John was in Melbourne at a conference related to Community Energy Projects at our last session in May, however left some articles and the comment 'No doubt the group will find plenty to talk about'. We did indeed! Decision making about solar energy featured, with Bill pleased that his decision to update an evaporative cooler and install a heat pump on his solar hot water service had led to a significant reduction in the electricity bill and generating significant renewable energy for the grid. Another member reported that, while keen to become involved in the REB/Mondo Power battery and microgrid ready bulk buy offer, he had been ethically advised by the assessor that their current array of was sufficient for their needs and to add more could become quite expensive with recent changes in requirements re cabling. Another member wondered whether he should make any changes to the array of 18 panels on his house with a rate for selling to the grid of 70c a day to 2025 –the group advised him against making changes as he might lose this rate.
Agriculture and biodiversity also featured, with our environmentally aware farmer summing up his concerns as ‘’We do need some trees”. He is deeply concerned that soon the only trees near where he farms will be along the roads; that even those strips are being cleared and trees being trimmed up to make easy access and manoeuvring of big machines. He’s worried that the trees are being singed badly when stubble is burned; that bird life and shade for cattle are being lost; and is worried that many croppers ‘Just don’t like trees’.
We talked about what people were reading, with books discussed and shared including ‘Dark Emu’, ‘Cry of the Reed Warbler’ and 'The Biggest Estate on Earth - How Aborigines made Australia' and 'The Hydrogen Economy'. Kathy’s contribution of handouts comparing the services of Wangaratta and Shepparton's recycling transfer stations created lots of interest.
Reading of John’s recommended articles 'Who are Australia's largest carbon emitters?'; 'Solar and Wind could ease Australia's water shortage' and 'The new 100% recyclable packaging target is no use if our waste isn't actually recycled' followed the break. We left with Frank's recommendation to listen to The Changing Face of Agriculture and Food System into the 21st Century a lecture by Professor Mark Howden, which is available on line and a reminder about the Swanpool Environmental Film Festival on Saturday 16th June.
Agriculture and biodiversity also featured, with our environmentally aware farmer summing up his concerns as ‘’We do need some trees”. He is deeply concerned that soon the only trees near where he farms will be along the roads; that even those strips are being cleared and trees being trimmed up to make easy access and manoeuvring of big machines. He’s worried that the trees are being singed badly when stubble is burned; that bird life and shade for cattle are being lost; and is worried that many croppers ‘Just don’t like trees’.
We talked about what people were reading, with books discussed and shared including ‘Dark Emu’, ‘Cry of the Reed Warbler’ and 'The Biggest Estate on Earth - How Aborigines made Australia' and 'The Hydrogen Economy'. Kathy’s contribution of handouts comparing the services of Wangaratta and Shepparton's recycling transfer stations created lots of interest.
Reading of John’s recommended articles 'Who are Australia's largest carbon emitters?'; 'Solar and Wind could ease Australia's water shortage' and 'The new 100% recyclable packaging target is no use if our waste isn't actually recycled' followed the break. We left with Frank's recommendation to listen to The Changing Face of Agriculture and Food System into the 21st Century a lecture by Professor Mark Howden, which is available on line and a reminder about the Swanpool Environmental Film Festival on Saturday 16th June.
Bev Lee
