Grow Me The Money | Newsletter

Dear Subscriber,

November was an exciting month for VECCI. Thursday the 15th saw VECCI bring together a range of business, government and community leaders at Parliament House for the 2007 Victoria Summit.

For those of you who might not know much about VECCI, the Victoria Summit is a biennial process that VECCI initiated in 2005 to facilitate discussion, debate and the opportunity to respond to some of the key challenges facing Victoria’s economy, environment and community.

The 2007 Victoria Summit represents a chance for Victoria to harness change rather than resist it – the Summit not only addresses the key issues associated with changes in the economy and society associated with globalisation and competition from low-cost economies, but the issues of climate change and the need to manage carbon outputs, increasing population and scarce water resources.

It also contends that sustainable business is smart business. Cutting energy and water use, and reducing waste outputs can save businesses money as well as help the environment.

Certainly a principle that we live by at Grow Me The Money!

Copies of the reports and recommendations can be downloaded from the VECCI website, www.vecci.org.au. The policy process does not stop with the Victoria Summit and, as such, we welcome your ongoing comment on the papers.

Kate Nicolazzo
Program Director
Grow Me The Money

October Prize Winners

A copy of Australian of the Year Tim Flannery’s book The Weather Makers is on the way to these lucky new Grow Me The Money businesses that signed up in the Month of October:

1. E.B. Mawson and Sons (Participants)
2. O’Keefe Murphy and Gaffe (Mentors)
3. Windy Ridge Vineyard and Winery (Participants)
4. Tucci’s Pizza and Pasta (Participants)
5. Nicola Archer Communications (Participants)

And if you join up in November or December…

If you are looking for some sustainability inspiration for your business or workplace, sign up to Grow Me The Money during the month of November or December and be in the running to win one of seven of this month’s e-bulletin reviewed book – “On Borrowed Time: Australia’s Environmental Crisis and what we must do about it" by David Lindenmayer.

Premier's Sustainability Awards Open

VECCI is urging members leading the way in environmental sustainability to enter the state’s most prestigious environmental awards.

Now in its sixth year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards honour Victorian businesses, community groups, individuals and public bodies that are reducing their environmental footprint and using resources in innovative ways.

“A healthy environment is essential for a healthy economy and a healthy state,” Mr Brumby said.

“Many companies and individuals are already achieving great sustainability outcomes within their sector."

“These Awards recognise those Victorians leading the way in environmental sustainability and ensuring our natural environment is protected and preserved for future generations.”

Mr Brumby said there were five categories in the 2008 awards: Public Sector; Community; Small Business; Large Business; and Products or Services.

In 2007, Origin Energy and Sensis won the ‘Large Business – Special Recognition Award’.

Sustainable development is integral to Origin’s business strategy and its achievements include 140,000 GreenPower customers and zero greenhouse gas emissions. Sensis’ Directory Recycling program resulted in 77 per cent of Yellow and White pages directories being recycled with an additional 18 per cent being reused in the home or office in 2006.

The 2007 Products or Services Award was won by Frigrite Refrigeration. Frigrite has designed refrigeration equipment to reduce the effects of greenhouse gas emissions from supermarket refrigerators.

The 2007 Small Business Award winner was Sustainable Living Fabrics. The business has improved their bottom line profitability whilst reducing their water use by 62 per cent and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent.

“This kind of action by businesses large and small is crucial in tackling the challenges of climate change,” Mr Brumby said.

The Awards, hosted by Sustainability Victoria, will be presented by the Premier on 17 April 2008. The Awards are free to enter. Entries close 13 February 2008. The entry and judging processes are managed by the Banksia Environmental Foundation.

For further information on the Premier’s Sustainability Awards and previous winners, visit the website.

Minute with a Mentor: Tony Hodgson

Name: Tony Hodgson
Business: Sustainable IT
Position: Principal

How long have you been involved in business sustainability?

Two years. I began when as an IT manager, I saw our data centre's electricity bill doubling every five years.

What do you consider your sustainability specialty?

Reducing the environmental impact of information technology. Helping people identify where and how they can reduce those impacts and often reduce cost and effort at the same time.

Why do you think businesses should work towards greater sustainability?

The triple bottom line: Planet, People, Profit. Put them in whatever order you want, but improving your organisation's environmental sustainability can deliver benefits in all three areas.

The Planet aspect speaks for itself and it's 'the right thing to do'. People (and most especially younger generations) have been shown to respond positively towards employers who echo their own concerns about the environment. Profit comes from the payback on things like increased efficiencies, competitive advantage, staff loyalty and productivity. The book 'Green to Gold' by Esty and Winston cover the business aspects in depth. Do it and go tell everyone what you've done!

What’s your top sustainability tip?

Use the Energy Star feature built into your personal computers - this turns off (or puts to sleep) the monitor and computer after a chosen period of inactivity. They all have the feature, but it's often disabled. It will reduce their electricity consumption by as much as 70% compared with leaving them running all day and night. For Windows PCs, look in the 'Power Options' Control Panel. More help available through Grow Me The Money!

To link up with a Grow Me The Money Mentor, including Tony, please contact our Mentor Coordinator - Gemma White on either email or phone 8662 5483 (Mentors are available for registered businesses only).

Dave Keddie's Hints and Tips

Office lighting

If you were to wander around your work place with a lux-meter (for measuring light levels), there’s a good chance you will find that you are using excessive lighting and thus wasting a lot of energy and money over the course of a year. In fact, a large number of Australian work sites are in this situation and as well as the standard turn-off-the-lights-when-you-go-out approach you can also be more proactive by actually removing some of the fluorescent tubes or bulbs you don’t need.

This has the added money-saving bonus that you will then have a stock of spare bulbs to last you a while! You can learn more about this here or by visiting our Forum.

Water heaters

Does your workplace use an electric water heater/boiler in the kitchen that continually reheats a tank of water? If so you may want to consider switching to the humble kettle as such boilers use a huge amount of electricity in comparison to use-as-necessary kettles. You can read more about this topic in the Energy section of the Grow Me The Money Forum.

EVENTS

Energy Wise Hotels Information Seminar

The seminar will work through the Energy Wise Hotels toolkit and provide case studies
and details about energy-saving technology. It will help hotels, motels and serviced apartments
understand where energy is used in your hotel and where the
opportunities are for making savings. All welcome.

When: Tuesday 4 December 2007,
Time: 8.30am registration and coffee.
9am to 12.30pm with morning
tea provided.
Where: Jasper Hotel
489 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Cost Complimentary
RSVP: Wednesday 28 November – RSVP to: Kate Yuncken

Sustainability Victoria Stakeholder consultations on product environmental labels in Australia

Are you a manufacturer, marketer or retailer with an involvement or interest in environmental labels? Would you like to be involved in one of our half-day stakeholder forums?

Sustainability Victoria will be holding two half-day stakeholder consultations in the first week of December 2007 to discuss the following questions:
• Do consumers need more information to inform purchasing decisions?
• How successful are existing labelling schemes in Australia?
• Is there a role for national environmental labels on products?
• How might an expanded environmental labelling scheme work?

For more information contact: kel.dummett@sustainability.vic.gov.au or here for more information.

Last week's National Recycling Week

Help fight Global Warming – Recycle More, Recycle Better

Last week was National Recycling Week, when people are reminded to Recycle More and Recycle Better to help reduce the increasing strain on global resources, driven by population growth and consumerism.

To find out what’s recyclable in your local area, call the National Recycling Hotline on 1300 733 712, or log on to www.RecyclingNearYou.com.au.

Solar electricity: the options

Date: Thursday, November 22nd

Andrew Bailey “Solar Photovoltaic Panels—Electricity”
Andrew will talk about the different kinds of solar PV panels that are available and their pros & cons, as well as the ways to set up a grid interactive PV system at your own home.

Willem Biesheuve “GreenPower renewable electricity”
Willem from Origin Energy will talk about the different kinds of renewable energy you can purchase through the electricity retailers, GreenPower accreditation, as well as Origin’s other products in solar hot water and PV installations.

Cost: Free
Bookings essential: Kay Toussaint 9840 9348 or email.
Venue: Council Chambers, Manningham Civic Offices, 699 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster (Mel 33 F12)
Times: Arrival: 6.45 pm Finish: 9.00 pm

Transport alternatives: Bio-diesel & Electric vehicles

Date: Thursday, December 13th

Mick O’Conell “Bio-Diesel”
Mick, president of the Alternative Technology Association will discuss the biodiesel phenomenon from the home made to commercial production. How does it work? Can I use it in my new diesel car? Where can I buy some? How beneficial is it?

Ross Blade “Electric cars”
Ross of Castlemaine’s Blade electric vehicles will discuss the benefits of electric cars and what’s available now. How much? How far will it go? How fast will it go? How many people can I transport? What happens if I need to get further that the battery limit?

Kelvin Blake “Electric scooters”
Kelvin of EVT will discuss the benefits of electric powered scooters, as well as how much, licensing, how fast and how far? How long to recharge? How long do the batteries last ? Can you get replacement batteries?

Scott “Electric Bicycles”
Scott of Electric Vehicles P/L will discuss the benefits of electric powered bicycles and how much, how fast and how far? How long to recharge? How long do the batteries last ? Can you get replacement batteries?

A Burwood District Bowls Club Community Interest event:"Sustainable Communities"

Diary Note: Friday, 8th February 2008

Water. Energy. Infrastructure. Residents and businesses
now have many challenges to manage to ensure our future
community. Our speaker will inform us what is happening here
and abroad to help us get there.

Information or Bookings:
Clubroom Phone: 9889 5931
After-hours Phone: 9802 3258
Email: bdbowls@bigpond.net.au

INDEX

Program Announcements:

Grow Me The Money winners for October
View >>

Prize Draw for registrants for the months of November and December
View >>

News:
Premier's Sustainability Awards Open
Applications for the Premier's Sustainability Awards are now open. Businesses leading the way in the sustainability are encourage to apply. More >>

A Minute with A Mentor
Find out more about one of our Mentors, Tony Hodgson from Sustainable IT. View >>

Events:

Energy Wise Hotels Information Seminar - Melbourne Dec 4th

Sustainability Victoria Stakeholder consultations on product environmental labels in Australia early Dec 07

National Recycling Week

Solar electricity: the options - Dandenong Nov 22nd

Transport alternatives: Bio-diesel & Electric vehicles - Dandenong Dec 13th

A Burwood District Bowls Club Community Interest event :"Sustainable Communities" Feb 8th '08

David Keddie's Hints & Tips

Office Lighting

Water Heaters

GROW ME THE MONEY BOOK OF THE MONTH

‘ON BORROWED TIME - Australia's Environmental Crisis and What We Must Do About It’
by David Lindenmayer

Multi-award winning Australian ecologist, Professor David Lindenmayer, has produced a “wonderful book that should be read by all Australians” (Paul R. Ehrlich) about the environmental challenges facing modern Australia and equally importantly – many creative ideas to tackle these problems. Lindenmayer illustrates how unique and precious Australia’s environment is, but also how much pressure humans have placed upon it and why we should change some of our ways before it is too late.

Register with GMTM in the month of November or December 07 and go into the draw to win one of 7 copies of On Borrowed Time. Click here to register.

Jargon-Buster!

‘Retrofitting’ – Retrofitting is the modification of existing equipment and infrastructure to improve it somehow such as in terms of environmental performance. This can be as simple as adding a low-flow tap fitting to your taps or something a bit more challenging such as upgrading your heating/air conditioning system to a more energy efficient standard.

‘De-lamping’ – De-lamping refers to the act of removing lighting tubes and bulbs to save energy. Typically such lighting is removed from areas that are overly lit either due to significant natural lighting or excessive electric lighting.