environmentally sustainable building

Vote your best green architecture

2012-01-13T14:12:00.004+11:00

Dear everyone,
Are you as fully engaged in other things as I am...too busy to read all the latest goss? how lovely to find on (one of my fave sites...I've said it before!) --INHABITAT -- a shake down of the best 6 green arch stories of the year, nicely presented and ready for you to vote on your fave...

Hobbits will go WILD!

http://inhabitat.com/top-6-green-architecture-stories-of-2010-vote-for-your-favorite/

Stripping and waxing

2010-09-24T16:00:00.004+10:00

Naked: The handsome Edo Rocking Chair by Thos. Moser
Ahah!
Now someone would like to know how to stain and finish some furniture, rather than paint.
Well I say....
If you are going to strip paint off, then BioPaints also do a stain and clear finish.
But you could also think about what to do after you have stripped the paint back. The timber might already be a lovely color in which case you can skip the stain. If you want to stain, there are more natural alternatives...like black coffee!!
Then.. do you really need to varnish? You might consider leaving the timber raw.. it has a lovely feel and a bed doesn't get the same workout as, say, a floor or a chair... the parts usually in contact are covered by a mattress!
or what we did on a beautiful 150 year old kauri pine floor, was to sand it, apply a polish made of equal parts of boiled linseed oil (you buy it boiled), turps and vinegar, and then wax it. The result was beautiful and hardwearing.

So my suggestion..
1.Sand back the furniture (do it outside and wear a dusk mask!!)
2. Rub down the wood with turps to clean it up.
3. mix in an old jar equal parts turps, boiled linseed oil and white vinegar, (no need to heat, just put on the lid and shake vigourously) You can also add essential oil for extra yummy smells eg eucalyptus, lemon or lavender.
4. Rub this runny stuff into the furniature. It may make the timber darker. Let it soak in. Do a couple of coats for best effect.
5.The next day you can finish it off with a natural beeswax furniature polish... you can still get it in some shops or on-line or make your own: in an old metal pot break up some natural beeswax, if you want a harder polish add a small portion of Carnauba Wax, say 1 part to 15, pour pure (not mineral) turpentine over the top to cover , then put the whole pot in another pot of water on the stove(ie. make a double boiler). Mix it all together as it melts. Should be the consistency of unrefrigerated butter. Vary the turps to make the consistency.
6. Rub the beeswax polish on and then get a workout by buffing it by hand or find your gandma's old floor polisher to do the big bits!

Non-Toxic Paint

2010-09-22T13:39:00.003+10:00

Making your own paint with help from Earth Pigments.

Recently a mother-to-be asked me about what kind of paint she could use in her nursery to paint a baby's cot. I think that everyone, of all ages, should only have to be exposed to non-toxic paint.

Non- toxic paints are not only safe for when a child likes to suck, lick, chew(?) furniture, but also paints generally have substances in them known ans Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's), which release harmful fumes into the air. This is also known as "off gassing". You know that new car smell? Thats a toxic smell of VOC's and breathing them in is bad for you, causing respiratory problems and long term kidney problems. In Europe, most paints containing VOC's have been banned, as they are more advanced in health studies which show breathing in paint fumes (lasting for years after the paint has dried) have long lasting health issues. So of course you don't want a tiny baby exposed to the stuff.

So what to do? Lucky there are lots of good paints now available.
I personally like BioPaint, its one of the better priced non toxic paints (yes these non-toxic points can be more expensive but if you are just painting a cot its OK!) You can get non toxic paint in some eco type shops or on-line at somewhere like:
Colours by Nature
or
The Enviroshop
or
The EcoShop

Most big paint manufacturers also make low VOC paints, just look on the tin in the hardware store... but its what the paint is actually made from which adds to your thinking. The bio and natural paints are usually sourced from natural and not synthetic or chemical ingredients.

If its all to tricky... how about making your own paint! You can make traditional "Milk Paint"-
its just made of milk powder, lime, vinegar and some kind of coloring if you don't want white!
I made it once and it is great... but not smooth like a gloss paint... more textured like a light render. But at least you know what it is made of and its cheap!!!
there is a nice recipe at:
Earth Pigments

Good luck with your painting adventure!!
Jo

Where (near you) to recycle everything - from cans to computers

2010-09-21T13:59:00.005+10:00

So exciting! A really super dooper site for Australia!
http://www.recyclingnearyou.com.au/
Just put in your postcode and the website will tell you everything you need to know about all your local recycling, re-use, hazardous waste collection services! Hooray! They even tell you where to take stuff, where to shop for second hand goods locally, what EXACTLY your council collects... eg: what have you been doing with all of those pesky envolopes with windows? The site tells you if your council recycles them or not.
Hot tip! Don't crush your aluminum cans!

World's 50 "greenest" buildings

2010-08-05T10:16:00.004+10:00

Betty from the "Engineering a Better World Blog" let me know about her compilation of a list of the World's 50 Greenest buildings... as based on their LEED (US Green Building Council) certification. As Betty points out, many other buildings may fit this title, but this is a handy method for looking comparatively at green buildings.

How does Australia rate? Betty has 3 Australian office buildings on her list. The Cundall Sydney Office Fitout (St. Leonards) listed at number 9... but its surprisingly under-promoted on the web. So sorry, no images for you...but I did attend a talk by Julian Bott of Cundall at the Centre for Design's Green Building and Design course in 2007.. so maybe I will report back later after a bit of research on this project.

The very well promoted Council House 2, in Melbourne (Image above) (I'm sure I have blabbed on about it before... I do love it so..) is rated at number 31.

You may also heard of "30, The Bond", (Nicely reviewed at Inhabitat) A very clever green office building in Sydney. This is rated at no.41. (image below)

Green office buildings are gaining popularity in Australia, particularly due to the evidence of improved productivity... something every business loves! So we should look forward to some great examples in the future!

Save Energy and Save Money: Latest rebates from the government

2010-07-30T12:02:00.009+10:00

I will be running a workshop for Port Stevens Council residents this Saturday on reducing energy use in the home.
Below is an overview of the latest rebates in NSW and Nationally in case you can't attend, or would like some details:
Please note that these change quite regularly so it is best to check for yourself at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ (NSW) and http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/ (National).

NSW Home Saver Rebates
(for energy...water rebates not detailed here)
These are available for:
Hot water systems- if you swap from electric Hot Water to solar or gas or heat pump = $300 rebate
PLUS: from the federal government, if you swap to solar hot water = $1000 rebate or $800 for a heat pump.
Fridges- cash in your old fridge for $35 (+they collect it for free!) (www.fridgebuyback.com.au)

Solar and Wind Rebates, additional hot water rebates (on top of the others!) and other goodies (RECs):
Depending on the capability of your renewable energy system or hot water system you will be allocated a number of Renewable energy certificates (RECs). You can trade these yourself, but most renewable installers will glean them off you in return for a discount on your purchase.

A Newcastle Company that I recommend for Solar system setups is Solar Online Australia they have a guide to general prices with the RECs rebate shown at http://www.solaronline.com.au/solar_system_pricing

Things to consider with your new renewable energy system..
A very good document has been produced by the clean energy council: called the Consumer guide to solar PV. This tells you just about everything you need to know about buying panels.

-make sure the installer of your solar panels or wind turbine has a Grid-connect Design & Install accreditation from the Clean Energy Council.

- have your system fitted with a gross meter, rather than a net meter, so it is easier to comply with the "gross feed-in tarrif"- see below.

NSW Gross Feed-In Tariff = $$$$$ for you!
This is a very exciting development in the grid-connect solar and wind power world. If you have solar panels or a wind turbine installed on your home and they are connected to the grid (rather than a "stand-alone" system) you can register to be paid 60 cents per kilowatt hour for ALL the electricity you generate. (or 66c from some electricity providers) Not just the energy you don't use, ALL OF THE ENERGY! It does not matter which electricity company you are with. (But you need to have a gross feed in meter and a system smaller than 10kilowatt capacity) This scheme will run until 2017 (although it is due to be reviewed in 2012 or when the total renewable power capacity reaches 50 megawatts).
Helpful practical information on details and actually joining up to this scheme is found on the Climate Action Newcastle website . Don't forget to ring and double check that everything has gone though with your electricity company in a few months time.

These are just some of the MANY current rebates on offer to help you live more sustainably.

The best general website with clear information on all of the above is:
www.livinggreener.gov.au

Green Power Workshop

2010-07-29T17:59:00.004+10:00

Green Power

Here are some of the details from my Green Power workshop.

1000 kWh of coal energy= 0.89 tonnes of CO2 released into the atmosphere

Calculate how much power you use in your home with Origin's

Online solar calculator

Then you will know the basic system size for your needs.

Suppliers for Grid-Connect Solar Electricity at your home:

(Many more suppliers available)

All Natural Energy: ph: 45788808

Origin: Ph: 132463.

Solar Online (a Newcastle-based Company) Ph: 4954 3310

Solar Online's prices (current 30/07/10):

Installed Size	kWh per day	No. of Panels	Installed Price	Solar Credits (RECS) Discount	After Solar Credits (RECS) Discount

1575W	6.3	9 x 175W	$9,230	$6,240	$2,990
2100W	8.4	12 x 175W	$11,800	$6,680	$5,120
2800W	11.0	16 x 175W	$15,270	$7,280	$7,990
3150W	12.8	18 x 175W	$16,660	$7,560	$9,100
4200W	17.0	24 x 175W	$21,940	$8,440	$13,500
4995W	20.0	27 x 185W	$26,430	$9,080	$17,350
6300W	25.5	36 x 175W	$34,760	$10,160	$24,600
7350W	30.0	42 x 175W	$41,690	$11,040	$30,650
9990W	40.0	54 x 185W	$56,210	$13,240	$42,970

The above indicative pricing includes installation in most areas of NSW for most house types.
This pricing includes GST. Please contact us for a quote to suit your requirements.

Good Green Power available in NSW:

The following information is provided by the Green electricity Watch, visit their website for more details and to make this chart link further: http://www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au/Normal

Rating	Product	Company	How much of your electricity is green?	Extra Charge per unit of green electricity	Extra cost per week (estimate)
4 star	GreenEarth Solar	Origin	100%	6.1 cents	$8.05
4 star	GreenEarth Wind	Origin	100%	5.5 cents	$7.22
4 star	GreenEarth Wind Offset 100%	Origin	100%	5 cents	$6.57
4 star	Greenchoice 200%	ActewAGL	200%	5.5 cents	$14.45
4 star	Greenchoice 100% WIND	ActewAGL	100%	5.5 cents	$7.22
4 star	Climate Neutral - Emerald	Climate Friendly	100%	4 cents	$5.25
4 star	Greenchoice 20	ActewAGL	107%	5.5 cents	$7.70
4 star	COzero Home 100%	COzero	100%	4.8 cents	$6.02
4 star	PureEnergy Premium	Energy Australia	100%	6.2 cents	$8.38
4 star	PureEnergy 100	Energy Australia	100%	5.4 cents	$7.08
4 star	Greenchoice 15	ActewAGL	80%	5.5 cents	$5.78
4 star	Ark Climate Residential	Ark Climate	100%	4.4 cents	$5.78
4 star	INgreen Pure	Integral	100%	4.4 cents	$5.78
4 star	INgreen Future	Integral	100%	6.6 cents	$8.67

Reducing Power in the home:

Replace lights with fluorescents or LCD’s
Turn off stand-by items at the power point
Turn off appliances when not in use
Don’t have fridge/freezer so cold; don’t have hot water so hot.
When buying new items go for highest star rating
When replacing hot water choose solar or instantaneous gas.
Adapt your home rather than using air conditioners /heaters

ZELFO Changes

2010-06-03T15:06:00.009+10:00

Image from new Zelfo Website.

You may have been interested in the Zelfo product which I raved on about afew years ago, a kind of plant-based plastic. The people of Zelfo are very communicative which I see as a very positive aspect for a developing product! Anyway, I recently recieved the following email from them:
"

Hello Jo

We are the owners of the Trade marked and Patented material Zelfo - as mentioned in your blog article on Zelfo.

Firstly I would like to thank you for running this article and for giving Zelfo a presence on your website.

Zelfo Technology are now concentrating on streamlining the manufacturing aspect of Zelfo and our product emphasis is no longer as shown in your article. From both your and Zelfo Technologys' side I believe it is important that we issue information that is current as it is of no benefit to either side to confuse the market. Therefore as Zelfo Technology are not ready to issue any press text or to show the latest range of Zelfo products, can I please ask that for now you remove all existing materials from your site.

Naturally as and when we are ready to issue any material that is relevant to you we will inform you immediately .

For you information, the microsite http://www.zelfo-technology.com is now live.

Many thanks for your assistance with this matter.

Richard Hurding

Zelfo Technology

richard.hurding@zelfo-technology.com
http://www.zelfo-technology.com
"
So we shall wait and see what develops.
Good Luck Zelfo.

Stars in the whitegoods

2010-05-18T09:48:00.003+10:00

My friend is making the big investment into a new fridge and asked my advice on low energy options. If you run on solar or other DC -type power, you can purchase a 12 or 24V fridge which connects directly to the DC system... such as Waeco's 212L fridge/freezer... no need to lose all that energy in the inversion to 240V. Or if you are on the grid, then save electricity and money buy getting one with a high star rating. You can compare them on line at the Australian government Energy Labelling Site.

Urban Interventions: creative activation of urban spaces

2010-02-21T11:33:00.004+11:00

Well if you loved our bus shelter and all other wonderful city installations that popped up and then away in Newcastle back in 2008, then get your inky fingers ready to play in the city again!

23rd to 27th Feb 2010, City Switch will happen in Newcastle, Australia.

Bringing Architects, artists and activists from Japan to Newi, City Switch will be several days of fascinating guest lectures, four days of intensive workshops for ANYONE who wants to join in and work with a group to create a city installation, then the 27th the works will be installed in the city!

"The CitySwitch Lab transfers people between cities to collaborate on the creative activation of urban spaces." so says the CitySwitch website

This week of fun in the inner city of Newcastle is connected to the lovely ReNew Newcastle initiaitve.

Fractal Furniture

2010-02-01T21:20:00.006+11:00

I am currently wrtiting papers about fractals and architecture thus I came upon this delicious table, which is a proper geometric mathematical fractal in 3D form. Cool.

The design is by WertelOberfell in Belgium, who say:
"Fractal Table is a table which derives from studies into fractal growth patterns. Treelike stems grow into smaller branches until they get very dense towards the top. Fractal Table, developed by Platform Wertel Oberfell together with Matthias Bär, is impossible to manufacture unless rapid prototyped.The table is a single piece SLA made in epoxy resin."

and I found the bait on MoCo LoCo , a The Modern Design And Architecture Web Magazine from Taiwan.. and from my short stay in Taiwan and poke around at the Yun Lin design school, there is some fun and very clever design coming out of Taiwan too!

Lettuce growing on skyscrapers

2009-12-15T14:21:00.003+11:00

No more need to grow plants the traditional, horizontal way! Now plants can grow miles high, vertically! Covering buildings in inspired greenery, with a new product from Atlantis (who make all sorts of great water recycling and harvesting modules) called Grow-Wall, you can easily have amazing "green" buildings. For tiny outdoor spaces like apartment balconies, this could be really great!

PS yes it has been a while since I posted. I think it is time to start again!

Recycling timber into sexy stairs

2008-09-05T13:02:00.001+10:00

A lovely web blog dedicated to great images and ideas about stairs, is Stair Porn
which features a section on recycled timber stairs from Garbage Architecture which is a SUPER dooper site on building out of found materials. YAY! Here are some more eye candy stairs from Stair Porn :

Not just your feet! How big is your community's footprint?

2008-09-04T12:22:00.000+10:00

Some info about determining a community's carbon footprint from Pia Treichel- Unit Manager of
Cities for Climate Protection Australia...

There are councils in some Australian states who have used alternative approaches
to measuring their community emissions, such as the City of Melbourne in
Victoria, and the City of Playford in South Australia.

You can find an explanation of the methodology used by Melbourne in
their Zero Net Emissions by 2020 paper on their website
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=218&pa=1612&pg=1618.

Playford is involved in an Australian Research Council funded project
with RMIT (in which ICLEI is also involved) called Carbon Neutral
Communities: http://www.rmit.edu.au/cnc. This website is particularly
useful, as there are several (academic) papers in the 'research reports'
tab about community emissions and how to effectively establish a
baseline.

It's important to note that both these alternatives to CCP are
considered acceptable by CCP, but that though developed by others, they
essentially use the same premise as the (freely provided) CCP community
default data. (eg from Melbourne's paper: "Due to lack of data at the
local scale, the community inventory generally takes a top-down
approach, firstly determining emissions at a wider geographical scale
(Australia, Victoria, or Melbourne Statistical Division) and then
assigning a percentage to City of Melbourne based on the most
appropriate indicator.")

The Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA: www.naga.org.au) - a
regional grouping of councils in Victoria - have also recently put out a
tender for $100,000 to (amongst other things) establish a baseline for
their community emissions, and would be worth speaking to. I believe
they will be using a similar approach to that taken by the City of
Mebourne.

While CCP's default data is an //estimate// of each council's community
emissions, in the context that we have in Australia, in which there are
currently no national or regional data sets on local energy use (in some
countries such data is compiled by the national government) and in which
this data is often very difficult to source for municipal areas; ICLEI's
Community Energy Use Profiles provide a reasonable approximation of
municipal energy use in the absence of actual data for those councils
who do not have the kind of money necessary to employ consultants to
attempt to source this data or make more specific assumptions for them.

Moreover, while we are happy to discuss accepting alternative approaches
to community data, and there are plenty of consultants doing great work
in the climate change field; we have also seen councils hire consultants
to do greenhouse work for them (eg inventories and greenhouse action
plans) which are not of a standard acceptable to meet the requirements
of CCP.

I'm happy to discuss in more detail - my contact details are below.

Cheers
Pia

SOLAR panels on your roof in Newcastle for $2000-$3000

2008-08-12T10:00:00.001+10:00

The great community group Climate Action Newcastle have come up with a good idea, to organise a bulk solar panel installation to help reduce the price of solar panel installation even further. They are looking for households who are interested in the deal, for a 1kW system, installed for somewhere hopefully close to $2000. For further information, check the website.

Dancefloor generates electricity at London’s first eco-disco!

2008-07-17T16:33:00.000+10:00

NEWS! I Totally scnaffled this from Cate Trotter's article in InHabitat :

"Sustainability got sexier last week as Coldcut and Jade Jagger hosted the opening of Surya in King’s Cross. The Club4Climate project is London’s first taste of eco-friendly clubbing, making clubbers happy in the knowledge that their organic beverage-induced booty shaking can generate 60% of the energy needed to run the club. The venue’s most exciting innovation is the piezoelectric dancefloor, which uses quartz crystals and ceramics to turn clubbers’ movement into electricity!

Previously seen in the Sustainable Dance Club in Rotterdam, this is Britain’s first exposure to such technology. The rest of the power needed will come from a wind turbine and solar energy system, with any surplus used to power private homes in the area. The club will also be installing the latest air flush, waterless urinals, low flush toilets and automatic taps to ensure maximum water saving plus less greedy air conditioning units.

The project is clearly trying to affect behavior on a much wider scale, too, requiring patrons to sign a 10-point manifesto on entry, giving free entry to anyone who can prove that they walked or cycled to the venue, and encouraging as many other clubs as possible to adopt his philosophy."

...........................

Well when will one start up in my area!? Here is a picture of my grandparents at the Sydney's Trocadero dance club ... I wonder what they would think of dancing to save the planet? PS. SO Hansome! but don't be inspired by Grandpa's cigarette in-hand. He died of emphysema :(

Sustainable House Day

2008-07-14T12:25:00.001+10:00

A Date for the Diary: Sustainable Homes Day...
On the weekend of the 13th/14th September, houses which are sustainable will open their doors for the public to come in and have a look, and ask questions of the residents. ANZSES (Aust and NZ solar energy Society) are organising some of the tours. Their site has details of tours which may be in your area. http://www.solarhouseday.com.au/
Your local council may also be organising something.

Newcastle city council will be running something at the GAIA Sustainable living demonstration home, which is open every third Saturday of the month generally, and well worth a visit!

Community: A small group of thoughtful ....

2008-05-05T11:34:00.001+10:00

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has" Margaret Mead

Permaculture Central Coast ran a wonderful day of workshops on Sunday mixed with yummy food, homemade cakes and teas, and music.
The workshops ranged in the areas of Garden, Home, Natural Health, Traditional crafts and Food.
I learned some new native food and medicine plants from Jake Cassar, updated my knowledge on Composting and Worm farming from Lisa Wriley of the Kariong Eco Garden, then I gave a short workshop on Passive Solar design.
After a delicious lunch and music from Jake Cassar, I attended a workshop by Teresa Rutherford on repelling insects naturally, and then Peter Meloy talked about making his existing home(pictured) into a sustainable house. In the picture you can see the photovoltaic cells on his roof. Peter showed us his last electricity bill.. for $8.00 CREDIT!

My overall impression of the day was HOORAY for Permaculture Central Coast. Such a well organised event only cost attendees about $30 for the day, and so much information and hands on knowledge was available. Sometimes I go to similar day-long events held in fancy hotels with gourmet catering , which cost hundreds of dollars to attend, and don't learn nearly enough. I really appreaciate community groups who spend their own time to help others. Good on you.

Some Onethousandyear Buildings

2008-04-25T10:47:00.000+10:00

Bert asked me about what other creations I have done. Here is a little cross-sample of the different kinds of houses I have designed.

This house is close to the beach in Merewether. The long thin block has its north face up one long side. So we turned the house sideways and created little courtyard nooks to bring the sun in to warm up the thermal mass in winter and kep it out in summer.

This is a 3D computer model of a rammed earth house in a rural area in the Hunter Valley. You can see the rays of winter sunshine coming in through the clerestory windows. This small house is very spacious due to its high ceilings and also living areas are partitioned, allowing the temperature inside to be controlled and offering privacy for family members.

This house is in an old suburb of Newcastle, near Throsby Creek. This addition on the back of the old weatherboard cottage allows for plesant outdoor living. The bedroom at the back left is a great way to add to a building by keeping it separate- no need for corridors, no loss of natural light for the rest of the house.

This is the bath house for a similar-style house designed for a block near Seals Rocks. The owners are building themselves. And this is not yet complete!The base is local stone and the top is mud-rendered strawbale.

WORKSHOP: passive solar design

2008-03-12T11:14:00.000+11:00

Last night's passive solar design workshop in Lake Maquarie was lots of fun. I am so happy to see the general understanding on passive solar design is so good! The main subjects we discussed were :
o The SUN : it's annual movement through the sky and the effect this has seasonally on our homes.
o VENTILLATION: encouraging natural air flow with a variety of passive (non- mechanical) methods.
o VEGETATION: How you can use trees and vines to cool the home in summer, but not in winter
o MATERIALS: Thermal Mass or no thermal mass, and the different types of insulation
o ORIENTATION: for sun and air flow
o SHADING: Different shading options, flexibility, and shading for different directions
o LIFESTYLE: How we might change our behaviour a little to improve the comfort of our home. For example by putting up heavy drapes for the beginning of winter, moving outdoor living areas seasonally, closing down the house against hot winds, opening the house up at night for cool breezes.

These are the ones I can think of now... if you were there and have anything to add to that list or have any questions arising from the night, click the "comments" link below and leave a message!

The Government (and the opposition) of Australia apologise to the Stolen Generations

2008-02-13T10:11:00.000+11:00

It is not architecture, but it is the architecture of our nation.
The First Action of the new Parliament: To say SORRY to the people who have suffered as a result of deliberate policies of the previous and continuing Australian Governments with regard to taking indigenous children away from their families.
I used to feel embarrassed to be an Australian under the Howard Government.
After PM Kevin Rudd's first speech in Parliament House toady, I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY.
It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after watching the broadcast... currently located at http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/apology/
I would like to agree with our Prime Minister and add my energy to his open- hearted offering and hope it indeed can be received in good spirit.

meetings 18 and19 Feb : Sustainable Timber Accreditation

2008-02-12T16:33:00.000+11:00

A bit of an emergency meeting ... this from James Felton-Taylor, from australian sustainable timbers

(one of the few truly sustainable new timber suppliers in Australia!)

.....

The Green Building Council Aust (GBCA) has a new Timber Credit (read procurement policy) out for review.

The current timber credit identifies recycled and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified timber and excludes the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS-the scheme which certified Gunns, Forestry Tasmania, state forests etc). This has had the Australian industry hopping mad and the GBCA under immense pressure to change the credit. The new credit consists of 4 dot points and as long as the timber complies with 3 of the 4 then its meets the GBCA credit.

Submissions are due by the 25^th of Feb, please read below as Genevieve Scarfe a Sustainable Development Consultant with Bovis Lend Lease is organising the following meetings in Melb and Syd.

If you could attend or forward this email to any of your fellow architectures or specifiers that would be great

Green Building Council of Australia

As you are aware the Green Building Council of Australia is calling for submissions by 25 February 2008, in response to the proposed changes to the timber credit.

You are invited to attend one of 2 forums to be held to discuss the credit, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne (details below).

It would be great to have 30 people at each meeting. Given the short notice, may I ask for your help in using your networks to invite other people who are involved in sustainable design.

Purpose:

To formulate a constructive response representing the views expressed at the forum.

The credit as proposed will be critiqued, with specific suggestions discussed for improvements.

However consensus is not required.

Each attendee will provide their details to be given to the GBCA.

Time:

5.30 to 7pm

Presentation:

Chris Taylor, an expert in the field of forest certifiction schemes and standards, will offer the presentation.

He is currently doing his PHD on forest certification and the uptake of timber products sourced from certified forests.

Agenda:

An agenda will be sent out shortly beforehand.

Invitees:

Please Note: The GBCA will be hosting a number of forums itself.

These two forums will focus primarily on the point of view of ESD consultants, designers, furniture suppliers.

Melbourne: Monday February 18

5.30pm

Haworth Showroom

Sydney: Tuesday February 19

5.30pm

Haworth Shrowroom

RSVP:

Please RSVP to me, by COB Friday 15 February.

genevieve.scarfe@lendlease.com.au

Regards

Genevieve

Catch the bus from your living room

2008-02-11T19:37:00.000+11:00

And now for something I have been doing!

Local artist Victoria Lobregat and I formed a team to enter the Back To The City urban design competition. Along with 17 other architect/artist teams, our LIVING ROOM design was chosen out of around 50 entries. Our idea was to create a bus shelter that would provide an experience of using public transport which is more personally satisfying than driving.

This little creation enhances the experience of waiting for the bus at stop number 230036 on Hunter Street, Newcastle.
Until we built the living room, this exposed place beside the Clarendon Hotel did not offer a shelter or even a seat. All that a bus passenger found there was a carpark, footpath and small section of tile work which is the remnant of a previous age. Creating an
inviting space where people can pause, eat and drink while waiting for the bus, an intervention is created in the normal momentum of Hunter Street pedestrian traffic. The scale of the work make it a more intimate space than is usually encountered in a public area in the city.

Encouraging people onto the streets of Newcastle, the use of public transport revitalises our cities, reduces impact on climate change and improves heath and fitness.

To do this, we have designed and built an ecclectic Living Room, full of curios of a bygone era, where one can sit comfortably and wait for the bus, or a cappuccino.
As this site is adjacent to the Clarendon hotel, a waiter might come out and take your order.

The Living Room bus shelter is made from recycled timber, with art boxes for the side panels. These three dimensional art boxes are created from found objects by local artist Victoria Lobregat. The artist is inspired by Newcastle’s cultural and industrial heritage within an urban context.

After being installed for over a week, this shelter has not been damaged or vandalised in any way. The comfy cushions provided in the shelter still remain!!

We have received wonderful feedback from locals and tourists, and hear daily stories of people taking photos in the living room, having picnics there and generally breaking into spontaneous smiles in this otherwise empty part of town! Hooray Living Room, you are so CUTE!!

Boat house awaits the rising tide

2008-02-07T15:56:00.000+11:00

Take a quick peek at this architecture/ art / nature section of this cute blog called Artwranglers !
Here is a little treehouse made out of an old boat. I suspect with climate change and the rising water levels it may soon find some water to carry it forth.

Grow your dinner on your Head.

2008-02-04T13:17:00.000+11:00

Let us take a lesson form the wombats and creatures of the underground...how much more comfortable it is in summer and winter to live with soil above you. How much more space efficient to grow your dinner on your roofspace. How beautiful to look down from your apartment not onto the next buildings shiny hot roof but onto their wildflower garden.
This image is a building of offices and apartments by Emilio Ambasz & Associates (who have been designing amazing landscape=buildings for yonks) and is located in Fukuoka, Japan.
I found the image on the VERY good Green Roofs Australia website. If you want to know anything about eating off your headspace, this is the place to go.

There will be a series of talks coming up soon, One in Sydney on the 27th Feb, $100 for non-members. Check the website for other locations and details.

Flush your toilet with dirty water.

2008-01-21T19:40:00.000+11:00

A previous post showed these toilets which you wash your hands in the basin , and that water is then used for the next toilet flush! How exciting they are now available in Australia through Caroma. Good on you Caroma, you HAVE been leading the way in Australia for reducing water use in the bathroom.

Have been quoted $500 aprox for a unit. More info here.

Largest Flowering plant on earth MAKES GREAT PAPER

2008-01-11T09:32:00.000+11:00

This tree is a Eucalyptus Regnans The tallest hardwood tree and largest flowering plant on earth. I guess all that timber must make lots of paper, and Gunns must have thought the same, as they are unashamedly clearfelling masses of ancient Regnans in Tasmania.

To find out more, read at this very interesting article from The Monthly, May 2007, available online.

If Tasmania is to far to go and make protest, take some cyberaction at the Wilderness Society Cyberactivist Site.

May the trees be happy.

Happy 2008 and a nice website to start it off!

2008-01-09T15:02:00.000+11:00

yet another great WEBSITE: Inhabitat
These guys have a great motto:

GREEN DESIGN IS GOOD DESIGN
GOOD DESIGN IS GREEN DESIGN

This is a blog-like site, with tasty snipppets of all the latest funky green designs they can find. Including treehouse architecture! Plenty of images and video clips. This site has made it to my RSS feeder so congratulations Inhabitat!!

NEWS: Good News!

2007-12-12T10:48:00.000+11:00

I was so happy listening to the news yesterday! What a good change!
I do try to be peaceful and loving in my life but sometimes I do shout grumpily at the radio when I hear the crazy things the governments get up to...
but yesterday was full of hopeful cheer
Kevin Rudd, the Prime minister of Australia ( already a quiet smile)
goes to Bali to sign Kyoto Protocol (HOORAY!!)
leaving Julia Gillard behind as the first female acting as Prime Minister (Yay for the ladies! )
(althoug of course we await Julia's realisation of the importance of ending nuclear and unsustainable logging practices.)
The next item in the news was the Nobel peace prize being shared between Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (YIPEEEEEEEE)

DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG

2007-09-04T09:54:00.000+10:00

If you are Designing your new home or an extension, contact these guys before you start, they will send you out maps of your site and any services on there. Its a great way to start your site analysis! Their new website is : http://www.dialbeforeyoudig.com.au

Study architectue and forestry simultaneously!

2007-08-09T12:13:00.000+10:00

The 4th August broadcast of By Design (ABC RN) featured the design of buildings which create less waste in their construction process.
It is available for mp3download or perusal .
Peter Graham, from the University of New South Wales Environment and Sustainability Research Group, spoke.
One of the most interesting notions was a joint project the UNSW is doing with a university in Japan. This university runs a course in architecture and forestry. So both professions become more knowledgeable in each field.. What a GREAT idea!

Meanwhile I have found 2 more good websites on sustainable materials choices,
one which is from the US, and slightly outdated, but the theory in there is helpful, and a nice idea for a website...
AIA Sustainable Design Resource Guide

The other is Eco-Find : based in Victoria but useful for all Australia, it allows one to search for particular products by category and area. It is not as credible as the Ecospecifier, however on first use it seems quite sound.

Peoples lives controlled by design! WEBSITE REVIEW

2007-08-06T14:42:00.000+10:00

Here is what the blog Architectures of Control says about itself:

"Increasingly, many products are being designed with features that intentionally restrict the way the user can behave, or enforce certain modes of behaviour. The same intentions are also evident in the design of many systems and environments.

This site aims—with readers’ input—to examine and analyse the ideas and techniques of these architectures of control in design, through examples and anecdotes, and by keeping up-to-date with relevant developments.."

Interesting stuff! Thanks for the link Leigh!

Photo of tree reveals secret

2007-08-01T16:35:00.000+10:00

I hope you get the chance to see the exhibition currently traveling the world :
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year
There are many beautiful and touching pictures in the exhibition. The one which struck me the most is this one. It is better to see this photo up close. A hurricane flattened an area of plantation timber in this shape, and the roads made by the trucks retrieving the timber have left this pattern of a tree. Perfect. This exhibition is on at the Lovett Gallery, Newcastle until the 11 August.

WORKSHOP: Solar Passive Design (at Swansea)

2007-07-28T13:13:00.000+10:00

Hello to all the lovely people who attended this workshop! If you have any comments or questions please click the "comments" link below, and let me know. Thank you for attending, it was a very good workshop! Jo

WEBSITE REVIEW: Good Wood Guide

2007-07-26T09:39:00.000+10:00

Greenpeace have just launched their Good Wood Guide.
It is not quite finished, but will give you some ideas about where to start looking for sustainable timber. It's a really difficult project, as truly knowing if wood is good means knowing the entire process from the tree to the piece of timber. This was the idea behind FSC timber. However FSC timber producers are only just starting up in Australia, so generally any FSC timber you would be purchasing would be imported from overseas.
The Rainforest Information Centre's NSW Good Wood Guide was really awesome but sadly it is now out of date, and no funds to update it. However it has great background information to help you understand the real issues of purchasing sustainable timber.
My answer is to use secondhand wherever possible! Flooring, windows and doors especially are easy, and so much cheaper, if not free!!

BLURB: My published Blurbling

2007-07-17T14:20:00.000+10:00

In case you missed it, here is a copy of my letter to the editor which appeared in The Newcastle Herald on Tuesday, July 10, 2007:

..........
Low coal sales a high achievement
THE Herald's coverage of the Live Earth concerts reported 2 billion people world-wide showing their commitment to cut carbon emissions ("Powerful plug for revolution" Herald 9/7).
A few pages later NSW Minerals Council chief Nikki Williams appeared sad that the growth in Australian coal exports was remaining low ("Now's not the time to let coal boom pass us by" Herald 9/7).
I feel we should celebrate this low figure, and keep it small.
Australia may be rich in coal but it is also rich in other, less carbon-emitting resources.
Solar power, wind energy, and the resources and knowledge to generate these and other forms of renewable energy are the best investment for the government and industry of our country.
Ms Williams hopes for the Government to take a long-term vision and to have the willingness to take a gamble.
We can't make a wager on the future of our planet.
As the 2 billion people who watched the live earth concerts shows, we need to invest in renewable energy for exports and local use, and certainly not coal or nuclear any more.
..........

The Talented Nikki Williams presenting an environment award to Hunter Valley Coal Corporation 2005

Interestingly, Nikki Williams appeared on the forum panel which came after the ABC screening of "The Great Global Warming Swindle" (see my previous post). She is a magnificent PR agent for the new coal industry. The only woman on the panel, she appeared sophisticated, intelligent, and very caring about the climate change predicament. (She certainly is involved in many environmental community initiatives, which I cannot complain about, but we must keep following her motives.) The comments she made on the panel did not mention her push to increase coal exports for financial gain (as she mentioned in the Herald), but the "need" for coal fired power in developing nations in order to end poverty. Apparently, coal-fired electricity is the way to solve the issue of 3rd world poverty and health. Once again, I wish it was that easy! Sadly, here in Australia, we have a huge population of people living in 4th World conditions, with shameful poverty and health issues, and these populations HAVE electricity. I very much doubt that the short term solution of coal fired electricity is going to be much appreciated by anyone who 1. can't even pay the bill 2. Will absolutely not appreciate the temperature increases and changes in climate, health, farming practices in their homelands which are predicted to be the result of climate change caused by co2 increases (i.e. by producing this coal fired power in the first place!)

The Great Global Warming Swindle

2007-07-13T13:29:00.000+10:00

Last night on ABC TV certainly was exciting. They broadcast the controversial "documentary" by Martin Durkin "The Great Global Warming Swindle" followed by an interview by Tony Jones and then a forum with an expert panel and an audience full of interesting characters.

Basically the documentary put forward a case that humans are not creating climate change through carbon dioxide emissions, that temperatures are increasing and climate change is part of the earth's natural process, volcanic emissions and sunspots.

The conclusions I guess were that we can keep driving our cars and we don't have to bother pushing for renewable energy in developing nations, that those nations need to invest in coal right now, in order to end world poverty (?)

How I wish it were true! I wanted to believe! Imagine if all we had to do was cope with climate change, and not have to reduce our carbon emissions as well!
I could stop worrying about energy efficient housing and get back to worrying about resource depletion, ecosystem and habitat preservation, clean water, etc.

Unfortunately, from the outset, the doco appeared flawed with un-rigorous presentations and dubious science. The panel afterwards confirmed my fears.

Today I read an interesting article "The Great Global Warming Swindle": a critique., published in the Bulletin of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society Vol 20. by David Jones, Andrew Watkins, Karl Braganza and Michael Couglan of the National Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology.

I suggest you read it for a bit of scientific rigor.

The main errors it saw in the documentary were:

Graphs and information used in the documentary were incorrect and/or had no identifiable source and/or have been superseeded and/or were made up in part.
Temperatures today ARE higher than they have been in the last 1000+ years (evidenced by many different temperature measurement methods worldwide)
Human activities ARE creating climate change, evidenced by climate "fingerprints"
Volcanoes actually only produce less that 2% of the annual emissions of carbon dioxide produced by humans.
Ice core temperatures measurements from the past only tell us the local temperature and not the global temperature so are not relevant to measuring global temperature, and indeed do show the climate scientists more intricate understanding of the fluctuations in earths temperatures .
Sunspot theory is some kind of unsubstantiated conspiracy theory, and not fully documented in the documentary.

Anyway, the document is well written and a good read, so don't just read this post on the issue.
And there is a lot more stuff out there.

Moral of the story:
SORRY BUT THERE IS NO CLIMATE CHANGE SWINDLE :(

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR 100% GREEN POWER YET?

INFO: 2050: Young Future Leaders of the Built Environment

2007-06-14T20:51:00.000+10:00

2050 has been running since 2004, but I only JUST found out about it!
It be an "an incorporated not-for-profit association of like-minded young development professionals dedicated to a more sustainable built environment for Australia."

The 2050 mission:-

"2050 exists to drive national initiatives towards a more sustainable Australia with passion, commitment and youthful energy."

Sound good? They also say:

What is the 2050 demographic?
Being made up of so many professions concerned with the built environment, the 2050 demographic is broadly based along the following:-

Age : 21 - 35
Sex : 55% male, 45% female
Education : over 95% tertiary qualified
Employment : over 90% full time, over 40% in management positions

How do I Join?

Are you a young professional or student working towards a sustainable built environment? Simply send an email to info@2050.org.au and we'll sign you up to our mailing list so you can receive our monthly newsletters and information about upcoming events and activities. Membership is FREE and entitles you to access to the members forum on our website.

Looks like I should join! Maybe you should too.

a BIG sign

2007-06-12T14:38:00.000+10:00

Not last Sunday but the one before, I took a bus out to Anvil Hill with about 100 other Novocastrians. There we joined several hundred people who had come to show that they also did not want another coal mine to be approved. It was a lovely day and we joined together to spell out our message "save anvil hill". Can you spot me in the V of ANVIL?
How lovely it would be if the people investing in this new mine would take their money and invest it in renewable energy instead.

Last Sunday, I went down to Nobby's with several thousand other Novocastrians to look at the amazing sight of a huge coal ship beached on Nobby's. It was beached on the day that the Anvil Hill Coalmine was declared to be approved. It was also world ocean day and world environment day was the day before.
I'm not making any comment about climate change causing the storm.
But I am just going to say that the title for both of these pictures which fits perfectly is:
" A BIG SIGN"

NEWS: Solar Panels Improve

2007-05-28T08:32:00.000+10:00

I do some very interesting work with Suzan Bailey from LIVSIMPLY: an Eco Path. This business helps you to make the best environmental decisions concerning buildings, home and lifestyle.
livsimply.com.au
Suzan forwarded me some info on new assessment by the Worldwatch Institute in Washington, D.C., and the Prometheus Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
This says that production of Photovolatic (solar panels for electricity) cells :
"has risen sixfold since 2000 and grew 41 percent in 2006 alone. Although grid-connected solar capacity still provides less than 1 percent of the world's electricity, it increased nearly 50 percent in 2006, to 5,000 megawatts"

It seems this increase in uptake combined with planned new mega-enormous production of polysilicon, which will be used in more efficient ways, will probably make the purchase of photovoltaic panels much less of a financial burden.

"The conventional energy industry will be surprised by how quickly solar PV becomes mainstream—cheap enough to provide carbon-free electricity on rooftops, while also meeting the energy needs of hundreds of millions of poor people who currently lack electricity," Sawin says.

This is great news.
I just wonder however about the production methods to be used.
It looks like all these cheap panels will be produced in China to keep costs down. Does this mean also that unsustainable and un-ethical production methods will be used? Apparently photovoltaics already use half the worlds supply of polysilicon... after watching the "Crude" oil documentary the other night, I wonder is this material going to be available in the long-term? How are we sourcing and forming it? hummmmmmmmmmmmmm

TIPS: Calculating energy use in the home

2007-04-30T17:40:00.000+10:00

Here are some good on-line calculators to help you understand how much energy(and water) is used in the home:
http://www.countryenergy.com.au/internet/cewebpub.nsf/Content/env_eff_calculator

PONDERINGS:The Cost of Sustainabl extras

2007-04-26T10:04:00.000+10:00

I was reading a comment by Caroline Pidcock (currently pres. of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council) in the Sydney Morning Herald March 24-25.
She said:
"I've seen alot of clients not query how much they spend on consumer goods and gagets for the house, such as televisions and stereo systems, but complain about how much a water tank is to put in." (My Career p8)
So true Caroline. Indeedy, some folk boast proudly of the excessive amounts they spent on a plasma TV or other item for the home.
Let us be pround of the amounts we are spending on our sustainable extras.
Money well spent, in my account book.

NEWS + EVENT: Local greenie legend becomes official climate change ambassador

2007-03-06T16:33:00.000+11:00

Bernie Hockings, a well-known environmental activist around Newcastle and beyond, has been recognised by Al Gore.
One of only 86 Australians chosen by Al Gore, Bernie now represents his local community as a Climate Change Ambassador.
Bernie is one of the few people I know who has a great head for envisioning environmental change, and then making that change through very practical, apparently simple, but really very smart methods.
He is a green builder, educator, a main player in the creation of the Nationsal Association of Building Sustainablility Assessors (ABSA) and much more.
Bernie will be speaking at a presentation with Sarah Bishop, who is currently walking from Brisbane to Sydney to raise awareness about Climate Change and Earthhour ( Where sydney will turn of its lights for an hour. wow.)
The free presentation will be held on the 17th March, from 2-4pm at Panthers Newcastle.

EVENT: Solar Passive Workshop

2007-03-01T13:32:00.000+11:00

Yes, another workshop! I love running workshops, they are such a great way to share knowledge. on the 1st of May Lake Macquarie council is organising a free passive solar workshop, which I will run. Places are filling fast so contact council if you are interested in attending. Ph. 49210144

CLIMATE CHANGE easy click ACTION

2007-02-27T10:08:00.000+11:00

If you have not met the website Get Up! yet, now is a good time.
Get Up! is a website which hosts all kinds of community action campaigns. The Climate Action Now map is very cool. Simply add your location if you are concerned about climate change, and watch the map of Australia before you become populated with more and more people adding their names every second.

Finally Climate Change/ Global Wierding is becoming a mainstream concern.
Now you can watch a TV show on commercial TV called
'Cool Aid' on Channel 10 Sunday March 4th '07 at 8:30pm.
This will be a 2 hour "special". According to Channel 10:
COOL AID: The National Carbon Test will shock Australians- confront them- amuse them- inspire them. Hosted by Sandra Sully, COOL AID: The National Carbon Test will feature exclusive interviews with Al Gore, former US Vice- President and creator of An Inconvenient Truth, and Australian of the Year, Tim Flannery, as well as live performances by Toni Collette and The Finish and super group EVERMORE.
The CoolAid website also includes an online poll asking if "Australia should sign The Kyoto Agreement?"

TIPS: recycled paper

2007-02-22T11:30:00.000+11:00

TREES: Worth the chop for a note?
I had a question about recycled paper from Leigh. He asked:
Our Institution has a contract with Xerox for our paper. We must be clear felling an acre a month around here. Can you recommend me THE most sustainable office paper on the market today? And then, the best that Xerox can do?
I had wondered about this a while ago and ended up starting a green paper co-op through the Wilderness Society Newcastle. We used the joint buying power of the wilderness society and Newcastle University to buy in bulk the paper we researched as the best. Buying in bulk made the paper available at a comparable rate to bleached virgin forest paper.
Our conclusion on the best paper was confirmed by the wonderful people at SCRAP.
I refer you to the scrap website for their catalogue
and also from the copy paper catalogue page, all the further information you need on choosing the best paper.
Our choice was Evolve office, 100% post-consumer recycled copy paper, may contain some pre-consumer content, oxygen bleached. Guaranteed for high volume copying, printing and double siding. Made in England.
Our only issue with this paper is that it is made in England, creating transport issues. However, it does claim to have Australian paper content. I was confused by this and asked Peter Carroll from SCRAP for clarification:
Moi:
A few people have been wondering about Australian v Imported paper.
From looking around it seems that Green Wrap (by Fuji Xerox) is the most forest
friendly from Australia.
but then somehow Evolve is connected to Australia? :
can you explain the SCRAP newsletter Term 1 2003 p6 "Questions for
consideration" which says:
"15200 tonnes of Australian copy paper consumed in the collection area
of the UK mill producing evolve"
This means to me UK imports Aust paper and re-uses as part of general
office paper re-use...how can they know that?
Obviously Evolve is the best paper, but we would like to encourage
australian production.. we would probably involve a little campagn
with this paper co-op and it would be nice to send letters to all the Aussie
companies we reject and a letter of congratulations to the one we choose!

Peter:
Hi Jo,

The Evolve evidence on UK usage of Australian paper is drawn from reputable
industry sources including the mill (Paperlinx) themselves. The assessment
that some of this paper (once used and recycled in the greater London area)
ends up in Evolve is somewhat more speculative and cannot be proven although
it is highly unlikely that none of it reaches the Evolve furnish. The
quantities cannot be proven but the fact that it is there is pretty certain.
It is good to know that we are providing the best info.

On the matter of research into Australian paper -
Dont be fooled by third party efforts like Fuji Xerox's Green Wrap. It has
barely any postconsumer content and is chlorine bleached at Shoalhaven.

As for writing letters to Australian companies - there is only one producer
so it should be a short letter writing campaign - better in my view to
concentrate on building your co-op so you have some strength through
purchasing.

We look forward to your business.

Regards
Peter
SCRAP (School Communities Recycling All Paper) Ltd
C/o Holsworthy High School Huon Cr, Holsworthy 2173
Ph: 02 9825 1062 Fax: 02 9825 6972 ABN 40 079 741 227

So my answer to your question is, Evolve Office is the best.
Xerox' best offer is "Green Wrap" although it is not as GREEN as it would like to seem.

EVENT: ALL ABOUT GREEN ENERGY &PASSIVE SOLAR SOLUTIONS

2007-02-22T09:49:00.000+11:00

I will be running afew workshops in the Hunter region this year.
If you live in the Blue Gum Hills region (Maryland, Fletcher and Minmi) you might like to come along to the workshop I will be running there on Wednesday April 18 (in the school holidays) From 12 noon-2pm.
ALL ABOUT GREEN ENERGY &PASSIVE SOLAR SOLUTIONS:
Learn about the different options available for your home (eg. appliance, passive solar measures and simple lifestyle changes) to save energy and how you can use your power bill to invest in a renewable future for your children (and theirs).
You will need to book for this workshop so call 49742837 if interested.

WEBSITE REVIEW: The Green Directory

2007-02-20T10:02:00.000+11:00

This gently-presented Australian online green directory is great because it has a huge range of categories. Including:

Animal Care, Art & Design, Body & Skin Care, Building, Business, Clothing, Ecotourism, Education, Employment, Energy, Environment, Events & Markets, Finance, Food & Drink, Gardening, Government, Health Care, Home, Investment, Media & Marketing, Office, Primary Production, Publications, Real Estate, Recycling & Waste, Transport and Water.
It is easy to navigate, and focuses more on information than advertising.
You can also list your own green business free of charge.

EVENT: Green Energy Workshop

2007-02-16T12:19:00.000+11:00

I will be running a green energy workshop, organised by Newcastle City Council, on the 27th of March, from 5.30-7pm.
Some of the things I will cover :
-reducing energy use in the home
-generating renewable energy from your home
-options for purchasing renewable energy
The venue is yet to be announced.
Please contact Newcastle City Council closer to the date for details.

WEBSITE REVIEW: Low Rise, Low impact

2007-02-15T13:07:00.000+11:00

Well from Very High-Rise to Very Low rise.
I feel like a hobbit might answer the door here.
This is very much a hand-made house in Wales. Have a look at the sweet website for more info and images.

BLURB:high-rise living

2007-02-11T00:35:00.000+11:00

At university I studied through post-feminist philosophy eyes alot of the time. I did alot of

Image: LeCorbusier "the radiant city"

reading on LeCourbusier and used to look scornfully at his utopian city visions, of everyone living in highrise towers, separarted miles apart by huge tracts of forest with high-speed motorways in between. The main criticisms of this design from a feminist perspective were about alienation, women being stuck at home in these high-rise towers with the children playing in a playground 50 stories below and somethings else I can't think of right now.. any LeCorb fanatics add to comments please... Anyway, the point being that Singapore feels like an interpretation of that LeCorbusian plan which works is a way that I could have never understood when I read the texts, because I was reading from a perspective of isolated home life not densly packed life with exteded family structures still inplace. So you may be a mother at home on the 48th floor and the children may be playing outside on the ground in the (nice, clean, safe) playground, but they are watched over by your mother/aunt/grandfather and the local community. Or even possibly from LeCorbs day and today in Singapore, servants (gasp!)
This has me reconsidering my feelings on high-rise towers. I must say, I don't generally like their appearance on the skyline, or their powers to overshadow and block natural wind paths. So number one I would suggest to keep the population as small as possible.
But I realise we need more housing, our population is increasing, and I think immigration is a cool idea. Going up is infinitely better than going out. It's crazy to build on good farming soil or to destroy forests for these "housing" estates. New individual homes are so big that they are left with tiny gardens anyway, so why not have upwards sprawl? If combined with really good urban planning, and integrated systems in high-rise towers, such as a dedicated recycling shute, on-site water recycling, private garden spaces, communal vege plots etc, then I am thinking its worth thinking about.

HELLO:From Singapore

2007-02-08T01:36:00.000+11:00

I am currently visiting my Brother in Singapore. Singapore is a country, an island, and a city. It's small and has 4 million inhabitants. This city/country has had me thinking alot about architecture, urban planing, and the environment.

GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OF SINGAPORE INCLUDE:
Public transport.
Today's sad news that Howard is not agreeing to ratify the Kyoto protocol. ( click the "taking action" link in TOPICS if this enrages you too) .
Of course, Cars contribure HEAPS to co2 emmissions (I know, so do airplanes, and no, I didn't sail here.. but I will if you'll take me on your yacht).
The Public Transport system here is AWESOME. People are discouraged form owning cars due government restrictions, meaning the road system of this huge city is rarely congested. There are buses and a super-fast Mass Rapid Transport (MRT-a subway/train system) which depart every 2-10 minutes, and all interconnected. You buy a plastic card which you keep forever, and charge it up with credit wherever, like adding credit to your mobile phone. The card is elecronic, and you just tap it on a machine when entering and leaving a bus or MRT station. This way you are only charged for the length of trip you make. Being useable on both systems is also awesome, and the efficiency with boarding busses and entering MRT stations is amazing.
Each bustop is a social hub, with outdoor markets, food stalls, the local MRT station, supermarkets etc, and housing towers right above. Its all very convenient ... no-one really needs a car. Hooray!

QUOTES: tasty inspirational lines from the wise!

2007-01-30T12:24:00.000+11:00

Feel free to add any of your own favourites by clicking the comments link, and I'll put them on the main page!

Mindfulness is an awareness that's cultivated by paying attention on purpose, and in the present moment, which is the only moment we are ever alive in.
-John Kabat-Zinn , Transcript from "The Spirit of Things" ABC Radio National, 26th November 2007, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/spiritofthings/stories/2006/1793842.htm

We are, in terms of what we do to the environment, a fairly disgusting species and although man, as none other, can modify his environment, he will have to fit in with it eventually or sooner or later, if he goes on exterminating his surroundings, he will exterminate himself!
-Lady Eve Balfour in Andre Leu, "Why are we organic?" Hunter Organics Magazine, Winter 2003, p6.

There is more information
of a higher order of sophistication and complexity
stored in afew square yards of forest
than there is in all the libraries of mankind
-Snyder in CA Bowers (1993). Education, Cultural Myths and the Ecological Crisis. State University of New York Press

To the dull mind nature is leaden.
To the illuminated mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The wilderness holds answers to more questions than we have yet learned to ask.
- Nancy Newhall

..Singing this one works best!...
I'd rather be a forest than a street.
Yes I would.If I could, I surely would.
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet.
Yes I would. If I could, I surely would.
-Paul Simon (1970) "El Condor Pasa"
Side 1 Track 2 on Simon& Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water"

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.
-Frank Lloyd Wright

Sustainability will always be re-established, as the unsustainable cannot last.
-"Golden Feelings". Andrew Spannenberg (2005) aspannenberg@iprimus.com.au

Consume less. Share more. Enjoy life.
-A Green Manifesto for the 1990's. Penny Kemp and Derek Wall

HOORAY: for Tim Flannery

2007-01-27T19:24:00.000+11:00

Tim Flannery received the Australian of the year Award for 2007.
From what I see and read of him, he is a very passionate and active environmental scientist.
I love his books/ edited compilations, particularly
-The Birth of Sydney(Melbourne, Australia: The Text Publishing Company, 1999)
-The Life and Adventures of William Buckley (Melbourne, Australia: The Text Publishing Company, 2002)
and of course
-The Weather Makers, The history and future impact of climate change (Melbourne, Australia: The Text Publishing Company, 2005)
I recommend them thoroughly.

NEWS: Banner drop creates climate awareness

2007-01-16T20:00:00.000+11:00

This news story is from the Aotearoa Independant Media Centre and is well worth the click.
It seems 2 talented climbers from the Save Happy Valley Coalition shimmied up these cranes and hung their banner early this morning.
I like the the wording on the banner "solid energy=govt sponsored climate change". Energy sources which come from solid matter such as coal and biomass are major contributors to CO2 and methane emission buildup, unnaturally heating up the atmosphere, thus contributing to climate change. Non-solid energy sources such as solar, air and tidal energy are such a great alternative.
Is that something significant? Yes.. probably the tying up/ release of carbon! Since black coal is at least 92% carbon, dry brown coal about 70% carbon! And methane is 60 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2! (Figures from Tim Flannery, The Weather Makers, The history and future impact of climate change (Melbourne, Australia: The Text Publishing Company, 2005)(A great book to read if you haven't already))

NEWS: Research suggests coalmining caused Newcastle Earthquake!

2007-01-10T11:53:00.000+11:00

National geographic news reports about a study by Christian D. Klose of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York. Christian Klose claims that coalmining caused the Newcastle Earthquake in 1989. After about 200 years of coalmining in the Newcastle area and the use of groundwater pumping in the mining process stressed the geology and caused the earthquake. "All told, he added, the monetary damage done by the earthquake exceeded the total value of the coal extracted in the area."
Time to go renewable Newcastle?

PRODUCT: Zelfo

2006-12-14T10:04:00.001+11:00

I have been informed by Zelfo Technology that the below information is no longer relevant. In a recent email to me, Richard Hurding let me know that
"

Hello Jo

We are the owners of the Trade marked and Patented material Zelfo - as mentioned in your blog article on Zelfo.

Firstly I would like to thank you for running this article and for giving Zelfo a presence on your website.

Naturally as and when we are ready to issue any material that is relevant to you we will inform you immediately .

For you information, the microsite www.zelfo-technology.com is now live.

Many thanks for your assistance with this matter.

Richard Hurding

Zelfo Technology

richard.hurding@zelfo-technology.com
http://www.zelfo-technology.com
"

Hopefully we will hear again from Zelfo in the future.

A kind of plastic made from plants! Here is what they say:

Zelfo is a solid wood-like and mouldable material made from natural fibres, recycled paper or other cellulose raw materials. Zelfo is a strong, light 'plastic from plants' produced by means of a sustainable process.

Sounds like a great alternative to plastic, and from the website's vibe I think they are sound in their environmental priciples.

Zelfo are the manufacturers of the materials, so if you have some amazing design for a chair or whatever they will mould it for you (more like mould 1000 for you...).I look forward to their upcoming products link.

Image: Peanut Chair by Fürst/Bartosch

TIPS: Big Questions

2006-12-13T10:24:00.000+11:00

Sydeny Morning Herald weekend edition 9-10 December 2006
Published my answer
(with some other good ones in the paper, and alot more online)
to the question:

Is it better to tip the cold water out of the kettle and boil hot water (saving electricity) or re-boil the cold remains (saving water)?

Water from the hot water service is not good for drinking. Cold pre-boiled water re-boils faster than cold never-boiled water. Switch to a 100 per cent renewable energy provider and re-boil your kettle. Then you can save water and have a carbon-emission-free cup of tea.
Josephine Vaughan, Newcastle

You should boil an amount of water equal only to the quantity required at the time of use. You are then conserving water and saving electricity as the kettle doesn't have to boil water unnecessarily.
Dean Alger, Coogee

Unless your hot water is solar-heated, you waste energy resources by boiling hot water from the tap, as the water has been pre-heated by electricity or gas, and there are always energy losses in the waterheater-jug-cup system, albeit small. What you will gain is time, though not much. It's better to boil ordinary tap water, but not chilled water from the fridge, of course.
Peter R. Green, Marrickville

If you tip the cold water out of the kettle over the nearest pot-plant, then boil hot water, you can have your cake and eat it too.
J. Barrie Brown, Gordon

It's best just to boil the correct amount of water in the first place.
Sandy Parkinson, Hilton, WA

It is better to fill the kettle with only x cups of water when you make x cups of tea.
This means (a) you save water, (b) you save electricity, (c) the question becomes irrelevant.
Milton Wheeler, Harbord

Using the hot water tap for drinking isn't recommended. A hot water heater - which itself is less than sterile - often contains impurities such as lead from household plumbing that are concentrated in the heating process and also dissolve more rapidly in hot water, making drinking it a risky business. Better to save electricity elsewhere.
John Moir, Mollymook

Neither, if you want to make tea or coffee. Tip any water remaining in the kettle on a plant and boil water from the cold tap. Do not use water from the hot tap or remaining water because it is low in oxygen necessary to develop the flavour of the beverage. Hot tap water also contains far more dissolved minerals from your hot water system potentially harmful to health. Older houses and renovations sometimes retain lead pipes and lead soldering.
Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie

It is better to tip the unused boiling water straight into a thermos and then pour this water back into the kettle, when needed, and reboil. Save water and electricity.
Sandra Christie, Beacon Hill

It's best to put the cold water from the kettle on the garden plants, say: the Morning Glory; or the Red Hot Poker.
Steve Barrett, Glenbrook

Reboil the cold remains; boiling hot water doesn't save anything, as it has already been heated using electricity or gas. Even better is to only fill the kettle with the amount of water that you need each time; water freshly drawn from the cold cold tap and heated once only makes the best tea or coffee.
Conrad Henley-Calvert, Tarago

...

Here is the link to the relevant smh web page but knowing the smh site, they will probably have dropped the link by the time you want to access it. Then they might charge you, if you can ever find the relavant page again. YES! I do think the smh website is terrible!

REPORT: Ian Lowe's talk "Energy for a Sustainable Future"

2006-12-12T13:35:00.000+11:00

Climate Action Newcastle hosted an inspiring talk last night by Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO, President of the Australian Conservation Foundation entitled "Energy for a Sustainable Future".

Prof.Lowe opened with the notion of planning for the future- for a sustainable future. Using the example of taking a family holiday, he explained how we don't usually pack our family and camping gear into the car and drive randomly on the road system until we run out of fuel, set up camp for 2 weeks, then hitch home.
We spend time planning our lives, so why not spend some time planning for the future of humanity, and chose the path to sustainability.
Our lives are full of choices, said the professor, so each time we have a choice, we can take the most sustainable one, which will lead us all to a sustainable future, to reduce climate change.

Presenting us with graphs and maps showing the effect of climate change on different regions of Australia, he showed that climate change is indeed occurring, at a rapid pace, with temperatures having increased by several degrees in some areas, and fallen in others. The intensity of rainfall has decreased all around our most populated areas, and increased in the uninhabited areas.
Reminding us of current climate related disasters, hurricanes, tsunami, bushfires etc, Prof.Lowe did use a bit of the old scare tactic to keep us listening.
Maybe we need the old scare once in a while. As the professor pointed out, scientists have been warning of Climate Change have been largely unheeded. Similar warnings from an economist however about the effect of climate change on the economy, media attention is gained, eg. The Stern report.
Different projections were shown for the future if we were to continue producing carbon emissions at our current level. In order to return CO2 emissions to a manageable level, the professor showed that we would have to make a reduction of 60%-90% by 2050 of our current emissions. This seemed extreme, but he went on to show how this is not a far-fetched notion.

The main way to reduce CO2 is through alternative energy systems. Prof.Lowe showed figures demonstrating attainableness of sustainable energy compared to alternative energy notions from the government and industry such as "clean" coal and nuclear. Government studies into Nuclear showed that 25 new nuclear reactors would take over 12 years to build, and only then reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18%, producing expensive power and still no way to deal with that 760 million year radioactive waste disposal issue.
Compatively he showed renewable energy as cheaper than nuclear, faster to produce, greater greenhouse gas reductions, and reliable.
It was good to hear the facts from a scientific viewpoint. According to Ian Lowe we are running out of oil, and we will be paying over $3/L by 2010 (only 3 years away!)

So what did the learned professor suggest we do? The biggest impact on reducing climate change is to reduce CO2 emissions.
Transport is almost a third of CO2 release so we should be walking and riding our bikes and horses.
We should use public transport as much as possible, and encouraging sustainably fuelled (eg hydrogen) public transport.
repeatedly he discussed the importance to people/government/business/industry of finances. We need to understand how much we are spending every time we use power. How much does it cost us to turn on a light, watch the TV, get a cold beer out of the fridge? Receiving a bill every three months keeps us very separate from the actual impact of our actions.

The ACF has been meeting with the 6 largest companies in Australia to determine the effect of climate change on business. The "business leaders round table" found that climate change will significantly interrupt business in the future, and to undertake sustainability measures as part of regular business practice would only minimally interrupt business output for a short while. With immediate, significant change to CO2 emissions, (ie reducing CO2 emissions by 60-90% by 2050) we would have a higher GDP, higher employment, cheaper electricity, lower costs for energy and infrastructure than if we continue with our existing CO2 emission practices.

Other countries efforts to reduce climate change were explored. Iceland aims to be oil and gas free by 2010. Already 76% of that countries power is wind generated. Some of the reasons Iceland can achieve this are that they are an island nation , so they don't need to interface their alternative energy systems with other nations, they are a country with emphasis on scientific knowledge and recognised for their rigorous research and intellectual community, and they have a large land mass compared to population...sound familiarly like another country we know well?

The figures for other nations' uptake and targets of PhotoVoltaic cells on residential roofs were displayed. Compared to 1 million for the USA, Australia has a target of .... zero. The professors humorous approach throughout the talk made it very entertaining. How we laughed at the silliness of our ways! He reminded us about how we look back upon our past and can't believe the ways we did things in the olden days, how 200 years ago the abolition of slavery seemed ridiculous, how allowing all members of society to vote would cause chaos, how could coffee be anything but instant. He dared us to be visionary, utopian thinkers, so that in the future, our descendants would look back at our use over natural resources and titter at our foolish naivete.

Well done, Professor Ian Lowe. I was very inspired.

INFO: pump-in insulation and recycled timber

2006-11-28T14:47:00.000+11:00

INSULATION
Pump-in insulation (also know as cellulose fibre insulation)is a great insulation choice for ceiling insulation.
Made of recycled paper, into a fluffy fibre form which is pumped into your roofspace by a truck on the road.
I like it becasue it is made from a recycled material, is healthy (especially compared to fibreglass insulation), and is cheap.
It works by trapping air between the fibres of fluffy paper mulch. The only disadvantege of this insulation is over time the fibres settle and the air trapping pockets reduce and finally dissapear so in 5-20 years you will need to have the job re-done.
There is also a brand which adds wool fibres to the mix. They claim this makes it stay fluffy for longer and improves the warmth. It costs a fraction more.
With any building project, it usually pays to get at least 2 quotes. I usually get 3. Measure the area of the ceiling you want to insulate ( the easiest way is to measure the floor!). Then find "Insulation contractors" in the yellow pages and ring afew who offer "pump-in" or "cellulose fibre" insulation. Ask for quotes for the area you want done. Don't commit to any of them until you have made your choice! Sometimes they can be pushy!
RECYCLED TIMBER
One of the best things to do is borrow a ute or trailer for the weekend and look up where the local council pickup is on at. (This weekend it is The Hill area). Go for a
drive and have a scavenge! Other free secondhand timber you could obtain from your local online freecycle site newcastle freecycle or freecycle generally. Also there is a similar site for buy,sell or trade.
Second hand building yards and tip shops ( shop associated with landfill tips) also sell recycled timber at varying prices.
Sadly second-hand building yards are dissapearing. Look them up under "building materials-secondhand" in the yellow pages.

HOORAY: for Newcastle

2006-11-15T10:10:00.000+11:00

International Action day for climate change was the 4th November. I ran a passive solar design workshop at Swansea ( which was great!).
Meanwhile on Nobby's beach, hundreds of Novocastrians made this great call for better energy production, despite the climatic condtions of the day...

UPDATE: green electricity watch new report

2006-11-03T12:04:00.000+11:00

Well lucky I followed that one up! here is an email from CANA:

Hi,

The 2006 Green Electricity Watch will be launched on 14th November.
You will be able to access the information at
www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au

Regards,
CANA

COMPARE: green energy suppliers

2006-11-01T11:21:00.000+11:00

Well maybe you heard me on the radio today, talking about the 100% solar we use at home, without any panels on our roof. Yes we buy 100% solar from our power company. Wondering which is the best option? Have a look at this green power site

DO SOMETHING TODAY: email the prime minister of australia

2006-10-16T11:21:00.000+10:00

Today I got grumpy when i heard our Prime Minister's voice on the radio.
I Quote:
"In an age where we're worried about global warming we should be looking seriously at nuclear power as an option, because it's clean and it doesn't emit greenhouse gases and I can't understand why the extreme Greenies oppose it,"
Well Uranium, which is used to make Nuclear energy, DOES HAVE A HALF LIFE OF 760 MILLION YEARS, so I'm not sure about how exactly that makes it CLEAN
Argh argh argh argh
please send my shonky excuse for a prime minister an email to tell him he is a silly goose or something to that effect.

WEBSITE:Earthtrends

2006-09-05T17:34:00.000+10:00

As they say "EarthTrends is a comprehensive online database, maintained by the World Resources Institute, that focuses on the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world."
What I found was useful is a listing by nation of energy and resouce use data.
http://earthtrends.wri.org/country_profiles/index.php?theme=6

INFO: energy

2006-09-04T17:29:00.000+10:00

Here are some interesting facts:

25Tonnes of plant life create 1kg of petrol
good reason to ride your bike!!

and

Newcastle, NSW Australia is the nation's largest coal port.
1kg of coal has an energy content of about 7.5kWh
1kg of coal creates about 3kg of CO2 from combustion.
Coal takes 3 million years to create

good reasons to transfer to the green energy scheme that your power company offers. We buy 100% solar power from Origin energy. It doesnt cost much more $ and it certainally doesn't cost the earth.

WEBSITE: REImaginations

2006-08-02T09:59:00.000+10:00

Lovely international art exhibition of beautiful and strange wind generator images. This one is "energy plant" by aleksandar rodic
http://www.reimaginations.com/

TIP: wash your hands then use that water to flush.

2006-06-05T09:42:00.000+10:00

This idea has been around for afew years, and has sadly not arrived in australia ( to my knowledge) in the marketplace. Maybe you could import one. There are complete units available in Japan, this item is just a lid that you add. There could be an issue with soap scum buildup in your cistern, I would recommend regular hot flushes to clear off any soapy buildup.
cooltools
apparently costs $89 in the US at real goods

EVENT: Greenbuild & Eco Show Exhibition and Conference 2006

2006-06-05T09:36:00.000+10:00

Next Weekend! :
the inaugural National Greenbuild & Eco Show Exhibition & Conference 2006

Fri June 9th - Sun 11th June 2006
Rosehill Gardens Exhibition Centre
Sydney Australia

Greener Homes - Greener Living - Greener Planet

http://www.greenbuildshow.com.au/newsletter04/

EVENT: Passive solar workshop

2006-05-02T16:25:00.000+10:00

On Saturday 17th June, from 1-4 pm, I will be running another workshop at the Newcastle EcoHome.(69a Hobart St, New Lambton)
This will be about Passive Solar design for the typical urban home.
The workshop will be as practical as possible, and as specific to the participants as possible.
Some of the topics covered will be:

() Understanding your location and the orientation of your home
() Thermal properties of building materials
() How heat is gained and lost in your home
() Sun shading
() Natural ventillation
() Saving energy and money by improving the passive solar qualities of your house.

All houses are affected by the sun on its journey through the day, and the year.
We can take advantage of this natural energy by modifying our homes to encourage shade, sunshine, heat and coolness.
Solar passive design is governed by the laws of thermo-dynamics and enhanced by creative thought.
Save energy and money by learning how to apply solar passive design to you new or existing home

If you are thinking of coming to the workshop, please draw a rough floorplan of your house and bring it along on the day. If you have any questions about the workshop, please click the "comments" link below.

BLURB: My explanation of house energy rating

2006-04-19T16:35:00.000+10:00

The whole basis of house energy assessment is based on the notion that
During a year, most people will feel at some time, hot or cold in their homes.
This is found by the mean acceptable thermal comfort ranges of 18-24 degrees in living areas and 12-18 degrees in bed rooms.
The home energy assessment assumes that people will turn on some form of heating or cooling as the temperatures in their homes go over or under their thermal comfort range.
SO the NatHERS program determines the temperature inside each zone of the house over certain time periods.
It analyses the living areas between 7am and midnight and bedrooms between midnight and 6am
Every time the temperature falls outside the comfort zone during these certain time periods,
the program calculates the amount of energy which would be used to heat or cool that part of the house.
Which is where the figures come in. They are an amount of mega joules per meter squared per annum. I.e. how much energy is used, per amount of house, over a year.
Depending on the house design and material choice, some homes will meet the thermal comfort levels and not need artificial heating or cooling as often as others. This is why lower figures are better.
If you need your house to be energy rated, contact me: onethousandyearsATgmailDOTcom

WESITE REVIEW: Adobe Loos and Worms

2006-02-21T11:04:00.000+11:00

Woo Hoo! One of the simplest, most informative, low-sell sites on composting your poo. Adobe Worms and Loos Info on most types available and also HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN COMPOSTING TOILET !.. to meet NSW heath regulations. Good on 'em.

WEBSITE REVIEW: gas ratings

2006-02-16T15:36:00.000+11:00

Star ratings on energy use for all gas appliances
Australian Gas Association

EVENT: Nature Philosophy Long Weekend

2006-02-02T10:41:00.000+11:00

Making fire from sticks and blisters, twine from plant fibre and spit, creeping blindfolded through the forest, what a great way to spend the long weekend! A small group of us were taught all this and more by Kate & Sam, students of Tom Brown. It was good to become immersed in the philosphy and spirit which encourages many of us to live a sustainable lifestyle. For information on further courses, email naturephilaustralia@yahoo.com.au

WEBSITE REVIEW: wels

2006-01-23T14:51:00.000+11:00

Trying to find water saving taps?
All taps, toilets, urinals, washing machines, dishwashers, showerheads rated by stars for water efficiency have to be registered. This site lists them all and also has a product search feature. Very useful!

WEBSITE REVIEW: Rainwater harvesting

2006-01-17T13:47:00.000+11:00

I watered my garden today from water which had collected in my 3200L rainwater tank. It's a great feeling to be growing vegies watered by my own water.
Something to do with becoming more of a linked system. Developing my own ecosystem!
Here is a nice website on rainwater harvesting.

Our front garden tank. The green bit from the roof to the tank is my Lazy Lady downpipe...I have no inclination just yet to plumb it properly...

WEBSITE REVIEW: BuildSmart Sustainable Building Education Centre

2005-12-22T12:03:00.000+11:00

I must say, Victoria has really got some good sustainable education facitites.
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE have a Sustianable Building Education Centre at which you can visit their show home, take courses at and get information generally.
Their website has more info and also has some nice easy to read .pdf fact sheets.

TIP: Cool Christmas Pressies

2005-12-20T15:47:00.000+11:00

Looking for great christmas gifts? I just found some good ones at the Wilderness Society shop, Newcastle. A company called urban boomerang make awesome bags out of recycled truck inner tubes, recycled billboards, and photo albums, cd holders and notebooks out of old number plates. Yo. And Ho Ho Ho.
The Wilderness Society On-line Shop
Urban Boomerang stuff not available on this site but there are some other good for the earth gifts here.

TIP: Raintap

2005-12-06T11:32:00.000+11:00

This is a great idea! I'll think I'll get one!
I quote directly from the EcoShop site where you can buy one for $49:
"RAINTAP:
One millimetre of rain on the average roof generates 250 litres of water. Normally this runs off your property and is wasted. But by fitting a raintap to your gutter downpipe, you can divert that water to your water storage tank, lawn, trees, plants or pool to make maximum use of even light rainfalls. Suits all downpipes by using 90mm adapters (readily available).
Installation: Can be fitted by a home handyperson in about 10mins. You will need a hacksaw to cut your existing downpipe. Simply pull downpipe towards you and fit bell end of raintap to the top cut in the downpipe. Position raintap above the bottom cut of the downpipe and pull down until the bevelled end enters the bottom pipe."

WEBSITE REVIEW: Ask Umbra

2005-11-22T14:19:00.000+11:00

Ask Umbra is my favourite RSS feed at the moment. Brought to you by the very good grist magazine, a witty research assistant solves a weekly dilemma of the eco lifestyle. As I write she is offering advice on how to introduce your grandma to your composting toilet. Last week she explained how to drink coffee in an environmentally responsible way. Submit your tricky question today!

WEBSITE REVIEW: Resource efficient building

2005-11-21T10:39:00.000+11:00

The Resource Efficient Builder is a publication from EcoRecycle Victoria.
This link is a collection of 8 issues of the The Resource Efficient Builder
These .pdf's span from Feb 1998 to June 1999. Some of the info is a bit dated, but it still contains stacks of good info covering:
() Practical steps for waste recovery and minimisation
() Waste separation
() Auditing waste
() Involving individuals in waste minimisation practices
() Reducing packaging
() Recycling
() Home building
() Lots of case studies, at least one for each topic.

WEBSITE REVIEW: smart communities network

2005-09-21T11:18:00.000+10:00

The Smart Communities Network is a US based "green building" site with an international outreach. They are "creating energy smart communities"
This site has typical good info on environmentally responsible building.
My favourite section is the green building success stories which is a large yet clear collection of international info and links to sucessful examples of the following:
() Integrated Green Building Techniques
() Affordable Green Building
() Green Residential Developments
() Green Renovation Projects
() Energy Efficiency
() Materials/Water Conservation

TIPS: Free water saving kit available for Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra

2005-09-01T13:39:00.000+10:00

The NSW Government is offering a free 'Do It Yourself' (DIY) Water Saving Kit to every household in Sydney, Blue Mountains and the Illawarra.

The kits contain easy to install devices for kitchen taps, bathroom taps and showers, along with instructions to help residents install them.

Alternatively, you can have a licenced plumber attend your home for only $22 by registering in the Retrofit Program.

The devices save approximately 16,000 litres of water per household per year - allowing savings of up to $50 on combined water and energy bills a year.

go to water saving kit registration page

TIPS: Water saving showerhead and 5 fluro lightglobes only $5

2005-08-10T10:54:00.000+10:00

I recently went to the Organic Food and Wine expo in Sydney. It was delicious! At the fair was a stall run by neco, an eco hardware store.They have an agreement with the government which means they can virtually give away stuff to help save energy in the home.
For $5 you get 5 fluro light globes and a water saving showerhead.
I don't know how good the showerhead is because I only got the globes. The globes are the best fluros I have ever found, as they are 2700K compared to the usual 5000-7000K. This is the light color measurement, 2700 is the closest to daylight, so you get more of a white/yellow light, rather than the usual green light from a fluro.
The delivery charge is $5 for 20kg so you might like to add something to your order. They sell soaps suitable for grey water systems, really good eco shower roses (I recommend delux diamond)and fun shower timers to help you keep your shower short.

TIPS: How I benefited from insulating the HWS

2005-08-09T11:28:00.000+10:00

You may recall my TIP from July to
"insulate your hot water service"
We recieved our gas bill today for May, June, July.
Compared to the last bill, on this bill we had one extra flatmate who is a persistant showerer; the gas rate has been increased ; and the hot water service(HWS) has been insulated for only one of those months, yet our GAS BILL HAS GONE DOWN ! By $10 mind you, so I look forward to posting the results for next quarters bill which will ALL be delivered by the insulated HWS!

WEBSITE REVIEW: Your Home

2005-08-08T15:53:00.000+10:00

This is a great all-rounder of a site for Australians interested in greening their homes. As the site says:
"Your Home is a suite of consumer and technical guide materials and tools developed to encourage the design, construction or renovation of homes to be comfortable, healthy and more environmentally sustainable."
It covers just about everything, and most of the information is quite detailed.It is very nicely presented and you can also order a CD and/ or reference manual.
www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/

WEBSITE REVIEW: Square 1

2005-08-03T14:39:00.000+10:00

Square 1 is the best website I have ever met for understanding and practicing passive solar design.
It is run by the University of Cardiff in Wales,UK.
The information can be used globally... just remember that Northern Hemisphere countries worship Southern Sun where as in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the Northerly Sun we desire.

The site offers free on-line education in passive solar design, and free use of heaps f great tools including the wonderful "solar tool" ( under software/other tools/the solar tool). This downloadable program easily creates a 3D model of any window you wish to test for solar access. You can try out all sorts of shading options, watch the sun cast shadows on it any time of the day, any day of the year, and then get a list of the monthly shading co-efficients. Fantastic!

NEWS: Take survey to help green power research

2005-08-03T13:06:00.000+10:00

Reserchers at Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Macquarie University, Sydney are researching why people choose Green Power or not.
They have a quick on-line survey here
It's a nice little survey so help them get lots of feedback by contributing your answers!

WEBSITE REVIEW: Redefining Progress

2005-08-01T15:26:00.000+10:00

redefiningprogress.org
This is a well packed not-for-profit website from the US currently covering 3 main areas-
() Common Assets
() Sustainability Indicators
() Sustainable Economics

Each area is dicussed in well presented format with downloads for further in-depth reading and bibliographies.

The site also contains a nice ecological footprint calculator

As well as having clear, relevant information, this site offers ideas and actions which can be taken for a more sustainable future.

WEBSITE REVIEW: One Stop Timber Shop

2005-07-29T13:35:00.000+10:00

The One Stop Timber Shop is an Australian website which aims to help you chose the most environmentally responsible timber for your building works.
It is run from The Wilderness Society, so you can be assured this information is genuine. Indeed, the stance is a firm one. Lucky that one of the people who set up this site, Andrew Walker-Morrison, also is involved in ecospecifier.
The information is all relevant to the realities of building and design.
It is also easily navigable.
The site offers:
() information and advice on every kind of timber building product
() examples of buildings made with good timbers,
() suppliers and installers in your local area
() news items
() environmental information
() expert advice... where you can email in your questions to be answered by professionals.

Bookmark this one for sure!

WEBSITE REVIEW: Design and detailing for deconstruction

2005-07-28T10:22:00.000+10:00

Design for Deconstruction is a very chockers and useful sustinable building link from the UK...

"a wonderfully produced substantial guide for detailing of buildings for easy deconstruction. It clearly illustrates and discusses the detailing of five typical costruction systems, showing and contrasting details for both normal and design-for-deconstruction approaches. Its discussion is quite practice focussed and includes commentary on costs, defects liability, and insurance issues. The whole is a 2.5MB pdf but also downloadable in a number of parts." Matt Fisher ABSA

Detailing for the Deconstruction of Buildings, a guide developed at the University of Dundee, Scotland, encourages designers and builders to use materials and methods that would enable the bulk of buildings to be reused or recycled once they have reached the end of their useful lives. Methods can involve a variety of measures, from using lime mortars and renders instead of cement—allowing bricks and blocks to be more easily separated—to exploring different types of insulation and more durable materials such as reusable ceiling tiles. “The guide’s alternative details are designed for maximum “applicability” rather than ultimate greenness,” says Fiona Stevenson, chair of the Scottish Ecological Design Association. http://www.seda2.org/dfd/index.htm

NEWS: Sustinable living at home workshops

2005-07-27T15:10:00.000+10:00

On Saturday 13th August 11am-1pm I will be running a FREE workshop with Mim Woodlands on Passive solar & Water Sensitive design. Mim will be doing the water and I will cover Passive solar design. It will be held at the EcoHome, Hobart Rd, Lambton, NSW (Just near West's Leagues Club). I will be covering:
() Site analysis for solar access etc.
() Thermal Mass
() Insulation
() Windows

If you would like to come please bring along a rough floorplan of your home and garden.
Bookings are essential so please call 4974 2847.
Click the comments link below if you have any questions.
For other great free workshops Newcastle City Council is running, go to newcastle.nsw.gov.au/go/sustainableliving

TIPS: Basix solar absorbtance for roofs

2005-07-25T15:45:00.000+10:00

Trying to figure out the solar absorbtance range for your colorbond roof?
You can thank me for getting Bluescope Steel to put it on-line. :)
Click this link:bluescopesteel.com.au

NEWS: BASIX Alts and Ads implementation date extended

2005-07-21T10:49:00.000+10:00

I quote directly from the basix e-newsletter some news many will be glad to hear...

1. BASIX Alterations and Additons to commence on 1 July 2006
The Hon. Craig Knowles, MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, announced a revised timeline for BASIX Alterations and Additions at the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) "Building on BASIX" forum, Wednesday, 20 July 2005.

BASIX will now apply to alterations and additions in New South Wales from 1 July 2006.

The new timeline will allow for more extensive consultation with all stakeholders such as industry, local government and homeowners. It will also allow more time for developing practicable and cost effective greenhouse and water reductions for the broad range of household renovation scenarios, including first floor additions, new kitchens, new bathrooms and swimming pools. An extended exhibition period will now be possible to ensure far-reaching public participation and feedback from across the State.

The Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) welcomes feedback on the best possible approach for the new BASIX Alterations and Additions tool. Relevant information will be provided on the BASIX website, www.basix.nsw.gov.au, and via future BASIX e-newsletters.

NEWS: Rainbow Warrior in Australia to build Clean Energy Revolution

2005-07-11T14:03:00.000+10:00

Rainbow Warrior sails to build the Clean Energy Revolution

JOIN US ON BOARD THE RAINBOW WARRIOR

The Greenpeace flagship the Rainbow Warrior sails into Australia at the
end of July and will be open for visitors.

The Rainbow Warrior will be visiting Australia to help tackle climate
change by building the Clean Energy Revolution. We would like to invite
you, your family and friends to tour the boat.

FREE OPEN DAY

When:

Sydney – Saturday 23rd July
Newcastle - Saturday 30th July No. 1 Throsby Wharf
Melbourne - Saturday 13th August
Adelaide - Saturday 27th August

Time:
10am to 4pm each day

Please note: Venues are to be advised and as the Warrior may be called
into action at any time dates may change. For venues and confirmation of
dates please check greenpeace.org.au/events or call 1300 797
978.

TIPS: insulate your hot water service!

2005-07-08T23:33:00.000+10:00

I tried out a tip from the AMIEF website(see links on right). I wrapped some R1.0 recycled polyester insulation blanket around my hot water storage tank. I also 'lagged' the pipe which takes the hot water out of the unit and to the hot water taps. I just used some old blanket which I cut into a long strip and wrapped it carefully around the copper pipe.

The tank heated up right away! Hot water started making puddles on the floor...yikes I thought I had destroyed it until I checked the overflow outlet which goes out into the backyard. It was blocked by the watering can so I cleared the area away.
I have turned the thremostat down from where it was on HOT down to the LOWEST warm setting. Any lower and we'd be in the 'vacation' setting.
The water coming out of the shower(the furthest taps from the HWS) is deliciouly hot.
My conclucion is: what a great technique for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the gas bill!

WEBSITE REVIEW: Rocky Mountain Institute

2005-07-07T13:54:00.000+10:00

http://rmi.org
As they say:
"Rocky Mountain Institute is an entrepreneurial nonprofit organization that fosters the efficient and restorative use of resources to make the world secure, just, prosperous, and life-sustaining. We do this by inspiring business, civil society, and government to design integrative solutions that create true wealth.

Our staff shows businesses, communities, individuals, and governments how to create more wealth and employment, protect and enhance natural and human capital, increase profit and competitive advantage, and enjoy many other benefits—largely by doing what they do far more efficiently.

Our work is independent, nonadversarial, and transideological, with a strong emphasis on market-based solutions."

This site is from the US so some of this site is not valid for Australia. However it is full of very practical and clever knowledge on creating change in many spheres including: energy, buildings and land, businesses, communities, climate, transportation and water.
Some great features you may like to take advantage of are in the "resource section"
+free access to their download library, with many relevant texts and books in .pdf
+Discussion groups with ongoing conversations on many topics

WEBSITE REVIEW : AMIEF

2005-07-07T07:00:00.000+10:00

http://www.ncc.nsw.gov.au/services/environment/ameif/project.cfm
The Australian Municipal Energy Improvement Facility (AMIEF) was created by Newcastle City Council to assist local governments throughout Australia to reduce greenhouse gas emissions profitably.
So says the site, and it's true. What is so great about AMIEF is how clever they are at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions for Newcastle.
Their motto is
"if we can't measure it we can't manage it"
and that is why you can click on the Climate Cam link to look at up to date environmental emissions from Newcastle. The Climate Cam looks at our city's water, waste, transport, electricity and gas usage over time.
The site also showcases other Actions which have been taken by Newcastle Council and community, and actions underway right now.
Have a look at the site and let everyone know what you think by clicking the "comments" link below.