteries, small wind turbines, and electric vehicles. www.smartgridsmartcity.com.au
3:30pm Annabel Kater & James Felton-Taylor – Australian Sustainable Timbers
Making timber harvesting compatible with conservation through FSC certification
What is the line between preserving habitat and native eco-systems when producing timber for market, and how is it achieved? Do timber production and forestry have to be mutually exclusive? Annabel and James have established an FSC certified sustainable forestry operation which sources local timber products from a group of privately owned native regrowth forests. www.australiansustainabletimbers.com
Sunday 1 April
10:15am Climate Action Newcastle
Welcome to the Expo from Climate Action Newcastle
Bringing you the annual Smart Energy Expo, CAN is one of the Hunter’s most active community groups advocating for real solutions to climate change. Hear about current campaigns such as the national ‘Let’s Build Big Solar’ project. www.climateaction.org.au
10:20am Dr Paul Taylor – Author The Biochar Revolution
Biochar – sequestering carbon and improving soil
To reduce global warming, not only do we need to cut carbon emissions, but we also need to draw excess carbon down out of the atmosphere. Author-editor Dr Taylor explains the process of converting carbon pollution into soil enrichment. www.biochar-books.com
10:50am Wolf Messthaler – Beyond Zero Emissions
Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan
The ZCA 2020 Stationary Energy Plan demonstrates that 100% renewable energy is achievable and affordable. It designs a fully costed and detailed system of concentrated solar thermal plants and large scale wind farms, and proves that with existing technologies, renewable energy can power Australia within 10 years. www.beyondzeroemissions.org
11:30am Stephen Tansing – Beyond Zero Emissions
Zero Carbon Australia – Transport Plan
The ZCA 2020 Transport Plan currently in development aims to demonstrate that there are no technical barriers to zero emission transport in Australia. The Plan focuses on increased deployment of electric rail in all regions – light, heavy and high-speed intercity, alongside rollout of zero-emission electric vehicles and reducing average travel distances through better urban planning and localised access to services. www.beyondzeroemissions.org
12:00pm Annabel Kater & James Felton-Taylor – Australian Sustainable Timbers
Making timber harvesting compatible with conservation through FSC certification
What is the line between preserving habitat and native eco-systems when producing timber for market, and how is it achieved? Does timber production and forestry have to be mutually exclusive? Annabel and James have established an FSC certified sustainable forestry operation which sources local timber products from a group of privately owned native regrowth forests. www.australiansustainabletimbers.com
12:30pm John de Bruyn – Sustainability Assessor, Designer
Home Energy “Star” Ratings – Passive Design & Thermal Performance
An overview of passive design considerations for building energy efficient homes, and the modelling used to optimise and rate home designs; with a walk though the process of designing an energy efficient dwelling – using real numbers and busting myths on choices such as double glazing versus curtains. John is a passive designer, ESD consultant and certified HERS Assessor. www.debruyn.com.au
1:00 pm Bernard Hockings – Bike Fest Coordinator
Smart Moves
Designing cycling and sustainable transport into urban planning is key to the renewal of our cities – creating people streets and healthier communities. Bernard is the coordinator of Bike Fest, October 2012 Newcastle. www.transitionnewcastle.org.au/event/bikefest-newcastle
1:30 pm Michael Osborne – Chair, Newcastle Strategic Environment Advisory Committee
Where are current NSW energy policies steering us?
Comparing the NSW Draft Wind Farm Guidelines with the Strategic Regional Land Use Plan signals that NSW is heading in the wrong direction. While Coal and Gas are getting a leg up, unjustified restrictions are being placed on Wind Power, with NSW set to lose out on jobs for the future, and real action on climate change. Michael Osborne is a Greens Councillor on Newcastle City Council. www.michael-osborne.blogspot.com.au
2:00 pm Pauline Dunne – NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
Wind Farms for Landholders
Wind turbines produce clean energy, generate jobs in regional communities and provide a new income stream for regional landholders. Hear about the steps involved in wind farm development, and community renewable energy projects in NSW. www.environment.nsw.gov.au
2:30 pm Dr Saad Sayeef – CSIRO Technology
Minigrids and Renewable Energy Integration – Benefits for greater renewable energy penetration and for developing countries
The CSIRO is developing advanced control techniques for electricity networks to allow greater penetration of renewable and low emission energy resources than is currently possible. This research will not only benefit developed countries with existing electricity networks, such as Australia, but also assist in the low-emissions electrification of developing countries such as India. www.csiro.au
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