Since I arrived in Sydney and began working with Michael Mobbs, counteracting Sydney’s heat and implementing projects to cool the city has been one of my main goals. Now, Michael and I are selling an amazingly unique, self-sustaining garden called an ecoPOP that’s designed to cool public areas and provide an interactive, educational green space that builds community.
Buying group solar
We started out with the goal to obtain a discount on solar systems by buying in bulk. Our aim was to have 30 households sign up with the one supplier to achieve a negotiated 15-20% discount on all components and installation of a solar system. The project began with a meeting at Michaels house that involved a presentation, much discussion, and a few bottles of wine.
What solar panels should I buy?
A sustainable granny flat in Sydney
How efficient are solar panels on my house after 19 years?
To check the efficiency of the solar panels on my house after 19 years of use, and to obtain regular reports on them, I’m receiving a report from Solar Analytics.
Whose poo is it, anyway?
Is there some reason the state should accept responsibility for our excreta?
Doesn’t being a mature citizen include the personal obligation to take care of our own waste and other needs unless we’re vulnerable and can only get by with the aid of the state?
On this issue – energy and pollution from pumping water and sewage – Sydney Water is among the State’s 20 biggest carbon polluter because of the energy used to pump its water and sewage.
Of fridges, solar power and getting the most out of them
Yesterday’s tour of Sydney’s Sustainable House was packed both with people and the interesting stories and questions they asked. One email has come in from one of people on the tour, Peter, and here it is as it’s got useful information about using solar panels efficiently and meeting the energy demands of that gas guzzler, the fridge.