CURRENT PROJECTS:

Loaner Bags

Designed to help rid the town of plastic shopping bags, the Loaner Bag is a free re-usable shopping bag that can be either re-used by the shopper or returned to the retailer they got it from (hence “loaner”), to be used by the next customer. The Loaner Bag concept was thought up to overcome people’s tendency to collect re-usable bags, storing them behind the fridge or in the boot of the car. Loaner Bag Fact Sheet »

Solar Oven Bakeoff/ Sustainability Fair

A huge day of sustainable stalls at Olive Pink Botanic Gardens. The Solar Oven Bakeoff is an eyecatching event. Entrants are judged on quality of ovens and food cooked in them . The Fair and Bakeoff happen annually in September.

DesertSmart Gardens Challenge

3 normal gardens, 6 months, 9 workshops and waterwise plans. Help us transform these water guzzlers to examples of best practice arid zone gardening. Learn some tips for your own garden too! Workshops from December 2008- June 2009.

Calculators

DKA COOLmob has several calculators to help you learn more about your consumption. All are available from this site

Carbon calculator: how many tonnes of greenhouse gas does your lifestyle produce?

Electricity calculator: Household breakdown of different appliances

Water calculator: Houshold breakdown of water appliances

Rainwater tank calculator: Size your tank and estimate how much water you can catch.

COMPLETED PROJECTS:

COOL Living House

A lot of love went into retrofitting the COOL living house. It was a great example of arid zone homeenergy efficiency. The energy consumption figures of the house are still used as the goal which other households can strive towards.

Retrofit Day

Retrofit Day is DKA COOLmobs annual event which highlights the benefit of uptaking new technology to increase water and energy efficiency in the home. In a nutshell, it is a “eco-expo” style event showcasing the best appliances and plant species available and organisations working toward sustainability in Alice Species. This event takes place in April/May each year and has coincided with the Australian Innovation Festival in the past couple of years.

		Retrofit Day 2007 Desert Knowledge Australia COOLmob hosted its annual energy and water efficiency blitz at Home Hardware on April 28th , from 9am – 1pm. The event was aimed at assisting householders to retrofit their houses, appliances and lifestyles through a more sustainable outlook. Features at this years event: Information stalls New Products and demonstrations 20% Instore discounts (not inc. the current Dogalogue specials) Live Music from Mick Cafe on a Solar Powered PA
The ECOmpetition was drawn at 12pm on the day. Brand New 302J Solahart Hot water system - won by Wendy Smith Energy Saver Pack from Home Hardware - won by Craig Cross Water Saver Pack from Home Hardware $50 native plant voucher from Greening Australia - won by Mitch Jones Congratulations everyone and thanks to the sponsors of the ECOmpetition!! Supported by:

Arid Garden

The DKA COOLmob Arid Zone Display Garden is situated at 9 Priest St, Alice Springs. The garden is an example of urban gardens being water efficient by using local native plants, gardening techniques and irrigation regimes.

The garden was completed in 2 phases:
Phase 1 is the front section and represents a rambling, low maintenance native garden. It was completed in 2004 and was assisted by several local business and organisations. We Thank them for their support.

• Alice Springs Desert Park
• Australian Greenhouse Office
• Watershed
• Home Timber and Hardware
• Greening Australia
• Rainbow Reticulation
• Tangentyere Nursery

Phase 2 is the back section and represents a more contemporary, well designed garden that could be used as a social area in any house in Alice Springs. It was completed in 2005 and was assisted by several local businesses and organisations. We Thank them for our support.

• Alice Springs Desert park
• Frances Martin (Landscape Architect)
• Master Path
• Rainbow Reticulation
• Water Shed
• Greening Australia
• Ilparpa Nursery
• Bloomin’ Deserts
• Alice Springs Town Council
• Tangentyere Nursery
• Indigenous Landscapes

Download - Species List»

IT'S GETTING HOT IN HERE

      Climate Change Forum - 15.08.06

      Presenters:

      Scott Large - DKA COOLmob Project Manager

      Tim Collins - ALEC Coordinator

      Linda McGuire - Rangelands Threatened Species Network coordinator

      Nat Wasley - Beyond Nuclear Initiative

SEEING RED

     International Day Of Action on CLimate Change - Info & Activity Session -

     5.11.06