Links to online resources
Below is a categorised list of interesting websites relating to the themes covered in the Sustainable Living at Home program.
The "Good Environmental Choice" website has excellent tips for improving the sustainability of your home. It shows that simple changes have significant benefits for the environment and just as importantly, can save you money.
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Energy
Your Home Guide
Your Home is a suite of consumer and technical guide materials and tools developed to encourage the design, construction or renovation of homes to be comfortable, healthy and more environmentally sustainable.
www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/
The Australian Greenhouse Calculator
The Australian Greenhouse Calculator is a program that will calculate your yearly greenhouse gas emissions based on the information you have provided. The calculator will also compare your greenhouse emissions with that of a 'typical' house and a 'green' house.
www.epa.vic.gov.au/GreenhouseCalculator/calculator/default.asp
Sustainability Victoria formerly Sustainable Energy Authority of Victoria (SEAV)
Information on Victorian government sustainable energy initiatives including:
- Solar energy rebates
- The Energy Smart programs
- Energy saving techniques
www.sustainability.vic.gov.au
Energy Smart Home
This site shows simple ways to both help protect the environment and reduce your energy bills. By making Energy Smart choices in your home, you can save hundreds of dollars and halve your household greenhouse gas emissions. The virtual home audit tool provides you with a personalised Energy Action Plan to make your home more energy efficient and save money.
www.energysmarthome.com.au
Alternative Technology Association (A.T.A)
A non-profit community site, providing information upon all forms of alternative energy. Also offers:
- Assistance in producing your own renewable energy
- One-day courses on a variety of energy technologies
www.ata.org.au
Safe Climate (a world resource institute initiative)
An American site with comprehensive, easy to understand information upon the impacts of climate change. Including those on biodiversity and planetary ecosystems. It also contains a carbon emissions calculator and greenhouse footprint calculator for individuals and businesses.
www.safeclimate.net/
The Australian Greenhouse Office
A comprehensive government site offering:
- Information on international programs and government initiatives
- Emissions reduction tips for homes and businesses
- Figures and definitions relating to the greenhouse effect
www.greenhouse.gov.au
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Water
Save water Australia
Australian based site providing information on:
- Water saving products
- Water saving techniques
- Recommendation for water saving gardens and plants
- The state of water storage levels in Australia and
- Global water issues
www.savewater.com.au
Conserve water
Melbourne Water site containing:
- Information on Melbourne's water catchments and storage levels
- General information on water in the Australian environment
- Water education resources
- Water conservation wizard, a water conservation calculator for your home
- Many water saving tips
www.conservewater.melbournewater.com.au
Waterwatch Victoria
The Victorian branch of the national community water-monitoring program, with nearly 3000 groups in 200 catchments. The site provides:
- Information on the program,
- Educational materials,
- Waterwatch news and events for your community
www.vic.waterwatch.org.au
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Waste
Environment Protection Agency, Victoria
The E.P.A's site contains a lot of information for Victoria including:
- Waste policies and legal requirements
- Information on the national pollution inventory
- Information for students
www.epa.vic.gov.au/Waste/
Sustainability Victoria (formerly Ecorecycle Victoria)
State government organisation dedicated to waste reduction and recycling. The site contains:
- Information on the 'Waste Wise ' program
- Educational resources
- Home and community waste information
- Household chemical collection information
- A huge database of statistics
www.sustainability.vic.gov.au
Department of Education Science and Training - radioactive waste
A government department site that contains general information on radioactive waste in Australia. Includes information on :
- The amounts and types of radioactive waste in Australia
- Why it is produced and the types of radiation it produces
- How it is managed
www.radioactivewaste.gov.au/default.htm
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Travel
MetLink Melbourne
A Victorian public transport guide which contains:
- Timetables for trams trains and buses
- Fare guides
- Public transport maps to plan your sustainable transport
www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au
Public Transport Users Association
Independent organisation site containing:
- Information on Melbourne's public transport situation
- Campaigns to support public transport
- Facts and figures for public transport and sustainability
- Information on the political aspects of public transport in Victoria
www.ptua.org.au
Victorian Transport Policy Institute
A site designed for those interested in a more detailed look at the sustainable transport issue, containing
- Detailed facts and figures about transport sustainability
- Policy options and techniques to encourage public transport use
www.vtpi.org
International Bicycle fund
Non-government non-profit site with heaps of information on:
- Non-motorised urban transport and planning
- Amazing statistics on the international use of bicycles for transport in cities
www.ibike.org
Car Free
A site containing heaps of information and examples of car free cities. Primarily focuses on Europe but many of the principles can be applied to Australian.
www.carfree.com
Bicycle Victoria
A site containing information on:
- State wide bicycle events
- Bike accident insurance
- General bicycle transport information
www.bv.com.au
The Australian Greenhouse Office
A comprehensive government site offering:
- Information on international programs and government initiatives
- Emissions reduction tips for homes and businesses
- Figures and definitions relating to the greenhouse effect
www.greenhouse.gov.au
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Purchasing
Greenleap
An environment community email list, facilitating the trading of environmental innovations and ideas including green purchasing.
www.green-innovations.asn.au/greenleap.htm
Ecorecycle Victoria
Victorian government organisation web site, containing an invaluable waste wise shopping guide for products through out Victoria.
www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au
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Biodiversity
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)
A site detailing Victoria's biodiversity and bioregions as well as information about Victoria's biodiversity strategy and management policies. (Formerly Department of Nautural Resources & Environment)
www.dse.vic.gov.au
Department of Environment and Heritage
These pages include a detailed look at Australia's biodiversity. For those looking for a detailed look at the state of Australia's environment, especially biodiversity, the state of the environment report is also available here.
www.ea.gov.au/soe/index.html
Australian Conservation Foundation
A great source for information on biodiversity including:
- Breaking news
- Articles
- Information on what you can do to help.
www.acfonline.org.au
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Ecological footprints
Online ecological footprint calculators
A site containing an easy to use EcoFootprint calculator
www.earthday.net A site containing a detailed ecofootprint calculator
www.demesta.com/ecofoot
Environment Protection Agency (E.P.A) Victoria
A site containing information on the eco-footprint concept and many pilot footprint programs throughout Victoria.
www.epa.vic.gov.au/eco-footprint/
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Permaculture
Earthwise Resource Development Australasia - Permaculture Education
Home of permaculture education centre, the site provides:
- Provides information about permaculture
- Facilitates the application to courses
www.earthwise.org.au/permed.html
Southern Cross Permaculture Institute
A Victorian permaculture centre, located in Gippsland, east of Melbourne.
www.southerncrosspermaculture.com.au
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Environment and government
Below are links to the major political parties in Australia. Found out about their environmental policies and values.
Greens
www.greens.org.au
Liberal
www.liberal.org.au
Labor
www.alp.org.au
Democrats
www.democrats.org.au/policies/
The Australian Conservation Foundation
The Australian Conservation Foundation provides a critical review of Australian politics and the environment, containing feature article son many subjects.
www.acfonline.org.au
VICNET local government directory
A site containing links to all Victorian local government websites and the relevant environmental departments.
www.vicnet.net.au/government/localgovt/
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General
Environment Victoria
Non-government site providing information on many topics including:
- Triple bottom line reporting
- Native environments
- Climate change and
- How to become active in environmental issues
www.envict.org.au
The Eco Sustainable Hub
A comprehensive list of national and international links to environmental sustainability related topics
www.ecosustainable.com.au
ABC case study: the house that Mike and Heather built
A site providing an example of a retrofitted house in NSW, showing how a small family retrofitted water, energy and waste systems to become more sustainable.
www.abc.net.au/science/planet/house
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More Information
For more information, see the Sustainable Living at Home program home page, use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Sustainable Living At Home .
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