Today’s momentous passing of the carbon tax into law is an opportunity for Australia to make bold moves forward on the road to sustainability, says the Alternative Technology Association (ATA).
Ian Porter, the ATA’s chief executive, in congratulating the Government, Greens and Independents, said the historic occasion should act as a springboard and a [...]

Watch the free online seminar on rainwater harvesting and greywater

The Alternative Technology Association (ATA) in conjunction with bankmecu are presenting a series of free online presentations to share practical knowledge about energy efficiency, sustainable building and water conservation at home.

Click here to watch the webinar:

Windows, glazing and bushfires workshop: listen to the audio files

The Strathewen and St Andrews Sustainable Rebuilding Project recently hosted a workshop on energy efficient windows, doors and glazing for bushfire prone areas.

Download the presentations or listen to the audio files of the two speakers Tony Isaacs and Tony Paarhammer.

Visit the Tankulator: ATA’s new online rainwater calculator website

The Tankulator is a free interactive online calculator that helps people plan for a new rainwater tank or improve the performance of existing tanks.

Developed by the ATA with funding from the Victorian Government Sustainability Fund, it calculates how much rainwater can be harvested from a roof anywhere in Australia based on rainfall figures from the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station.

ATA, along with Institute for Sustainable Futures, are running full day wind energy workshops for landholders, residents, community groups, councils, local business and industry, in regional NSW over the next two weekends.
Attendees will learn how
• small wind turbines produce clean energy, reduce greenhouse emissions and offset energy costs
• to determine your wind resource, install a [...]

October 5, 2011
Claims that improved financial regulation of energy distribution companies will lead to blackouts in Australian homes are false and misleading, the Alternative Technology Association says.
The ATA has welcomed a move by the Australian Energy Regulator to seek changes to the national electricity rules for an improved, independent assessment of the costs claimed by [...]

Wayne Bowers has recently completed a study into the benefits, barriers and recommendations for the growth of community wind farms in Victoria.
The purpose of the study is, to show that there are genuine benefits provided by community owned wind farms. Secondly, to identify barriers that significantly impact the growth of community owned wind farms in [...]

Dear ATA Member,

The Alternative Technology Association (ATA) will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on:
When: Friday 14th October, 2011
Time: 6.45pm registration, 7pm start
Where: The Banking Chamber Theatrette, Ground Floor, KPMG, 147 Collins St, Melbourne. (Disabled access via 161 Collins St)
Refreshments provided
RSVP Email Wendy Clarke on wendy@ata.org.au or phone (03) 9631 5407.

Guest speaker [...]

September 22, 2011
The Alternative Technology Association supports the push by Victorian community groups fighting to reverse government restrictions on wind turbines.
ATA chief executive Ian Porter has welcomed Mt Alexander Shire Council asking the Victorian Government to reverse a wind farm ban in the municipality, and the WISE group’s determination to proceed with a planned wind [...]

The Victorian Government’s slashing of the state’s solar feed-in tariff will hurt confidence in solar power in Victoria and lead to a shrinking in the solar industry, the Alternative Technology Association says.
The ATA’s energy projects and policy manager, Damien Moyse, said the government’s figures were wrong on the time it would take people to [...]