Consulting
MEFL's strong skills and experience in various aspects of sustainability and community action enable us to offer a broad range of consultancy services to government and private organisations.
Our unique understanding of community perspectives on sustainability and climate change has also allowed us to collaborate effectively with major consultancy firms as a consortium, to approach projects with a unique skill set.
MEFL offers consultancy services across technical research and data analysis, sustainable urban development, renewable and low-carbon decentralised energy generation, business model and governance development, and carbon management and reporting.
For consulting enquiries, please contact Bruce Thompson.
Listed below are some of our past consulting projects.
Client: Moreland City Council
MEFL developed the Carbon Management Strategy document for Moreland City Council which included an analysis of CCP commitments and carbon reporting obligations in accordance with GHG Protocol and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act (NGER). The Carbon Management Stategy defined Moreland City Council's emissions scope and detailed a framework to establish a carbon reduction plan.
The report identified capital projects that will realise a 24% reduction in councils CO² emissions by 2012. In delivering to Moreland City Council the Carbon Management Strategy MEFL performed an inventory of Council's emission under the NGER's guidelines.
Client: Moreland City Council
MEFL, under the Solar Cities Project, examined council's current practice in regards to Utility Management. The strategy was developed in light o f the Carbon Management Strategy which requires that council reports quarterly on its carbon emissions.
The development of the strategy involved a MEFL staff member being seconded to Moreland City Council for the project duration. The project involved input from a variety of internal departments including IT, Finance and Property Services. The strategy highlighted the need for integrated management and analysis of council's utilities to support emissions reductions initiatives and also to monitor Council energy expenditure. Council have subsequently employed a Utility Officer and are working towards implementing the recommendations tabled in the strategy.
Client: Brimbank City Council
MEFL provided a detailed feasibility analysis on the potential to commercially facilitate the installation and use of grid-connected renewable energy at the Sunshine Energy Park.
The development of the Sunshine Energy Park- Renewable Energy Feasibility Study assessed the former landfill gas site for potential use as an urban renewable energy generation hub that can also function as a business promotions and community engagement hub.
Client: Moreland City Council
As part of the Moreland Solar City Project, MEFL developed the Energy Services Company Business Plan which evaluated financial and technical models to drive public and private investment in efficient energy management and sustainable energy generation.
The ESCo Business Plan has identified the resources required to undertake pilot projects that will test the model and assess the long term viability. It also provides an opportunity that will allow MEFL to demonstrate the viability and effectiveness of an Energy Services model as a solution to delivering a carbon neutral community.
Successful implementation of this project will enable MEFL to test if a revenue stream can be created and used to help fund future carbon reduction projects, thereby reducing the cost to Council and to the community.
Client: Sustainability Victoria
This research project explored the business and delivery models of over 40 precinct-scale urban development projects around the world, analysing how sustainability outcomes were delivered through innovative business models and governance structures. The key project aim was to understand the critical success factors of a variety of business models that have delivered sustainable precincts, and how the approaches taken could be utilised in Victoria.
MEFL managed delivery of all project outputs, including a research report, six detailed case studies (see below) and a stakeholder workshop.
- Case Study: Christie Walk, Adelaide (169.06KB)
- Case Study: Ecovillage at Currumbin (164.19KB)
- Case Study: Hepburn Community Wind Park (196.16KB)
- Case Study: One Brighton UK development (201.14KB)
- Case Study: Portland Streetcar (162.71KB)
- Case Study: Vauban, Germany (291.10KB)
Client: Moreland City Council / Yarra City Council
MEFL in collaboration with Ironbark Sustainability delivered a project for both Moreland and Yarra councils which examined the Councils' processes for implementing sustainability improvements into their small facilities (approx 95% of Council's building stock).
The project assessed current practices and created a systematic approach for each Council to integrate into their processes that will facilitate the measurement and improvement of the sustainability performance within the small facilities.
Client: Moreland City Council
As part of the Moreland Solar City project MEFL is currently providing advice to MCC to meet its zero net corporate emissions target by 2012. MEFL is bringing together industry leaders in this area to provide analysis of National Carbon Offset Standard and its relevance to Council in light of its Carbon neutral targets.
MEFL is examining offset investment strategies which exploring the ability for council to invest in local offsetting opportunities whilst maintaining integrity as articulated by the ACCC.
