June 2010 Meeting “ATA Melbourne Project Night”
This meeting was held at 5:45pm on Wednesday June 16th at the offices of URS, level 6 no 1 Southbank boulevard, Southbank (Click here for a map)
The topic:
ATA Melbourne Project Night
Convener: Paul Fritze
This month’s meeting had a very different format…
Around 20 members (including a few guests) ‘volunteered’ to put on show their personal projects. The aim was to facilitate the exchange of ideas, foster connections and inspire action. The range of projects was fascinating – all kinds of projects, ranging from simple down-to-earth to exotic and from technically intricate to community-based and socially focussed. This was a very special night. The turnup of people (78) was great for a cold winter’s night, and there was a real feeling of enthusiasm from everyone.
The project list covered these topics:
1. DIY Double Glazing
2. Observations of growing edible and non-edible plants on permanent green roofs
3. ATA International Projects Group
4. The quest for a 1kW solar powered Stirling engine
5. Wicking Box Gardens for Veggies
6. The Plummery: a small-scale urban permaculture demonstration site in Northcote
7. DIY HWS Bypass System
8. Grid Connected Solar System at Armadale Primary School
9. An investigation of how a Community Garden Project might be established in a neighbourhood
10. Green Renters: Sustainable Living with the confines of rental property
11. Proposed Grey Water Irrigation System
12. Underground pre-cast concrete rainwater tank for small block
13. Solar air heater from recycled aluminium cans
14. Arduino Microcontroller Board for Data Aquisition and Device Control via Web/iPhone
15. Proposed installation for a hot water recirculation pump to feed both the MBR ensuite and kitchen taps
16. Reducing buildup of stale water in rainwater tank
17. The feasibility of a community owned renewable energy-based Micro-Grid at Heyfield, Gippsland
18. CERES Electric Delivery Van – Citroen Berlingo conversion
19. 2010 Team Swinburne Electric FSAE Electric Vehicle Proposal
The night was informal, with the focus on face-to-face discussion. The plan was, that at the start each presenter would have a minute to introduce themselves and their project(s) before everyone grabbed a coffee and started connecting around the tables. Actually what happened was that everyone set up and started to mill around enthusiastically, with lots of discussion. Then we managed to have the introductions and got back into milling around and swapping notes.
Click here for full project summaries and links.
