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The realities of life on our
planet dictate that continued economic development, as we know it, cannot
be sustained. This is because present-day forms of economic activity are rapidly
undermining two other development processes that are essential for human life
and civilization: the process of ecological development and the process of
community development. The ecological development represents
the biological wealth and climatic conditions necessary for life on our
planet. Community development represents community, families and educated
responsible citizens and civilization itself. The compromising of these
processes by current economic activities is destroying both the viability of
human communities in a growing number of areas of the planet and the quality of
human life in many other communities and neighbourhoods throughout the
world.
Noosa Council has joined 6400 other
Councils around the world and Australia, working to halt this destruction of our
children’s future and to save the environment for their needs to come. Noosa’s
CCP office has undertaken the first step towards reaching an over view of the
impact of the Shire’s energy needs for both Council and its community. These
figures will be presented soon and will indicate the areas where measures can be
implemented to reduce the massive carbon dioxide emission created by our demand
for energy.
The danger to
our future environment caused by the Greenhouse effect by the releases of mega
amounts of CO² from burning fossil fuels
from using our cars, and from kwh generated from coal, has now outstripped our
planet’s ability to absorb it from the air in a reasonable amount of time.
Presently the CO² we release today will be
airborne for 60-100 years before it can be reabsorbed through living biomass and
the oceans.
Today’s
CO² levels are the highest they
have been in the last 20,000 years, which is beginning to show on many ice
glaciers in New Zealand and around the world by an average melting rate of 1
metre per day. To face the future as being apart of the solution Noosa Council
is reviewing how it can best reduce its energy needs and move towards improved
energy efficiency, and reduced reliance of fossil fuels. Future power conversion
through fuel cells, and power generation using renewable energy from natural
resources like the sun, wind, water and bio energy from waste, is an investment
in the future that Noosa Council is considering, along with 50 other Councils
across Australia.
Noosa Council’s CCP office
is committed to the planning and implementation of sustainable communities that
are driven economically towards environmentally sustainable practices. New jobs
that support and promote growth in ESD (Ecological Sustainable Development)
will provide wealth generation and infrastructure for a sustainable future in
many areas of the community.
Noosa Council
is following the program set in place by the International Council for Local Environmental
Initiatives which is a global network implemented to support local
governments around the world in the reduction of CO² emissions. The stages of
the program are known as the Milestone Program and each of the five steps
provides Council with valuable information in planning for, and implementing,
future reductions in CO² emissions.
Step 1
Find out the amount of energy Council and community use
Step 2
Find out what measures could be used to reduce CO² emissions
Step 3
Implement measures best suited for the local community
Step 4
Audit energy usage and compare before and after measures
Step
5
Report to ICLEI and look for improvements and new measures for higher
reductions
To
be a part of the solution in reducing Greenhouse gases, the Noosa CCP office can
assist you in a number of ways that will save you money and increase your home’s
investment potential for the future. To support Noosa Council in the
implementation of its sustainable communities program, your support is a valued
asset for the promotion and development of green jobs that can bring profits
into ecologically sustainable market place.
The growth in
ESD investment that moves away from worst-case practices is redefined by
how we plan for a sound environmental investment that reduces our daily
footprint on the planet through reduced energy demand in our daily lives. New
housing using solar passive design and renewable energy for both power and hot
water production will increase your home’s resale investment potential, save
money and reduce many tonnes of CO² each year. New homes built
for the local environment make use of natural cooling air-flow to reduce energy
needs in summer and reduce energy needs in winter, by using winter sun for
heating. The Noosa Council CCP office can help plan energy efficient homes, and
guide you through the essentials in designing a sustainable home using your
local environmental resources.
Water catchment and storage for your personal needs is also a vital
consideration as it will save you money and provide you with a valuable resource
in times of drought, using solar pumping to a header tank in your roof for
continued water pressure.
A
sustainable home even if located in a residential estate can still have its own
water supply underground were the tank can be recharged with mains water when it
reaches a critical level. Water from your tank is best used for the shower solar
hot water system, toilet and garden, with mains water for drinking.
Landscaping around your home should be planned to provide natural
protection from solar radiation in summer and help to reduce heat from entering
the home through exposed walls and windows, while providing a source of natural
organic food production like passionfruit, pawpaws, bananas.
Noosa Council CCP Greenlist / service providers / organisations
If
you have a business in the
following categories please contact the CCP office and register your support, by
adding your details to the (CCP
Greenlist).
Noosa CCP office is
currently building a support network of this new ESD investment market that can
promote environmentally sustainable businesses that provide jobs and a viable
income to local families.
Ecologically Sustainable Business
Renewable energy
installations
Renewable energy
technology
Solar hot water
equipment
Permaculture
installations
Solar construction and home
design
Water catchment and storage
equipment
Clean water services
Waste treatment
services
Organic food production
Natural products
manufacturing
Native plant production
Aquaculture production
Recycling, products,
building materials
Waste management methane
recovery systems
Energy efficient
appliances
In addition to the above,
any other business you consider is both environmentally and economical
sustainable -- we would like to hear from you.
Environmentally Sustainable Organisations /
and Groups
Your support is valuable to
us and we look forward to your registration on the CCP Greenlist for organisations.
For further information on
sustainable communities, please contact the Noosa Council CCP office. We would welcome your comments and
support, investing in a sustainable future.