Low Carbon Living - Support local businesses and communities to keep the Blue Mountains beautiful
There’s a clear sense among supporters of Low Carbon Living, Southern Highlands that now is the time to establish a network of businesses committed to sustainability. With the rollout on 22 March of the Low Carbon Living national program, there’s hope that other regions such as the Margaret River- Busselton region, Byron Bay, Central Australia and Kangaroo Island will come on board.
Ecotourism Australia is supporting the national program, together with UNSW Sydney’s Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living, and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute (BMWHI). “Some of us have been banging on about climate change for years,” admits Miles Lochhead, who runs the Southern Highlands-based environmental and resource management consultancy, zerrro. “I think every community needs to consider a low carbon lifestyle, both at a personal level and from a business perspective – but I am biased!”
Mr Lochhead says the opportunity to be part of Low Carbon Living, Southern Highlands is too good to miss. “We saw this as an excellent opportunity for local business to get on board, make a difference, and save money.” The founding chair of Low Carbon Living Southern Highlands, Randall Walker, agrees. He says consumers want to make positive purchasing decisions and want to spend their money with business operators who are committed to sustainability.
“If a business isn’t able to overtly demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, consumers are less likely to be interested in them,” Mr Walker says. Mr Walker believes local operators are realistic about the benefits of sustainability. “Businesses in the NSW Southern Highlands are keen to adopt a sustainable approach for the right reasons.
“They have an altruistic commitment to sustainability. But they also know there are economic benefits associated with low carbon living because it leads to more efficient use of resources and lower operating costs.”
One of the benefits of the Low Carbon Living, Southern Highlands program is that it provides surety for business and for consumers because members are audited and rated on their energy and water use, as well as their waste reduction. The program also sustains and promotes a network that connects suppliers to operators, and operators to consumers. As Mr Walker discovered, the conversations generated by low carbon living have a domino effect.
“For example, all 18 golf courses in the region are coming together to provide electric golf carts. Once we got talking about having electric carts, we realised the next step is to use solar energy to power them.”
The founding members of Low Carbon Living Southern Highlands include BDCU Alliance Bank, RePower Southern Highlands, the Moss Vale Golf Club, and Climate Action Now Wingecarribee (CANWin). The economic development team at Wingecarribee Shire Council also support the initiative.
Representatives from Low Carbon Living, Southern Highlands will join their Blue Mountains counterparts on 22 March 2018 to launch the Low Carbon Living national program. “The Low Carbon Living national program empowers everyone to address climate change by making positive decisions about their use of resources, where they shop and what services they support,” says BMWHI executive director Dr John Merson.
BMWHI piloted the Low Carbon Living program in the Blue Mountains some years ago. “We now have over 80 businesses involved in Low Carbon Living, Blue Mountains, and we expect the initiative will be equally successful in the Southern Highlands and other regions,” Dr Merson says.
Research undertaken as part of the LCL program shows 82% of visitors and 91% of residents would choose a local business that has made an effort to reduce its carbon footprint. The research also found 50% of visitors would choose a low carbon destination over one not known for reducing its carbon impact.
BMWHI invites you to join us for the Low Carbon Living national program launch, at 5pm on 22 March at Scenic World in Katoomba. Please register here to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/low-carbon-living-national-program-launch-tickets-43425284194
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The road to Leura’s Brahma Kumaris Centre for Spiritual Learning is unruly and pot-holed but it rewards travellers with majestic views over the Grose Valley wilderness. The journey provides a fitting start to the meditation retreats the centre offers to people seeking a reprieve from the stress of modern life.
The Brahma Kumaris Centre for Spiritual Learning sits on a 132-acre sanctuary nestled in the bush. Guests are requested to adopt ‘pure living’ principles while they are on retreat. This includes a vegetarian diet, no alcohol, smoking or stimulants and modest clothing.
Brahma Kumaris is an international women’s-led organisation, established in Leura 17 years ago. Jessica Yuille is the environmental co-ordinator for Brahma Kumaris Australia and is very much aware of the environmental sensitivities of the centre’s location. As a member of the Low Carbon Living program, Brahma Kumaris Leura has achieved a silver rating and is informed and inspired by the efforts of other LCL members.
The centre recently added a new air-sourced heat pump hot water system designed by Jeffery Di and marketed by Stephen Wilson of Lead Tech.
Brahma Kumaris has eight solar hot water systems that service 45 twin-share rooms with ensuites; three 2-bedroom cottages; a dining and kitchen venue; meditation hall and reception area. In January 2018, two new heat pump water units replaced older systems and a further five new units will be installed later this year.
“We researched and chose heat pump technology because it is efficient, inexpensive to run, reliable and cheaper than solar,” says Jessica.
Heat pump technology has been around for at least 20 years and is a green energy alternative to traditional solar hot water systems. Lead Tech’s patented design differs from competitors in that each unit is quiet and compact, the size of a standard refrigerator, and does not require additional booster units (gas or electric) if the external temperature significantly decreases.
The Lead Tech unit has the lowest carbon footprint of any comparable heat pump on the market, the technology is Australian-owned and is adaptable for residential and commercial purposes.
The purity and quality of the water inside the system remains intact due to the design of the coiled piping inside the tank, preventing sediment and bacteria from accumulating at the bottom of the tank.
Ultimately, the water is drinkable and chemical free and water wastage is significantly reduced. Other benefits include tank water that is vented to atmosphere, not pressurized.
Although the upfront cost of a Lead Tech unit is 30 per cent more than conventional heat pumps, the immediate savings with energy bills are a minimum of 50 per cent. Upfront costs will be paid off in the first five years.
Other sustainable and energy-efficient modifications at Bramah Kumaris Leura include air conditioning heaters that have replaced gas heaters in the bedrooms.
Aircon Off smart controllers regulate the temperature and the investment is energy- and cost- efficient. Underfloor hydronic gas heating systems warm office spaces, and wall panel heaters are mounted in other areas.
Cardboard, batteries, light bulbs, plastic bags and clear packaging are recycled, and the compost bin was moved closer to the kitchen door so that it can be used more easily. Joan Houghton and other residents maintain the vegetable garden, growing food to supplement the requirements of large groups on the weekends. Leftover food is frozen and donated to Earth Recovery’s Food Rescue program in Katoomba.
Local Eco-architect Nigel Bell (Conservation Hut) designed an addition to the reception area incorporating straw thatched insulation in the roof and strategically placed windows, maximising natural light and solar heat. Nigel also renovated a wheel-chair accessible toilet in the 90-year old Stone Cottage, located at Govetts Creek at the foot of the property, surrounded by a well-established English garden tended to by the centre’s ‘Meditative Gardeners’. Landcare manages the creek, bushland and nature swamps on the property.
LED lighting is used internally along with path lights and road lamps. Power is switched off where not needed, particularly at night. Residents now manage with one freezer instead of two and the pilot light for the cooker is used only when cooking. The PA system in the venues is no longer on standby but switched off until needed. A 3-phase rinse tank heater in the kitchen is heated only when in use.
Vegetarianism is an adopted lifestyle at Brahma Kumaris, reflecting a philosophy of non-violence and awareness of the global waste, pollution and other costs associated with a meat-based diet. A recent study found that excluding red meat from our diet reduces our carbon footprint more than eliminating cars from our roads.
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Gallery ONE88 Fine Arts in Katoomba began as a pipedream for Sharon and Victor Peralta. It became a reality ten years later, in November 2015.
The concept was simple: to support and encourage established and emerging artists by providing an accessible exhibition space, providing positive experiences for creators, investors and admirers, and offering low commission rates.
The gallery houses numerous exhibition spaces on three floors. The building’s main advantage is its expansive west-facing double frontage, allowing ample natural light to flood the space and highlight the works on display. Pedestrians can preview the space from the street. The gallery is welcoming and inviting and its vast windows allow flexibility in how works are showcased.
“Because we have such a huge expanse of space, it allows us to hang works differently,” Sharon says. “There are paintings on the ceiling, coffee tables on the wall, hanging nests and canvases displayed in every corner from the basement to the rooftop.”
Sharon and Victor invested in standard LED lighting and are now upgrading to the newest LED lighting systems, specifically designed for gallery exhibitions and further reducing the gallery’s carbon footprint.
Paper waste is recycled or reused as drawing paper for young visitors and general waste is minimised as much as possible. Residual glass has been used by an artist to recreate four glass sculptures currently exhibited in the gallery window. Organic waste is composted at home.
The gallery also provides ‘boomerang bags’ for customers, and offers MTNS Made bags for sale. Bubble wrap use is minimised with art buyers encouraged to return packaging for reuse to avoid adding to landfill.
Gallery functions are catered with non-disposable cups, glassware and cutlery, and the Peraltas source food from local suppliers to prepare onsite (managing a family of nine has enabled the Peraltas to streamline food production without waste).
Because the building is leased, the Peraltas need owner’s approval to install a solar panel system. For Sharon: “It is all about being flexible. Reassessing where you are is important to keeping on top of new technologies and improving the service you provide to the public.” Gallery 188 is a Silver rated Low Carbon Living Program member.
Sharon is aware there is a decisive shift in the way artists are addressing the impacts of climate change. She says artists are becoming more creative with recycled materials and merging traditional techniques with new ones.
Leura Fine Woodwork Gallery has carved itself a niche in the heart of Leura Mall amongst specialised retailers, cafés and restaurants.
Leura’s shopping centre boasts a picturesque setting with four distinct seasons. This encourages visitors and locals to take their time and enjoy the near-extinct pastime known as ‘browsing’.
Judith Langley and Neil Williams bought Fine Woodwork Gallery in 2001. It was an established business showcasing high quality handcrafted, made-to-last wooden pieces that directly challenge our throwaway society.
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Over the past 72 years, local family-owned business Scenic World has evolved as a business focused on environmental preservation, partnerships and local investment.
Scenic World is Australia’s most visited privately owned tourist attraction, with over 1 million visitors a year. It runs the world’s steepest incline railway into the lush Jamison Valley, as well as the Skyway, Walkway and Cableway.
The business is accredited by Ecotourism Australia as a Green Travel Leader and regularly monitored by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Scenic World also has a silver rating as a member of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute (BMWHI) Low Carbon Living Blue Mountains program.
Scenic World is serious about improving its energy efficiency and reducing its environmental impact. Electricity generated by the railway during its descent is fed back into the grid, offsetting the electricity used in its ascent. Lanolin instead of petroleum is used to grease the railway tracks and minimise friction. The current Skyway upgrade will increase capacity without additional energy use, while the Cableway will be upgraded next year to minimise peak energy usage.
Anthea Hammon is Scenic World’s joint managing director. She is also an engineer and the third generation of her family to run the business. “Scenic World offers the visitor an opportunity to experience an all-senses tour of this unique environment without damaging, eroding or degrading the surroundings,” she says.
In 2000, Scenic World constructed a walkway above the valley floor, replacing the old walking tracks that caused erosion. The walkway enables visitors to minimise their footprint but still connect with the environment and learn about the flora and fauna.
Through a partnership with BMWHI, Scenic World has lent its support to projects including the Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Program, an archaeological survey of the Bleichert Ropeway a mining village at Ruined Castle, and a World Heritage education program for staff and visitors.
The business has also considered its waste management and food miles. Scenic World uses solar-powered waste compactors to reduce rubbish overflow and collection frequency by up to 80%. Its restaurant and café uses BioPak to save 22 tonnes of CO2 annually. Restaurant and café visitors are offered compostable cutlery and crockery. Fair trade coffee is provided by local outfit The Little Coffee Company and Katoomba’s Whisk & Pin products are also available. Other local produce is sourced from Katoomba, while free-range eggs are supplied by a farm in Windsor.
The use of a Pulpmaster to manage organic waste was inspired by other local businesses such as the Escarpment Group. A cardboard baler is used onsite to compact waste, reducing costs associated with storage and disposal, and Scenic World has contracted a waste management company to redistribute 100 tonnes of organic waste each year.
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