Everyone in the community can help achieve a more sustainable environment and the first steps towards sustainability begin in the home.
One of Council’s key public education initiatives is its Living for Our Future program, which encourages residents to live sustainably and reduce their ecological footprint.
Since 2005 when the program was instigated, 60 workshops have been held. The workshops cover various topics including energy in the home, water, waste, green purchasing, transport and creating healthy homes.
The program is provided by the City of Boroondara and the National Centre for Sustainability at Swinburne University, with funding from Sustainability Victoria, Council, Melbourne Water, Origin Energy and VISY Recycling.
The pilot Living for Our Future program was a finalist in the national United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards (Local Government) for Best Specific Environmental Initiative.
The City of Boroondara expanded the concept when it held its first Living for Our Future Expo in April 2007 at the Boroondara Farmers Market. The inaugural event attracted 1,800 visitors and is now an annual event with this year’s expo attracting more than 2,500 visitors. The expo provides usable information about local products and services to help residents make better choices for sustainable living.
Boroondara’s planned Eco-Living Demonstration Centre will support this public education campaign as it will be designed to replicate a home that incorporates energy saving, water conservation and waste management tools. The centre is one of three future projects, resulting from Council’s involvement in the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord, a partnership between State and Local Governments.
The other two planned Accord projects are the establishment of the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action and the development of a carbon neutral strategy for Boroondara.
