The Heating Earth

Ground Zero on Global Warming¹

Global warming is the continuous rise in the average sea, surface and atmospheric temperatures around the Earth. This increase in average temperatures began in the last 50 years and coincided with the industrial revolution and increasing consumption of fossil fuel by people on Earth. Our use of CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) in aerosol sprays, refrigerators etc. further exasperated the problem by blowing a hole in the protective ozone layer allowing harmful radiation to penetrate all the way to the Earth.² While it may at times seem like a script for a Sci-fi movie, the situation is a stark reality facing humanity in 2011.

Valuable Time Lost in Proving Humans were Responsible for Global Warming

Any child will confirm that if we sit in a car with doors and windows closed and one of us starts smoking, then the interior is going to get pretty uncomfortable very soon.

When scientists first presented the data and proof that the Earth was heating up, governments around the world scrambled to debunk the suggestion that industries and our appetite for consumption was somehow fuelling global warming³. In fact this state of denial derailed the Word’s first convention on global warming and the scientists lost valuable time in proving that global warming is not a myth or imagination by half crazed scientists crying wolf because the temperature on their thermometers jumped a notch higher.

Instead of asking the scientists to begin planning a strategy on how to turn off or reduce the heat that was causing global warming, the governments asked the scientists to prove that humans were responsible for global warming. By the time scientists proved their theory, and a new convention on global warming was agreed to, a few more years of valuable time was lost⁴ and the average global temperatures went a notch higher. Governments waited but global warming did not⁵.

While we waxed on eloquently about how to tackle global warming, the magnificent glaciers began to melt and sea levels rose slightly but high enough to permanently inundate certain low lying regions in the world⁶. For the first time there was tangible loss – people lost homes and property to global warming and yet, our penchant for procrastination did not stop.

Too little too late

The next convention on global warming set targets for the reduction of green house gases and stipulated the setting up of a global fund for research on alternate fuels. This effort was doomed to fail because the developing countries had just begun their industrial revolution and the developed countries were asking them to stop without offering any viable alternative that would secure and fuel growth in the developing countries without the accompanying pollution and its effects on global warming⁷. Of course there is also the fact that there wasn’t and still isn’t a real cost-effective viable alternative to fossil fuels⁸.

Meanwhile the Earth is slowly and inexorably moving towards a future in which humans and animals will not be able to step into the open without an air conditioner strapped on to their back. Will plant life still be there? Will the Earth even look the same? While we might not be able to reverse global warming – at least not yet, we might at least stop it from spiralling out of control by adopting a pro-Earth lifestyle and the time to do it is now, today. Tomorrow or 2012 might just be too late.

Envirosafe Solutions has developed a range of quality Extreme Green products that fit in with the pro-Earth lifestyle of this new era. For more information on these exceptional products, telephone Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 889070

1.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming

2. http://www.centerforsustainability.org/resources.php?category=50&root=

3.  http://www.unep.org/ourplanet/imgversn/154/lieberman.html

4.  http://www.fao.org/kids/en/gw-un.html

5.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrumental_temperature_record

6.  http://www.climate.org/topics/sea-level/index.html

7. http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2009/12/copenhagen_clash_between_devel.html

8. http://www.livescience.com/5114-true-costs-renewable-energy.html

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New Green Techniques in Agriculture

Today, Envirosafe Solutions looks at some of the new techniques in green agriculture that are being developed and adopted in Australia.

Whenever we refer to agriculture, we always think about large scale harvesters, massive use of fertilizers, large scale irrigation, aerial crop dusting, etc. Well, all that has changed with the introduction of Regenerative Agriculture in New South Wales, Australia. ¹ This new approach to agriculture is gaining significant momentum and is now considered a hallmark of green agricultural practices amongst those “in the know” when it comes to developing sustainable agriculture techniques.

Regenerative Agriculture

These days it is fashionable to talk about the need for new techniques in agriculture and how there is need for agriculture to be pro-earth and not against the natural ecosystems. ² We hear how new techniques in agriculture should maintain and even improve the soil structure, enhance biodiversity, maintain water resources, maintain the levels of soil organic matter, etc. Regenerative agriculture, the latest of new techniques in agriculture does all that and more.

Until recently scientists and farmers took these set of requirements to be a pipe dream until, a few innovative and observant farmers from the Central West of New South Wales decided to study how Mother Nature managed its affairs and mimic it to whatever extent possible.

The Theory on Regenerative Agriculture

After studying how nature managed green cover, a handful of Aussie farmers came up with new techniques in agriculture which they called ‘pasture cropping’.³ Principal amongst these were two farmers Colin Seis and Darryl Cluff. These new techniques in agriculture were christened Cluff and Seis pasture cropping technique. The farmers observed that the native Australian grasses (C4) grew only in warm season whereas the Australian winter cereals (C3) grew only in the winter season. Further, they calculated that if they seeded the pasture land with winter cereals (C3) it would be ready for harvesting by summer and the same land could then grow the native grass which is eaten by the cattle. So they hypothesised that they could do cattle farming as well as agricultural farming on the same land. This is something that was never done before. Effectively, new techniques in agriculture were being created.

Problems associated with standard agricultural practices⁴

Normally, preparation of land for agriculture involved the removal of all existing vegetation from the land to be cultivated. This resulted in barren land both before and after cultivation. Barren land resulted in soil erosion and also between seasons the land would be taken over by unpalatable grasses or weeds resulting in rapid nutrient decline. Fertilisers only provided temporary relief. In the long term the soil always degraded.

The Birriwa-Gulgong district in Central West of New South Wales receives an average of around 600 mm of annual rainfall. ⁵ Those who remember it, in 1995 there was an 18-month drought. During this period Darryl Cluff seeded oat crop in an area normally covered with native red grass. Tests indicated that the subsoil moisture level was zero. Conventional logic indicated that the oat crop would not survive but not only did it survive, it flourished and new techniques in agriculture locally called the ‘Cluff and Seis pasture cropping technique’ were born.⁶ The winter season saw crops being planted and the summer season was for native Australian grass which was used to feed the cattle. Soil testing indicated that the soil did not degrade and also the biodiversity was maintained.

Envirosafe Solutions supports developments and adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. And the Envirosafe Solutions Extreme Green range also fits in with this approach. With a lower environmental impact and a greater respect for the Australian ecosystem, these products can make a considerable difference to your carbon footprint. For more information please call Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 889070.

1.  Regenerative agriculture explained: http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/features/0802/regenerative.shtml

2.  Pro-Earth agriculture: http://www.sdc.admin.ch/en/Home/Themes/Water/Water_for_food

3.  Pasture cropping explained: http://www.winona.net.au/farming.html

4.  Problems associated with standard agricultural practices: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factory_farming

5.  Gulgong, New South Wales: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulgong,_New_South_Wales

6.  Upcoming courses on pasture cropping: http://regenag.com/web/upcoming-courses.html

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Land Clearing

Once upon a time it was possible. Once upon a time, a landowner – whether a small suburban household owner, or a larger scale landowner on rural acreage – had the right to more or less do as he/she pleased on owned land. But the issue of lad clearing in the global warming era is no longer that simple. As governments, corporations and the international community become more aware of global warming and the need for trees to capture and store carbon, so too does the need to police and oversee what we actually carry out on our land.

The Queensland Department of Environmental Management currently states that “the clearing of native vegetation is regulated by the Vegetation Management Act 199. This Act sets down the rules and regulations that guide what clearing can be done, and how it must be done to meet the requirements of the law.”[1] Various vegetation guidelines and clearing guidelines exist and landholders are also required to apply for permits in many instances to safeguard against illegal clearing and stripping of the land.

Stiff Penalties

The area of Longreach in Queensland has been the site of a recent legal battle over land clearing. This case has impacted notions of individual property rights and ownership and has called into question what it actually means to “own” land in the current environmental climate.

Between 2004-2008 landowning couple Walter and Annette Cooper systematically cleared approximately 431 hectares of vegetation from their land at their property at Tanamera, west of Longreach. They did so without a permit. Some sources have stated “the couple were using the cleared vegetation to feed stock during the drought.”[2] They were recently fined $50,000 and were also ordered to “pay more than $28,000 in costs to the Department of Environment and Resource Management.”[3] This brings the total fine amount to close to $80,000.

Rachel Nolan, Qld Minister for Natural Resources has said that “the Qld Government introduced tough new vegetation management laws to protect endangered wildlife and ensure important vegetation is protected.” She also maintains that “the scientists assessing the areas found the clearing could impact on flora including landscape fragmentation, loss of habitat and possibly lead to the introduction and spread of exotic plant and animal species.”[4]

The clearing was not reported at the time and the landowners did not follow the legal chain of command required in Queensland for land clearing. They did not apply for permits or contact the Department of Environment and Resource Management. Rather, the cleared land was discovered through a routine assessment of satellite imagery by the Queensland Governments Statewide Landcover and Trees Study.

Independent Federal MP Bob Katter has gone on record to state the fine amount is excessive and ludicrous.

Given the current global environmental crisis, Envirosafe Solutions understands and supports the need for tighter government regulation regarding deforestation and land clearing. Envirosafe Solutions is at the forefront of driving industry and business change regarding green procedures and processes.

Join The Green Revolution. Purchase Envirosafe Solutions eco-friendly products. Call them now on 1300 889070.

[1] http://www.derm.qld.giv.au/vegetation/clearing/index.html

[2] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-04/couple-cop-50k-land-clearing-fine/2823890

[3] Ibid

[4] http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=75936

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Green wine!

Envirosafe Solutions keeps a careful eye out for those businesses and organisations and concerns that are forging new environmentally friendly practices in production, development and business modelling. Today, the focus is on one very forward thinking winery that is making a real mark on the Australian wine market and wine industry.

There’s nothing like a glass of good red with a meal.

But green wine?

Well…it’s not really green, but it is organic and environmentally sound. One winery is producing quality wine the eco-friendly way, and proving that quality production, an organic approach, and great wine can and do go together.

Tamburlaine Winery is Australia’s largest producer of organic wines and is situated in the Pokolbin district of the Hunter Valley in NSW as well as Orange on the Central Tablelands of NSW. James Halliday, one of Australia’s leading wine authorities, has bestowed it with a five star rating, indicating that quality and environmentally sound practices are now established hallmarks of great wine production.[1]

The Organic Approach

The organic approach to wine making means that the wine is produced without any synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or artificial fertilisers. Sulphur dioxide is used carefully in the process, and traditionally used wine additives “which are residual in the end product” are excluded.[2]

This approach has benefits across the board and Tamburlaine Wines lists a number of key advantages to organic farming methods for grape vine growing.

• It leads to sustainability by optimising humus in the soil
• The vines are supported and sustained by the natural fertility of the soil as opposed to synthetic fertilising products
• Significantly minimises need for irrigation as increased humus leads to increased water retention
• Eliminates harmful effects of farm chemicals on surrounding areas
• Eliminates possible wine toxins for the consumer
• Promotes and maintains healthy vineyard ecosystem.[3]

A Formal Environmental Management System

The Australian Government’s Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities states that an EMS “is a tool for managing the impacts of an organisation’s activities on the environment. It provides a structured approach to planning and implementing environmental protection measures.”[4]

Tamburlaine Winery developed and implemented a formal EMS in 2003, and this is now the underpinning foundation of their business system and their decision-making. It includes such practices as

• Sustainable farming practices
• Water management strategies
• Solid waste management
• Energy efficiency
• Environmental purchasing

Envirosafe Solutions supports the kinds of approach put forward by businesses and concerns such as Tamburlaine Winery. It strongly supports and promotes the need for environmental purchasing and believes smart business sources and utilises materials and products that are less damaging to the environment. Envirosafe Solutions believes a greener alternative can always be adopted, even in areas where there is an historical reliance on high toxicity products and materials. Products such as biodegradable cleaning liquids which are healthier for soil and land and water, and safer alternatives for harsher products are available from Envirosafe Solutions.

The Extreme Green team at Envirosafe Solutions may be able provide you with safer alternatives to the products you are currently using.

To find out more about the many products that are produced and supplied by Envirosafe Solutions, telephone 1300 889070

[1] http://www.tamburlaine.com.au/public/aboutus.html

[2] http://www.tamburlaine.com.au/public/what-organic.html

[3] http://www.tamburlaine.com.au/public/what-organic.html

[4] http://www.environment.gov.au/land/management/ems/index.html

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A Bit About Bats

Every so often Envirosafe Solutions likes to take a look at the fauna of the world and how our animal friends are impacted by climate change and a denuding earth. Today, we focus on the beautiful and often much maligned bat.

How many of us think about bats when we think of “conservation”? Say the word “conservation” and our kids will rattle out the names of large exotic and magnificent animals such as the Tiger, Lion, Hypo, Panther, and so on.

In our often blinkered approach to supporting conservation it is often the smaller animals that are denied our love and support. Visit any fund raising event for animal habitat conservation and you will notice the absence of bats, dragon flies, owls and even butterflies in the glossy and otherwise informative leaflets. The fruit bats (Pteropus bats) are one such mammal that has been left out of most conservation projects. ¹ These cute little birdlike mammals fly in the night, have their fill and return to their roosting spots before day break. They usually stay away from humans (not surprising considering the racket we tend to make). Unfortunately, this aloofness keeps them out of our sight, out of our mind and might I add, out of most conservation projects.

Luxury and conservation don’t mix. Our hunger for wood and rate of consumption has fuelled deforestation at an alarming rate especially in the rain forest regions of Amazon and the Pacific region. ² Today we no longer see men chopping down trees using a pickaxe or a saw. The process of cutting down trees is so mechanized and speeded up that a visit to a tree cutting site would fill us with dread and a sense of the disaster that we are helping create.³ Forests with their fruit bearing trees are the prime source of food for fruit bats. When trees are chopped down there is nothing left to bind and hold the soil together. Movement of heavy tree cutting equipment further damages the soil and ensures no large trees ever grow there again. Unfortunately, forest mitigation, logging and conservation don’t mix – not because they can’t but simply because we don’t have the will to enforce laws to make it so. ⁴ A single large fruit bearing tree can aid conservation and provide enough food for hundreds of bats. Take away a hundred trees a day and the math reaches frightening proportions – especially when you consider that large scale unsupervised and often un-licensed tree cutting has been going on for many years now. ⁵

Some conservationists (instigated by logging companies?) have been blaming hunting and cyclones for the decimation of the bat population and failure of bat conservation attempts. However, men have been hunting bats for many hundreds of years and cyclones have been displaying their awesome destructive power even before the bats came into existence on this earth. The fact is, the bat population has been declining for the past decade and this coincides with the arrival of massive automated logging machinery and the large scale deforestation that followed.

Bats are part of the eco-chain and ecosystem. They help in pollinating flowers as well as carrying seeds to other locations and help spread the coverage of fruit bearing trees. Any school going child will tell you that if you break any part of the eco-chain the entire ecosystem will collapse. ⁶

Envirosafe Solutions urges you to consider the smaller and less prominent fauna on our planet. These animals form a vital part of our ecosystems and our food chains and are as needing and deserving of our understanding and support as the grand lion, the leopard, the white panda and the orang-utan. Use your liquid products wisely and consider using greener alternatives that respect our denuding earth. For more information on quality Extreme Green products please call Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 889070.

References

1. Wikipedia on Pteropus bats: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteropus

2.  Illegal logging in Asia-Pacific region: http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2011/03_illegal_logging_felbabbrown.aspx

3.  Mechanised logging. This location has good content, pictures and links for more information: http://www.snowwowl.com/rltreesclearcutting.html

4.  Forrest mitigation explained: http://climatetechwiki.org/technology/jiqweb-ar

5. Effects of deforestation: The site is poorly designed but the article is great: http://www.theguardians.com/Microbiology/gm_mbr10.htm

6.  Bats and the ecosystem: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/res/Education_in_BLM/Learning_Landscapes/For_Teachers/science_and_children/caves/index/caves_bats.html

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What exactly is a community garden?

Community gardens are simple, communal places where people like you and me can get together and come together to make new friends, dig in the soil, plant vegies and flowers and other plants and enjoy nature and a bit of hard work.

These gardens have sprung up all over Australia over the past few years. And one can surmise they have their origins in the humble British and European rail side plots, where urbanised families would go to spend some time at their “allotments” to commune with nature away from housing estates, citified streets with no gardens and high-rise apartments where the prospect of growing vegetables is a dream.

With concerns about the environment, the cost of living and the need to “get back to the land” to save the planet, communities have banded together to form their own garden areas, many of which also send a clear subtext message to politicians that the voters of Australia place green concerns and pursuits at the very forefront of their lives and values.[1]

A Movement

Sustainable Illawarra defines community gardens as something “more than simply growing food. It is also a way to grow a sense of place and community. The number of community gardens in Australia is increasing, and what started as isolated examples of urban food production in the late1970’s has now blossomed into a movement promoting nutritional health through growing, sharing and eating of fresh, locally grown food.”[2]

Doctor Bruce Judd and Doctor Rob Samuels from the University of NSW from the AHURI (Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute) Research Centre even revealed a link between community gardens on nine public estates, and a relationship with an effective reduction in crime rates.[3] The study noted that social interventions such as the development of community gardens in crime hotspots, was very effective in controlling crime levels.

As the community garden becomes more popular, it becomes more and more accepted as an important part of community life. World famous Australian chef Stephanie Alexander has even developed a community garden project involving schools and school children. She believes that her Kitchen Garden Foundation has the potential to help nurture healthier and greener and more communal attitudes to food and food cultivation by children, that will last a lifetime and lead to greater wellbeing and respect for the environment. [4] This is a view also shared by the United Kingdom’s most famous television chef, Jamie Oliver.[5]

If you believe in the need for more information on greener, communal attitudes that help to shape a healthy Australia, you may also be interested in the Envirosafe Solutions approach to eco-friendly products. For more information on their range phone 1300 889070.

[1] http://communitygarden.org.au/our-purpose

[2] http://www.sustainableillawarra.com.au/pdf/Community-Gardens.pdf

[3] http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/cf/publications/presentations/attachments/soacjuddsamuels.pdf

[4] http://stephaniealexander.com.au/garden/htm

[5] http://www.jamieoliver.com

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UN survey on business and climate change

Business and organisations are most often portrayed in the media as somewhat resistant to the shift toward a sustainable future that addresses climate change and its all encompassing problems. Time and again these groups are presented as resistant to climate change and all it entails, and are viewed as the “enemy” of “greenies.”

But is this really the case?

There are many businesses and organisations as well as industry groups who are embracing the challenges and the changes that are required. For example, businesses such as Envirosafe Solutions are actively embracing the need for change, and utilising new green ethics and approaches that are good for the planet and good for business.

And recent research conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme indicates that many businesses are not the “enemy” of sustainable practices, but are in fact seeing the new world of climate change and all it entails as a business opportunity that can be embraced and utilised in the form of a win-win situation.[1]

The report, titled “Adapting for a Green Economy: Companies, Communities and Climate Change” stated that businesses that respond to climate changes with community needs in mind can gain a competitive edge. Businesses that respond to climate change in ways that undermine communities’ efforts to adapt may face reputational and brand risks, and they may even lose their ability to operate in certain locations.”[2]

It also states that an approach by business that is responsible and strategic can in fact:

• Avoid costs
• Manage liabilities
• Build resilience
• Expand market share
• Access new opportunities
• Build corporate reputation
• Exercise good corporate citizenship.

The report also advises that traditional business approaches may well now be insufficient, and companies will want to:

• “connect climate adaptation and resilience to the culture of the corporation/company
• Assimilate adaptations into central business strategies
• Match their business objectives with new approaches
• Team up with in-house and external decision-makers
• Develop and grow a portfolio of goods and services that are truly green and climate-resilient[3]

Many businesses in Australia have already adopted and incorporated many of these suggestions and guidelines into their business approach and ethos. Envirosafe Solutions is one such Australian owned and environmentally sound business that places these ideas at the forefront of its approach. If you would like to find out more about Envirosafe Solutions’ approach to green business practices please view the website in more detail. And if you would like more information on the Envirosafe Solutions Extreme Green Range of quality products, please telephone a friendly member of the sales team on 1300 889070.

[1] http://www.unep.org

[2] http://www/wri.org/publication/adapting-for-a-green-economy

[3] ibid

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The true glories of greywater

How can you take action to conserve water and respect our increasingly dry continent?

Australia already has problems with water availability and water supply. One only need look at problems facing the Murray-darling basin over the past decade, which exemplifies this fact clearly to all. Even on the coastal ribbon of Australia – far from the inland areas, it is expected water will become increasingly rare, and our use and misuse of it is already being considered, researched and monitored.

Two decades ago, one hardly even noticed when the water bill arrived! In some areas, it was woven into the council rates costings and was so insignificant that you barely even noticed it. But today, water is not only an increasingly scarce commodity. It also costs…and it can cost dearly.  In the past few years, water bills have skyrocketed and are now an expensive element of family life. All Australians are encouraged to use water wisely and to work with the environment and not against it so that we can protect it and also protect the water that is fundamental to the earth and our survival.

Greywater[1]

There are a number of ways you can help to conserve water and reduce your household or business water consumption and this is not only good for the environment but also good for your proverbial hip pocket.

Greywater is wastewater from an array of sources around the home and workplace. It can include water from the kitchen, the bath and basin and also the laundry. It does not include greywater – which is the water that is the wastewater from toilets. Greywater is all about recycling. It is all about preventing the used water cited above, from needlessly gurgling away down the plughole.

It is now easy to reuse greywater and install a greywater system.

Here is some useful information that can be incorporated into your current home and workplace and lifestyle:[2]

When considering a greywater strategy or approach, think about the following issues:

Type of greywater system[3]

• handheld bucket system, filtration device, (no council permits required for these.)
• diversionary devices
• more complex treatment and reuse systems  (requires local council permissions)

Where to use greywater

• on the garden outside  (but not on vegies)
• indoors – use it for toilets and for laundry (if you have a filtrations system)

Where not to use greywater

• do not use it to wash hands
• do not use it when members of household are ill
• do not allow greywater to go beyond your property

Envirosafe Solutions strongly supports the use of greywater and has developed a range of eco-friendly liquid products that are highly suitable to use in households where greywater is in use. This is because of their extremely low phosphate content, making them safe for families and safe for the environment.

Join the green revolution and install greywater. Join the green revolution and use Envirosafe Solutions Extreme Green range of eco-friendly products. Call Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 889070

[1] http://www.greywater.com.au

[2] http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/water/greywater

[3] www.greywater.net

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The Brumby…National Parks vs. Animal welfare

What happens when a cultural icon becomes unsustainable?What occurs when a cultural icon starts to threaten prize national park land?

Every Australian knows or has heard of The Man from Snowy River. And most are familiar with that iconic wild horse, the Australian brumby that roams the alpine regions of Victoria and NSW and inhabits areas that include the Kosciusko National Park and the Alpine National Park.

2010 saw the mass slaughter of many trapped brumbies. They were caught in National Park areas around Tumut and then sent to Campden Saleyards. From there, they were sent to the abattoir and eventually ended up as pet dog food.[1]

The National Parks and Wildlife Service now considers the brumby a feral pest, and claims numbers in the park regions have reached epic and unsustainable proportions, causing havoc to native fauna and flora, and destroying the natural wildlife balance of the region.

The Australian Brumby Alliance rejects the National Parks and Wildlife approach to the issue, and believes a humane approach to the overpopulation, involving a trial of PZP – a contraceptive treatment that reduces fertility of the brumbies – should be implemented. They also object to the current practice of quota brumby trapping where hunting dogs hound and mercilessly flush brumbies from the national park areas. The National Parks and Wildlife grants dog permits to organizations such as The Alpine Brumby Management Association (ABMA.)[2]

The Australian Broadcasting Commission recently ran a news item on the matter. Steve Horsley from the ANPWS says that the numbers have increased 20% annually over the past few years. They will continue brumby trapping until October, which is a concern to many who believe in the value of this Australian icon.[3]

Clash

The brumby issue highlights the inevitable clashes that are increasing between many types of sustainability and environmental groups. As conservation and green approaches become the prevailing mode of thought, this gives rise to more debate and choice about sustainability and how best to address the problems facing the planet and the environment because of poor human management in the past.

Various animal rights groups regard the brumby as the iconic Australian horse that has a permanent and sacred place at the centre of the national psyche. Various environmental and green groups in the alpine region dispute this, and claim a nostalgic romanticising of the wild horses cannot diminish the brumby’s threat to native flora and fauna.

Regardless of outcome, what remains clear is that a sustainable and humane approach to increasing brumby numbers – one that ensures their dignity while also helping to reduce their numbers – is a possible solution that may require more discussion and evolution. Envirosafe Solutions supports humane and sustainable modes of animal handling and also sees the need for a sustainable approach to the alpine region’s flora and fauna.

For more information on the Extreme Green range of products, telephone Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 889070

[1] http://macarthur-chronicle-camden.whereilive.com.au/news/story/wild-about-brumbies-at-camden/

[2] http://www.australianbrumbyalliance.org.au/petition-stop-brumby-running-alpine-national-park

[3] http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/07/

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Solar Paint

An amazing invention has been nurtured and developed by a university professor hailing from Newcastle on the New South Wales coast of Australia. It’s revolutionary and it will transform our lives in the coming decades! The invention was first publicised in 2010 on the ABC’s New Inventors program, winning both its episode and the peoples’ choice award.[1]

Professor Paul Dastoor works as a physics professor at the University of Newcastle and has worked on the project for a number of years. His novel idea – to paint solar panels onto ordinary glass surfaces, may well lead to every household in Australia being able to generate their own electricity in an economical and sustainable manner.

The basis of the new technology is the idea that “photovoltaic devices made from conducting polymers show great promise as a new technology for renewable energy.”[2] Put simply, small solar conducting units – nanoparticles – can in fact be suspended in a water-based paint and then painted onto surfaces, transforming these into solar panels that can supply homes and businesses with clean and efficient energy.

In the first phase of development, the solar paint will first be applied to sheets that are placed on the rooves of houses and other suitable building surfaces. But in the longer term, it is conceivable the material will eventually be painted directly onto rooves or other building surfaces. “They will use the same standard inverter technology used by conventional solar cells to connect the electricity grid network…and ultimately it will mean that every house in Australia will be able to generate its own electricity form a sustainable and renewable resource, using a paint coating on their own buildings and rooves.”[3]

The nanoparticles are so small they measure in terms of billionths of a millimetre. They can also be printed onto surfaces such as glass, plastics and metals and may well be on the market within 2-5 years. The technology is described as “third generations solar” whereby the solar panel materials are fully incorporated into standard building materials.

The team led by Professor Dastoor have been working on the invention for more than a decade. They state the inspiration for this research work and invention “is the firm belief that the greatest challenge currently facing the planet is the urgent need for developing new ways of generating energy sustainability. The increasing demand for energy coupled with the rapidly increasing world populations means that it is vital that we expand our global renewable energy resources” as quickly as possible.

Envirosafe Solutions rejoices in the research performed by Professor Dastoor and his University of Newcastle team. Support green research and inventions and support green business and green products. Phone Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 8890 70.

[1] http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s3008638.htm

[2] http:///www.newcastle.edu.au/research-centre/coe/research/modifying-the-response-of-organic-solar-cells.html

[3] http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s3008638.htm

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New Government website

The Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has set up a climate change website that can keep families and businesses and industries up to date on the latest climate change information and ideas that are coming out of Canberra. The website is most specifically designed to tackle the challenges of climate change and focuses on a number of main areas.[1]

These include:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Promoting energy efficiency
• Adapting to climate change impacts
• Helping to shape a global solution

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

At present, the main requirement for the human race is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The Australian government currently invests more than $5billion towards developing clean energy technologies, and once a carbon tax is introduced this amount it set to rise.

Encouraging business to reduce emissions

The new website also encourages Australian businesses “to take action to reduce their emissions through the Clean Business Australia program which promotes and advocates an increase in energy efficiency in Australian workplaces and buildings.”[2]

Encouraging households to take action

It is also important Australian households take action as 20% of Australian carbon pollution is generated by these. The website outlines various ways in which average households across our continent can make a true difference. And while these measures may seem insignificant on their own, when combined with the changes each and every household can make, these impacts can be significant and considerable. Ways to reduce your household’s carbon footprint include considering:

• the ways you travel to and from work
• the ways you travel to and from school
• the way you use electrical appliances
• the way you use your air conditioning
• the way you use your heating appliances
• whether you turn appliances off at the power point when not in use
• turning off computer when not in use
• planting trees
• recycling
• watching water use
• products you use at home.

Eco-friendly products

Envirosafe Solutions has developed an environmentally responsible range of liquid and other products that are suitable for both domestic and business use. These products may contribute to the reduction or minimisation of your carbon footprint and can reduce harsh chemical impacts on the local and national environment. Unlike other eco-friendly products that may be on the market, the Envirosafe Solutions range does not compromise on results or quality, so you can be assured of the results you require.

All households, as well as local councils, businesses, organisations, industries and governments are currently adjusting to the reality of climate change. All of us are learning new strategies and adaptations which require commitment, research and effort on our parts.

You can be a part of a solutions-based change in household practices and business practices. Please call Envirosafe Solutions to enquire about and purchase our eco-friendly liquids and products. You can feel good and simply do good by purchasing Envirosafe Solutions products. 1300 889070.

[1] http://www.climatechange.gov.au/government/reduce.aspx

[2] http://www.climatechange.gov.au/government/reduce.aspx

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Kakadu – an Australian jewel

In the 1980’s Kakadu became a mainstream and popular tourist destination. Australians began flocking to these mysterious and sublime wetland areas of unsurpassable beauty, and the region became absorbed into our national psyche as a true Australian jewel.

The region 171 km southeast of Darwin, is located in the Alligator Rivers area of the Northern Territory and covers nearly 20,000 sq kilometres of land – equivalent to a third of the size of Tasmania and approximately half the total area of Switzerland.[1]

It has been continuously occupied for 40 000 years and is extremely famed for its rich indigenous cultural sites as well as its abundant and rich flora and fauna. There are approximately 1700 plant species, over 60 mammal species and a host of other wildlife and rare species.[2]

Effects of Climate Change

In June 2011, The Australian Government released “Kakadu: Vulnerability to climate change impacts” which considers the potential effects of climate change on this incredibly rich and precious region. The study concentrated on the methods and impacts on the catchments and floodplains, paying particular attention to the possible risks associated with saltwater intrusions and also extreme rainfall events on the coastal wetland regions.

Rises in sea levels and therefore salinity will lead to a recession of freshwater plant species and their dependent fauna and birdlife. This will have a severely deleterious effect on the biodiversity of the region and will lead to significant shifts in the food chain and also the region’s reliance on tourism as a major socio-economic force of the region.[3]

The cultural effect of climate change on the indigenous population has also been considered, involving discussions with major indigenous stakeholders and the Binninj people of the area. These were outlined as impacts on:

• Language
• Getting income from country
• Living on country
• Looking after the country
• Looking after special places and sacred sites
• The availability of bush tucker.

If little is done to combat climate change, the 2070 forecasts for risk to the region rate as “high to extreme for many areas entailing cultural values, ecology, socio-economic values, tourism and planning and regulation.”[4]

However, the paper also concluded that adaptation options to climate change are available and possible and that some of the high to extreme risks to the region can be reduced, so that the Kakadu can continue on in spite of the forecast temperature rises that are expected over the next 100 or so years.

Envirosafe Solutions supports the protection and respect of the Kakadu region and its abundant and diverse flora and fauna. As one of the true natural jewels of our country, it requires every support and protection available to it by way of government funding, adaptation strategies and research that can lead to a greater understanding of its specific needs and requirements as the planet begins to heat.

For more information on Envirosafe Solutions Extreme Green range of eco-friendly products, please telephone 1300 889070.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakadu_National_Park

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakadu_National_Park

[3] http://climatechange.gov.au/publications/adaptation/kakadu-vulnerability.aspx

[4] http://www.climatechange.gov.au/publications/adaptation/kakadu-vulnerability.aspx

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Green websites for educators and children

Envirosafe Solutions is keen to promote an environmentally sound approach to lifestyle, business, education and family life. We also support the dissemination and sharing of green ideas and green views that may be of service to our clients and other members of the community and general public. We also care deeply about the need to educate the younger generation on issues such as conservations, sustainable living, climate change, responsible use of fossil fuels and various energy alternatives. We believe in instilling a sense of “green values” in the younger generation.

For this reason, Envirosafe Solutions has compiled this useful overview of a few green website links for parents, educators and children. We hope they can be of use to you, your schools and your families.

Planet Patrol

A great eco-friendly website written by children and for children. It contains information on the latest environmental technology, interesting flora and fauna and explains how children can make a truly big difference by doing a few really little things.[1]

Turtle Care[2]

A Sunshine Coast based kids’ website and organisation focusing on turtles. A wonderful project resource site with some stunning visuals and photography of turtles. It also contains information on threats faced by turtles and has information for schools and also for volunteering.

KidsLife[3]

A good website aimed at empowering parents to help their children reach their full potential. It has a very good little section on environmental education.

Victorian Association for Environment Education[4]

A great member based professional website for educators in Victoria. It encourages and supports educators to engage in environmental education and sustainability.

Environmental Education – NSW Department of Education and Training[5]

An excellent website filled with information for teachers and for children. It outlines environmental and sustainability education, and offers teachers guidelines and ideas.

Gould League[6]

The Gould League has been helping us enjoy the environment since 1909. A wonderful website and not for profit organisation that is both an innovator and leader in environment and education. It also puts out a wonderful environmental newsletter titled “Squawk.”

Wetlands Environmental Education Centre[7]

A nice website focusing on the Hunter and Central Coast region of NSW. Offers school programs and other programs throughout the year.

Ollie’s World[8]

An interactive site for children with a section for children and a section for educators. Also has a range of interactive CD roms for use by educators.

This compilation is a small selection from a comprehensive eco-friendly websites list currently being developed by Envirosafe Solutions. We encourage you to educate your families and children on the importance and reality of the current global environmental predicament and will keep you informed about other relevant websites in the not too distant future. In the meantime, please consider the Envirosafe Solutions range of eco-friendly products, suitable for use domestically and also in business and industry of all kinds. Join the green revolution. Show you care. Buy products from Envirosafe Solutions’ Extreme Green range of products. For more information telephone our sales team on 1300 889070.

[1] http://planetpatrol.info/

[2] http://www.turtlecare.com.au/sea-turtle-information-for-kids.php

[3] http://www.kislife.com.au/Default.aspx?ID=639

[4] http://www.vaee.vic.edu.au

[5] http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/env_ed/index.htm

[6] http://www.gould.edu.au/html/about_gould.asp

[7] http://www.wetlandseec.schoolwebsites.com.au/news.aspx

[8] http://www.olliesworld.com/html/about.htm

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E-waste

Just about every household in Australia has at least one, if not two computers. And just about every family in Australia has at least one mobile phone. We purchase the latest technological updates with abandon and enthusiasm, and while these new toys are fun, fast and fabulous, do we often stop to think about our cast-offs and our discarded electronic equipment? We might pass them on to our children or relatives, but eventually they will find their way to the local garbage or landfill site.

Electronic waste – or e-waste – as it is more commonly referred to these days, comprises the surplus and the broken or discarded electrical devices we know longer use or need. In both developed and undeveloped countries this form of waste pollution is of major concern mainly because this specific form of waste contains a series of hazardous substances that can be extremely toxic to humans, the groundwater table, landfill sites and the environment in general.

The range of toxic substances in e-waste includes:

• Americium (a known carcinogen)
• Mercury (in flat screen monitors)
• Cadmium (in rechargeable batteries)
• Lead
• Beryllium oxide
• Polyvinyl chloride[1]

According to a United Nations report titled “Recycling- from E-waste to resources, “the world is heading for a potentially devastating deluge of electronic waste as many nations struggle to keep the sheer volumes they are facing under control.”[2] Huge mounds of hazardous waste from electronic products are growing fast, particularly in many developing regions with rates of growth as high as 500%.

What is most concerning is that much of the hazardous waste is handled carelessly and often, as is the case in China, “incinerated by backyard recyclers who recover valuable metals and in the process release plumes of far-reaching toxic pollution into the atmosphere.”[3]

The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Achim Steiner added that “China is not alone in facing a serious problem. India, Brazil, Mexico and others may also face rising environmental damage and health problems if e-waste recycling is left to the vagaries of the informal sector.”[4]

Solutions

UNEP’s view is solutions to the problem of backyard burning of the e-waste to obtain the metals are possible with government and business help.

It noted that a pilot programme in Bangalore in southern India reveals ‘state of the art recycling plants, building on existing organisations working in the areas of recycling and waste management” are the way for the future. The implication for other countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Africa and China, as well as other under-developed countries where the practice is widespread, is huge.

It remains clear that the challenge of dealing with e-waste represents an extremely important and significant step in the transition to a green economy. All nations need to take heed, given the increasingly significant role electronics and new technologies play in our lives. These devices are here to stay. Large scale and responsibly controlled and overseen modes of recycling of these technologies will help to minimise the toxic release of their substances into the earth’s atmosphere.

Join the green revolution. Support green industry. Phone Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 889070.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_waste

[2] http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33845&Cr=waste&Cr1

[3] http://www.un.org.au/apps/news/story.asp?News=33845&Cr=waste&Cr1

[4] ibid

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Building Green

Building green is now a major facet of any construction. Even in the brick veneer belts of suburban Australia, green construction methods and green strategies are incorporated into aspects of house design, outlook, energy use and building materials.  High end architecture firms that began experimental implementation of green modes of design and building initially fostered the change. And now, in 2011, it is almost mainstream.

The new approach to building applies for new and complete home building as well as for renovations, restoration and partial design work. According to the Australian Government’s LivingGreener website, “if you are thinking about renovating or building you can reduce the environmental impact of your building project in a number of ways.”[1]

Waste strategy

One of the simplest is to recycle and reuse your materials and to work at a waste minimization plan.

A waste plan helps you identify the types of refuse that will be produced by the build or renovation and guides you on methods of re-use, recycle or final disposal of the materials. Many local councils now require this as part of the development application.

Embodied Energy[2]

You can also reduce your building footprint by reducing embodied energy. Embodied energy is the energy that is incurred once. It comprises “all the energy consumed by all the processes associated with the production of a building.”  It refers to the production and processing of the resources (natural and man-made) as well as transporting of them. It does not refer to the operational energy of a building (ongoing energy usage.)  One way of trying to minimise the embodied energy of your build or renovation is to source materials that are organic, green and also environmentally sound. The Your Home government website also has a list of the embodied energy of common building materials and this is a good starting point guide.[3]

Incorporate passive design

Passive design elements mean your home will only need minimal heating and cooling. Develop a good understanding of passive design elements for your site or your renovation, and build from this starting point. This will reduce or eliminate energy bills and the need for lighting. Passive design elements include:

• Using the natural climate
• Passive solar heating – using orientation and aspect (north facing for heating etc.)
• Shading of glass where summer sun is a problem
• Insulation, draught sealing, advanced or double glazing
• Passive cooling – use of existing breezes
• Thermal mass – use of dense materials such as concrete, cement, masonry or bricks to absorb heat and release it at night when needed. Maintains internal temperatures of home[4]

Many simple strategies can be incorporated into building and renovating. Envirosafe Solutions understands that incorporating green building strategies and techniques is now an important part of any project. Envirosafe Solutions can also help you with your own footprint once you have built or renovated. Use their eco-friendly products and reduce your own family or business’s impact on the local and global environment.

Low toxicity reputable products that place the environment first can be a part of your daily life. Phone Envirosafe Solutions for more information on 1300 889070

[1] http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/waste/building-material-waste

[2] http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs52.html

[3] ibid

[4] http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs41.html

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