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Low Carbon Diet

HOPE’s LCD Project (2009-2010)

Low Carbon Diet

HOPE’s principal aim has always been “to raise awareness of, and encourage active participation in, waste minimisation and the conservation of energy and resources”. In 2008 the Queensland State Government announced its Low Carbon Diet initiative which aims to encourage residents to reduce their household energy consumption by 25% or more. HOPE could see the parallel between the two aims and so applied for funding to promote the Low Carbon Diet program in the Toowoomba Regional Council area. Funding was granted for activities to be undertaken between April 2009 and March 2010. The project consists of conducting some 40 information displays, 5 workshops and a series of public meetings. Information and milestones relating to the project are detailed below.

LCD project update 08/02/10

A final e:mailout media release (29/1) entitled Take the Low Carbon Diet was sent to all Queensland public and private primary and secondary schools ... some 2,600 schools. Thanks to Kay Johnson for preparing the email lists and Nicole Albury for the media release. As part of the evaluation phase, we are seeking feedback from all and sundry about the “measures adopted by household’s to reduce energy (and water) consumption in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the Toowoomba Regional Council area; and other parts of Queensland. Please specify if you have/will be registering to take the Low Carbon Diet; adopt some of the LCD measures; or have instead registered for the ClimateSmart Home Service. Please forward your responses to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 31 March 2010.

LCD project update 18/01/10

HOPE’s remaining LCD project activities include presentations at Garden City Rotary Club (15/1) and Toowoomba Older Persons Network (TOMnet) (10/2); an information display at USQ “O” Week (24/2); and a final e:mailout entitled Take the Low Carbon Diet.

As part of the evaluation phase, we are seeking feedback from all and sundry about the “measures adopted by household’s to reduce energy (and water) consumption in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the Toowoomba Regional Council area; and other parts of Queensland. Please specify if you have/will be registering to take the low carbon diet; adopt some of the LCD measures; or have instead registered for the ClimateSmart Home Service. Please forward your responses to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 31 March 2010.

LCD project update 25/10/09

Walking the Talk: HOPE hears of SQIT’s early work on organisational sustainability – by Andrew Nicholson 27/09/09

HOPE presented a 30 minute overview of the Low Carbon Diet program to an attentive audience at the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE (SQIT) at the Bridge Street, Toowoomba Campus on Thursday, 3rd September 2009.
Over 150 TAFE staff members were assembled to receive a range of in-house professional development presentations using the impressive multi-media facilities of the Bridge Street lecture theatre. Andrew Nicholson presented HOPE’s segment on Low Carbon Diet and he enjoyed the receptive atmosphere of those in attendance.

As part of his talk, Andrew asked for feedback from the audience on any existing environmental or sustainability initiatives that were being conducted by the organisation, and it was clear from comments received from Danielle Bermingham, Marketing Manager, that SQIT has already embarked on the early beginnings of assessing its current operational carbon footprint; and seeking to reduce this in the future. This early work reported from TAFE is heartening as it demonstrates a major local organisation which intends to walk the talk of organisational sustainability.

Closing discussion between HOPE and TAFE staff pointed to the possibility of a future mutual support partnership between our two organisations, with the possibility, for example, that HOPE obtains a semi-permanent display space for its work on campus. HOPE will continue to follow and report upon the significant potential of this emerging player in local sustainable development culture. We wish to particularly thank Lisa Erbacher and Danielle Bermingham of TAFE for making our involvement possible on this occasion.

Sustainable House Day a Great Success – by Nigel Kimball
A record 170 homes around Australia opened their doors to the public for this year’s Sustainable House Day held Sunday, 13 September. This year, HOPE helped involve two local premises to participate in the day, St. James Anglican Church which showcased their solar energy usage and the Krenske’s family who showcased their sustainable home gardening and permaculture techniques. Although visitor numbers were not as high as hoped (just under 50 through both premises), a number of visitors travelled from Brisbane to visit Krenske garden. A big thank you to Archdeacon Gary Harch and the parish volunteers who helped on the day, as well as Hugh and Kaye Krenske for their participation. Plans are afoot for HOPE’s involvement in next year’s Sustainable House Day, which will be held on Sunday 12th September 2010.

Solar Neighbourhood is Launching in Toowoomba – by Nigel Kimball
HOPE is very pleased to announce that after several months of preparation we can officially state that an exciting new Solar Neighbourhood project for Toowoomba commenced in early October. The project will commence with a three-month pilot exercise involving a series of Going Solar seminars, the first of which was held on Thursday 8 October at the Groom Park Hall, Neil Street, Toowoomba.
Homeowners interested in going solar are invited to attend these FREE seminars to find out what is involved in purchasing a solar system and how, through the project, they can do so at a greatly discounted rate thanks to the power of bulk purchasing and a number of Government incentives available that are designed to make solar systems more accessible to the public.
Local companies, Yarramine Environmental, who will manage the project and Excel Solar who will source and provide installations are also very excited by the commencement of the pilot.
Seats at each of the seminars (next one is on 29 October) are limited and to reserve your seat you need to register your attendance with Nigel Kimball from Yarramine Environmental on (07) 4638 2442. Light refreshments will be available and attendees will be able view a scale model of a solar system.

LCD project update 25/09/09

Highlights include:

• LCD program presentation at Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE (SQIT) on 3 September. Thanks to Andrew Nicholson who represented HOPE on the day.

• The completion of our LCD display program at local shopping centres.

• Staging of Toowoomba’s Sustainable House Day on 13 September. Thanks to Nigel Kimball, Yarramine Environmental, for coordinating the event on our behalf.

LCD project update 06/09/09

· We have received three requests for LCD presentations – Gabbinbar State School; East Creek Neighbourhood Centre (ECNC); and Garden City Rotary Club.

· We asked the Queensland Department of Education to promote the LCD program and related initiatives throughout the state schools network of Queensland - they have agreed to do so!

· Ms Rhonda Monroe of Toowoomba’s Home and Community Care has agreed to distribute HOPE’s Low Carbon Living Starts at Home booklet to their clients.

· A special thanks to Nigel Kimball of Yarramine Environmental for managing Toowoomba’s Sustainable House Day event on behalf of HOPE.

LCD project update 18/08/09 Important update

Due to low attendances figures at our first three Information Sessions and our first Workshop, the HOPE Management Committee has been decided to cancel the remainder of these events; and instead, offer presentations by invitation only. So far, we have confirmed bookings with SQIT (Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE) for 3 September and Science and Technology Forum, Toowoomba SHS, 19 October. If your organisation would like to receive a FREE presentation on the Low Carbon Diet program, contact the HOPE office on 4639 2135 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

HOPE is also hosting this year’s Sustainable House Day, Sunday 13 September.

LCD project update 01/07/09

It’s all systems go!! The program of shopping centre information displays, workshops and information sessions has been finalised (see below); a media release circulated; and invitations to attend the workshops and information sessions has been mailed out (postal and email) to some 820 community organisations, schools, churches, etc.

I ask you to directly support these activities by attending one of more of these events yourself; and by encouraging family, friends and work colleagues to do likewise.

Also, as our LCD Project has evolved and grown, we have a funding shortfall of some $800. Donations of postage stamps, photocopy paper and of course $$$s would be most welcome.

LCD project update 06/06/09

· HOPE’s information displays at the relatively small events of NRM Week (24 May) and World Environment Day (31 May) were well received.

· Stephen has done a good job updating our website and now all information pertaining to our Low Carbon Diet project can be found online at www.hopeaustralia.org.au .

· Thanks to Samantha and her team at Wombat Creative for producing an information booklet which will be available soon. This booklet is now also available as a pdf file further down this page. See 'Low Carbon Living Starts at Home' under the 'articles' heading. Update July 09.

Low Carbon Diet project 11/05/09

Over the past few weeks we have sent out LCD promotional articles to a variety of organisations and institutions that may be able to help us disseminate information to their respective memberships and/or readerships. Also, we are working on a major mail-out to community groups as well.

We have received generous sponsorship from Officeworks (Toowoomba). They have provided us with the necessary office stationary and computer consumables. Thank you Joce and Jodie. Ergon Energy has offered us $250 in sponsorship as well. Thank you Andrew.

The travelling LCD information display has already been to the Highfields and Crow’s Nest libraries. Tomorrow, it will be taken to the Yarraman library where it will be for a few weeks.

Recently, we had a major LCD display at Warwick’s Peace Festival (Saturday, 2 May) - with a good level of interest from on-lookers. Coming up, we will be at the NRM week event in Queens Park, Toowoomba (Sunday,24 May) and the World Environment Day event at Lake Annand Park, Toowoomba (Sunday, 31 May). Come and say hi!

The program for the public meetings is progressing slowly. We are still searching for suitable venues and dates across the region.

Low Carbon Diet program update 24/03/09

What is the Low Carbon Diet?

The Low Carbon Diet is a State Government program that provides information and resources to help Queenslanders to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the global climate change solution. With the Low Carbon Diet, you'll learn how to reduce your annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 2000 kg a year. It is a 30-day program divided into three sections to make it easy for everyone to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions:

1. Reduce your household greenhouse gas emissions by making simple changes to your everyday actions;

2. Look at the energy efficiency of your household appliances - taking action will have a long-term impact and save you money;

3. Finally, and most importantly, encourage and help others to also live climate smart. Learn how to share the knowledge you have learned about climate change and help others become part of the solution.

Grab yourself a Home EnergyWise Kit. It is orange and square, so its easy to find at our displays.

Or order one from the website http://www.dme.qld.gov.au/Energy/home_energywise_kit_1.cfm .

For those of you who have already done so, please don’t forget to fill out the feedback card in the back and return it. This will help us and the Government establish how much energy is being saved!

Low Carbon Diet (LCD) Project Launch 06/03/09

We have received a letter from Hon Andrew McNamara MP, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, advising us of our "success in obtaining $10,000 funding for our Low Carbon Diet project". The Low Carbon Diet grant provides support to run a series of workshops, forums and information displays which will be focused on helping people reduce their carbon footprint by making energy savings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The project was launched this morning (Friday 6 March) at Toowoomba City Hall, Ruthven St. Hon Kerry Shine MP, Member for Toowoomba North and Cr. Peter Taylor, Mayor Toowoomba Regional Council will be special guests at the launch.