text: The transition to electric vehicles and the need for greater energy efficiency have been highlighted in a new report on the ACT’s climate change policies.
  The report from the Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment says that while the ACT Government has achieved much in recent years it must not be complacent.
  Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, Professor Kate Auty said now was not the time to hit the pause button.
  “Every new report released on climate change implications reinforces this concern,” Professor Auty said.
  “The ACT has stepped up to the challenge and achieved significant outcomes in recent years. Our reverse auctions for sourcing renewable electricity supply have been a game changer in Australia. Maintaining momentum is essential.
  “Transport is the next major challenge; energy efficiency is the great opportunity. It is paramount that climate change policy supports low-income households on the journey. They cannot be left behind.”
  The report urges the Government to lead the transition to electric vehicles by converting the Government fleet and buses, investing in infrastructure to support this and facilitate private use, and setting a target for electric vehicles in the ACT to guide the market.
  It also recommends financial benefits for using electric vehicles such as free parking and tax incentives.
  On energy efficiency, the report says new minimum standards and incentives should be developed covering residential and commercial, new and existing buildings, and owner-occupied and rental properties.
  It says energy efficiency ratings need to be valid and there should be targets and benchmarks for energy productivity in buildings to encourage change in the market.
  The Government should take the lead in this through its own buildings and procurement, for example minimum energy star ratings for all business accommodation bookings.
  The report says that climate change mitigation and adaptation policies must be embedded and integrated across government functions.
  It also says there must be more community engagement to ensure policies are understood and accepted.
  “The community must be integral to the process, both in the conversation and the decisions. We must all participate and be part of the necessary actions to address climate change. This involves changing our behaviours and supporting those less fortunate,” Professor Auty said.
  Climate Change Minister Shane Rattenbury tabled the report in the Legislative Assembly last Thursday.
  Mr Rattenbury said that in coming months the Government will engage with the community on its next climate change strategy, including interim targets to guide the pathway to net zero emissions by at least 2050.
  The ACT Government has until April 2018 to respond to the recommendations in the Commissioner’s report.
  Tags ACT Government Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Implementation Status Report on ACT Government’s Climate Change Policy Kate Auty legislative assembly Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment shane rattenbury
  I’ve done a little research about the costs of recharging an electric car. With a number of assumptions, an estimate of about $4.50 per 100km was reached. This is quite competitive compared to conventional engines at 7l/100kms and fuel @ $1.40 = $9.80. List of assumptions can be found here: https://www.ergon.com.au/network/smarter-energy/electric-vehicles/charging-your-electric-vehicle
  To have a true, competitive comparison capital costs, running costs and depreciation have to be factored in too.
  Earlier in the year, the RACQ calculated average running costs for a wide variety of new cars, including 4 electric vehicles (https://www.racq.com.au/cars-and-driving/cars/owning-and-maintaining-a-car/car-running-costs). A casual look will lead you to believe that the cost of owning an electric vehicle is exorbitant, with 5 years costs totally over $100k for some models. For some reason, the RACQ calculated costs for extremely expensive electric vehicles, so if you exclude costs related to the list price (eg, depreciation, interest on loan, etc) and concentrate solely on running costs, you will see they compare well with those of vehicles in the medium car class for example. Servicing electric vehicles will be less expensive than servicing current fossil fuel vehicles. The biggest hit to maintaining an electric vehicle is battery replacement at about 100k km (http://knowhow.napaonline.com/electric-car-maintenance-need-know/). If you survive that road hump, and with the purchase price of electric vehicles continuing to drop, owning an electric vehicle will cost the same as the average medium car.
  Here is something from 4 years ago to haunt the government and remind ratepayers that climate change ideology has winners and losers with the losers picking up the tab.
  Is off-peak power from the grid at very reduced rates going to be available at night to re-charge electric cars at residences? If not they will be a waste of money.
  I just realized I never posted that Elizabeth is not pregnant after all. We discovered this when she started calling and shaking her booty again one Wednesday evening. I suppose she was just getting fat, but has lost most weight since Victoria arrived.
  She sometimes dons the hat of Mother Elizabeth now. I wonder if she thinks Victoria is her daughter. If so, then she must think all the talk about giving birth being a painful experience must be a hoax. She washes Vicky thoroughly (sometimes too thoroughly for Vicky's liking) and plays with her all day. Which is why she's lost weight.
  Very pretty, but not flashy and over the top (both in and out of bed). We spend the most time hanging out after work and during the day on weekends. Take road trips just to see in person for a few hours and super comfortable with doing the introduction to all my friends since they really like her too. And that might be a problem since everyone also gawks at Miss Popular. However, there’s nothing of a high reward at the end of the day (aka the Buffalo Bills in the SB and every fantasy season). Although things are steady, except for the occasional disagreement over something trivial that got out of hand (aka forgetting an important relationship date/the referee lockout), they are not surprising and sometimes guys gotta mix it up a bit.
  I’ve been with her the longest. We made a commitment years ago (although at the time it was based a lot on Mike Piazza on the Dodgers) and although things have changed dramatically over the years (steroids, Bud Selig, coming and going of childhood heroes like Chipper, A-Rod, and Karros), we’re still together. Financially, things are going great and her success is something remarkable, although you can’t figure out why other people would pay to spend hours every day with her. You come home everyday knowing she’s there, but do you really want to hang out with her (or the Baseball Tonight crew)? I mean, you know all the ins and outs about her and really she’s just boring for 3-5 hours on end. Home runs, warning track catches, and closer K’s that used to be exciting (in bed?) are now just routine. The spice is gone. Hell, even the fantasy aspect isn’t as fun as the sassy, younger football version. But still, she’s your first love, your everything. You’ll be by her side and defend her to death. Her WAR is 15.8 even though she’s batting only .221 this season, and the next, and the next. And because of that, you’ll defend her to death do we part.
  During the 2002-2003 NHL season (back when there were NHL seasons), I fell in love with the sport on ice. For a few months, I read up on everything there was about hockey. I poured myself 250% into my fantasy hockey league and rode the likes of Markus Naslund, Matt Sundin, and Jarome Iginla to a league title. I could rattle off the top goal and assist leaders like I was born and raised in Calgary. And although this fleeting love wasn’t out of nowhere (I still remember watching the Sabres battle it out with Dallas in the ’99 Stanley Cup only to be screwed over (as always for Buffalo) by the mystery “No Goal” by Brett Hull as if it were the Music City Miracle), like some things this had to come to an end. You realize that although you had a fun time and want that feeling to last forever, there’s just too much not in common (with NHL, the overlap with the NFL/NBA and the influx of European names that are just too hard to remember; with the Summer Fling the fact that she’s probably going to end up being a chain-smoking stripper with 3 kids by 4 different fathers). So you part ways, even call each other now and then to see what’s up, but always speaking with that lack of spark you both rode during that summer. And yes, she did end up getting locked out of her own season twice, so good decision in the end!
  Two words: Dra-Ma. And that knife cuts both ways. The NBA is probably the one sport with the highest excitement ceiling. The dunks, the fast breaks, the 3-point binges. This girl is flashy, exciting, super-model popular to everyone around the world (see: James, LeBron). She’s someone that works hard and plays harder. Any night of the, but especially those weekends, its party-o-clock and she’s headed for the nearest club. The city is where its at and she’s super chic in the way she dresses, whether its Urban Outfitters during the day, Juicy Couture at the bar or some form of pants with writing slapped on her backside. This girl brings your life to “new levels of higher excitement”. But it can wear you down. She’s totally going to complain about something and start a melee with other girls, (or even spectators!). Sometimes the effort just isn’t there off the court/dancefloor and she’s totally not trusting in you although its you that shouldn’t be trusting of her (hello David Stern vs. the world). So, while you might enjoy the highs, remember that weekend nights/the 4th quarter of the playoffs only last so long and you’re stuck dealing with the other 3 quarters of your life to get there. High reward, higher risk.
  This one is simple. You did what you were supposed to do as a college kid and spent 3 months in a place where there still was running water and satellite TV, but where English sounded like a 24 hour cab ride. But hey, studying abroad is as close to GTA-esque escapism that a young man can get, so of course its an excuse to go balls to the walls-er more than you have all semester! And that’s when you realize that being surrounded by a bunch of Europeans who have been doing the drinking/sexing/smoking/drugging/partying thing since they were 13 exposes how far behind Americans are in the “how to have crazy fun” department. And yes, this is a direct attack on people in their 20s drinking light beer, throwing a bag of beans, and requiring things like “Happy Hour” to get out and drink. Many might say the same goes for sports fanship on both sides of the pond. Everyone knows about the soccer induced riots and hooliganism. But football fans in Europe are really just the blue-balled sports fans of the world. Only one sport? Of course I’d go crazy! And that’s what studying abroad is like. Only one chance to party out of my skull before returning to the Puritan States of America? Of course I’d go crazy! So while Celine, Lorena, or Anika were a good one-nighter, just be prepared for the long term commitment to a people with only one-sport and realize that you’ll always be fighting an uphill battle in fanship.
  There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and college girls never age. This one is most likely (and probably should) to happen after a seriously MLB or NFL girlfriend. You’ve had your share of posh dinner dates, Bed Bath Beyond runs and awful wine parties with the ex’s friends over the past couple of years that you need another direction…immediately. She might be barely past drinking age and her ID says “199x” in the DOB section, but hey, you need to let loose. She’s also probably working for free and taking enough hits (imagine as you may) to make a college football player’s concussion look worthwhile. Academics, employment, and general adulthood are somewhere near the bottom of the list of an NCAA girlfriend (and the NCAA too), but hey, money is everything. So feel free to splurge on this one for a very, very, very (VERY!!) short while, because nobody want’s to wake up “red shirted”.
  SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League will be announcing the playing rosters for the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross on Tuesday, January 11, at 3:00 p.m. ET, on the official Web site of the AHL at theahl.com and on the Official American Hockey League Fan Page at facebook.com/theahl.
  Both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference rosters will be announced at this time, along with the starting lineups for both clubs.
  He looked at the young girl, who had sealed her lips tight, and at her husband, who seemed determined to get out of the relationship at any cost.
  Awwwww that gave me goosebumps :( :( Btw Inderpreet Kaur has written about Divorce too!! Do check it!!
  Nicely done!! Great write but quite sad the situation is common - love marriages ending in divorces. Sigh!
  Wow! That was a lot of emotion in just a few words. And the twist in the tale about the relationships was very creatively done! A great post, Sreeja!
  How poignant that the dad and the judge turn out to be the same person. How difficult it must have been for him in both roles. Well executed, Sreeja :)
  Oh thats sad!! but this is becoming more and more common in today's world!! You brought it out clearly in your post! Am following your blog now Sreeja :)
  two things.... one i loved how u connected the agony of a father in both situations a wedding and a divorce, to that of a judge who can merely pass the judgement..... only they happen to be the same person is even more ironic..... superb!!
  and second, did u notice that ur story theme for D and this happen to be on the same wavelength? again.... superb!!