EV Charging for Strata

Greetings from the Inner West Footprint EcoFestival. One interesting display is from Alchemy Charge offering low cost electric car charging for apartment blocks, using ordinary power points. They have overcome the problem of overloading the building's power supply (or an expensive upgrade) using smart power points. Each box screwed to the wall is controlled by WiFi, to ration the amount of charge provided to each vehicle. 

The challenge for Alchemy will be convincing home owners that low capacity chargers will be worthwhile. Cars are only driven a few km a day, so a low capacity charger will be fine. But the driver thinks they need a full charge quickly.

Last year I was on a committee advising the ACT how to reduce carbon emissions (Turner Et. Al, 2023). Canberra has already implemented many measures, making new ones harder. Especially hard are measures for apartment buildings , as all decisions on changes have to be made jointly, with the costs, and benefit shared. One way I suggested was with Smart low cost power controller/monitors for EVs. This is essentially what Alchemy offer, but with more purpose designed electronics. 

Reference

Towards Net Zero in ACT Apartments, Tim Turner, Robin Eckermann, Jeffory Mitchell, Brand Hoff, Robin Stanton, Glen Hassett , Craig Davis, Tom Worthington, Amy Jowers Suburb, Marea Fatseas, Mishka Talent, Dean Spaccavento, Daniel Shaddock, Lachlan Blackhall, ACT Chapter, Pearcey Foundation, 2023

Making Sense of Tragedy Through Art

Sydney Art Exchange Have a Mask 23 January 2020

Arriving at Articulate project space, in Leichhardt Sydney yesterday for ELECTIVE AFFINITIES was more than a little confronting. We were offered respirators to wear in the art gallery, by very serious people in while overalls. While this brought Coronavirus to mind, it was part of an performance piece about the recent bush-fires. We were asked to wear the respirators for as long as we felt comfortable, then hang them on one of the hooks in the gallery. This was a thought provoking, and unsettling experience, like all good art.

Women in Design Wikipedia-edit-a-thon at Sydenham Library in Sydney

Greetings from the Hack the Canon: Women in Design Wikipedia-edit-a-thon at Sydenham Library in the Sydney Inner-west. Speakers are Olivia Hyde, Director of Design Excellence, NSW Government Architect; Zoë Sadokierski, senior lecturer, School of Design at the , University of Technology Sydney; and  Cathy Lockhart industrial designer and academic. Thee will be wikipedia editing to follow and the event goes until 4pm, so come along.

Sydenham Station Creative Hub

Yesterday I attended a talk about the "Sydenham Station Creative Hub" at Batch Brewing Company. This is a proposal to form a creative precinct in the industrial area adjacent to Sydenham Railway Station, to the South West of Sydney's CBD. Council staff talked about the proposed precinct, followed by the brewers on the difficulties of starting a business, and a tasting of the brews.

Being initiated by local government, the Sydenham Creative Hub is essentially a land planning activity. It is proposed to keep the current general industrial zoning, while allowing restaurants, cafes, bars and businesses:

"... but only where the consent authority is satisfied that the business premises and/or office premises will be used for a creative purpose such as media, advertising, fine arts and craft, design film and television, music, publishing, performing arts, cultural heritage institutions or other related purposes...".

What seems to be lacking from the plan is any concept of how to attract or support businesses, apart from helping with planning approval. There do not appear to be any targets for the project attracting business. I suggest the project needs a plan, with a budget and a projection it will be revenue positive for the council within a realistic time-frame.

The Council might want to also involve some local business students in working on aspects of the project beyond zoning. Also a workshop to work out a better name than the "Sydenham Station Creative Hub" (or just drop "Station"). The Council might also catalog the vocational training available in the area: brewers and other creative need training and certification.

ps:  John Whelan, of the Inner West Council Economic Development Unit proved that this local council can, literally, organize a drinking session in a brewery. ;-)

Anecdotal History of Annandale

Marghanita da Cruz, author of the book series "Anecdotal History of Annandale", will chat about writing Sydney's history, 3pm Saturday 3 September 2016 at Tetch Gallery, 245 Parramatta Road, Annandale, Sydney, NSW.