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Michael Mobbs' Sustainable House

Home
My House
My journey
Electricity
Water
Wastewater
The Kitchen
Products & Services
Low bills living
Services
Book a talk
Off-grid projects
Off-grid fact sheets
Tours
General Public Tours
Model of my house at the Powerhouse Museum
Blog
About
Contact me
Media
Leaky drains and kerbside gardens
Food
21 June 2019
Michael Mobbs
Make a more natural nature strip

Here’s a simple, low cost , low tech design which keeps rain water where it falls to make a self-watering nature strip.

Let’s put nature into the ‘nature’ strips of our cities. It’s easy.

Make a more natural nature strip
2 April 2019
Michael Mobbs
23 years off grid for water in the centre of ...

What does the data tell us about living off-grid for water in the heart of Sydney?

Analysis of water quantity by an American intern in Sydney, Jillian Meehan.

23 years off grid for water in the centre of Sydney - what the data says
6 February 2019
Michael Mobbs
Aircon for on and off-grid houses

Here’s how to have aircon and be on or offgrid for electricity. Cool!

Aircon for on and off-grid houses
Michael Mobbs
10 September 2017

How to cool a school

Michael Mobbs
10 September 2017
How to cool a school

When a school is cool in summer and warm in winter the children and teachers there enjoy a healthier and better learning place.

Tagged: Urban Heat Island, Low bills

4 Comments
Michael Mobbs
10 September 2017

Sydney's Sustainable House open on National Sustainable House day

Michael Mobbs
10 September 2017
Sydney's Sustainable House open on National Sustainable House day

On Sunday 17 September 2017 Sydney’s Sustainable House will be open for anyone to visit along with over 200 other sustainable houses across Australia.

Tagged: Off-grid, Off-grid products, Soil, Low bills, Solar

Comment
Michael Mobbs
7 August 2017

One Low Bills Course ends, next one opens for September

Michael Mobbs
7 August 2017
One Low Bills Course ends, next one opens for September

"Crikey, I'm exhausted", "Wonderful food", "That was terrific' . . . "I can do this" . . .

Low Bills Living Course hits the spot

3 Comments
Michael Mobbs
7 August 2017

How to choose solar and batteries for low bills living

Michael Mobbs
7 August 2017
How to choose solar and batteries for low bills living

These are the key lessons I've learned from living with solar power for 21 years.

Tagged: Solar, Batteries, Off-grid products, Costs

3 Comments
Michael Mobbs
10 July 2017

Two scholarships awarded for Low Bills Living Course

Michael Mobbs
10 July 2017
Two scholarships awarded for Low Bills Living Course

Two scholarships have been awarded to people living over 100 k outside Sydney for the Low Bills Living Course commencing 22 July at Sydney's Sustainable House.

One is to Donna Russo, who lives near Oberon in NSW, and the other is to a family living in Canberra.

Tagged: Low bills, Red tape, Insulation, Batteries, Solar

Comment
Michael Mobbs
29 June 2017

Meet the Head of Sustainability, IKEA Australia and other experts at my Low Bills Living Course

Michael Mobbs
29 June 2017
Meet the Head of Sustainability, IKEA Australia and other experts at my Low Bills Living Course

Meet the Head of Sustainability, IKEA, Australia, at my Low Bills Living Course starting 22 July.

Tagged: Low bills, Off-grid products

Comment
Michael Mobbs
28 June 2017

How I’m installing solar power to 3 units

Michael Mobbs
28 June 2017
How I’m installing solar power to 3 units

How Ken Lambert is bringing solar to three units in Newcastle

Tagged: Low bills, Efficiency, Costs

Comment
Michael Mobbs
8 June 2017

Cost to build and own Gundaroo off-grid house

Michael Mobbs
8 June 2017
Cost to build and own Gundaroo off-grid house

Danny O'Brien and Sue Ogilvy give the costs to build and own their off-grid house outside Canberra, ACT.

Tagged: Low bills, Off-grid, Costs

5 Comments
Michael Mobbs
6 June 2017
Low bills

Low household bills course offered by Michael Mobbs, the Off-grid Guy

Michael Mobbs
6 June 2017
Low bills
Low household bills course offered by Michael Mobbs, the Off-grid Guy

How to have low energy and water bills - a course for anyone 

Tagged: Off-grid, Low bills, Costs

Michael Mobbs
9 April 2017

Growing maize in the Mekong: Perceptions from an Australian agricultural researcher

Michael Mobbs
9 April 2017
Growing maize in the Mekong:  Perceptions from an Australian agricultural researcher

The Mekong River Basin is known to be is one of the most dynamic, productive and diverse in the world.

Tagged: Rainwater, Off-grid, Soil

Comment
Michael Mobbs
9 April 2017

Some tips for recycling soft and difficult plastic in Australia

Michael Mobbs
9 April 2017
Some tips for recycling soft and difficult plastic in Australia

The best tip for recycling is; buy or make things so you don’t have to recycle.

For example, buy food from places where you can put the food into your containers.

Tagged: Recycling

2 Comments
Michael Mobbs
29 March 2017

Invitation to install & supply off-grid solar system

Michael Mobbs
29 March 2017
Invitation to install & supply off-grid solar system

Invitation to install and supply inner city off-grid solar & batteries - those offering expressions of interest receive 2 years of performance data of existing off-grid system

Tagged: Off-grid products

Michael Mobbs
29 December 2016

What is the future of sustainable housing in Australia?

Michael Mobbs
29 December 2016
What is the future of sustainable housing in Australia?

A 13 minute video on the future of Australian sustainable housing by some of the actors involved in this play of hope.

Tagged: Off-grid, Energy, Rainwater

Comment
Michael Mobbs
26 September 2016

UN forum to celebrate World Habitat Day

Michael Mobbs
26 September 2016
UN forum to celebrate World Habitat Day

UN World Habitat Day Forum great networking opportunity

Tagged: Urban Heat Island, Biodiversity, Rate rebate

Comment
Michael Mobbs
26 September 2016

Street Coolers part of Sydney Architecture Festival this weekend

Michael Mobbs
26 September 2016
Street Coolers part of Sydney Architecture Festival this weekend

Join Sydney Architecture Festival tour of Chippendale cool road trial,  off-grid house

Tagged: Urban Heat Island, Off-grid products

Comment
Michael Mobbs
26 September 2016

City rainwater clean as a whistle

Michael Mobbs
26 September 2016
City rainwater clean as a whistle

Lab tests of rainwater at my house have shown it’s clean as a whistle.

Tagged: Rainwater

4 Comments
Michael Mobbs
26 September 2016

Watch Tim Heard split native bee hive

Michael Mobbs
26 September 2016
Watch Tim Heard split native  bee hive

You’re invited (free) to my place to watch Tim Heard, leading Australian native bee expert, split my hive and make two from one. 

Tagged: Streetgarden

1 Comment
Michael Mobbs
12 July 2016

Off-grid house at Gundaroo, NSW

Michael Mobbs
12 July 2016
Off-grid house at Gundaroo, NSW

Going off-grid in Gundaroo - Sue and Danny Ogilvy's story

Tagged: Off-grid

12 Comments
Michael Mobbs
6 July 2016

Adelaide calling . . . 'We're almost off-grid'

Michael Mobbs
6 July 2016
Adelaide calling . . . 'We're almost off-grid'

In this guest blog Marjon and Greg Martin describe the costs and benefits of their new battery system in Adelaide, South Australia.  A fascinating and informative story - thank you both, M.

Tagged: Off-grid products, Green energy, Rainwater, Costs

Comment
Michael Mobbs
30 June 2016

Recent off-grid projects

Michael Mobbs
30 June 2016

Here are six recent off-grid projects we’ve had the pleasure to work on with the owners.

Tagged: Off-grid

Comment
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Use this site to find and follow off-grid projects

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Periscope or get my free newsletter with how-to-do it info

  • Michael Mobbs
    RT @jo_noCSG: One point >>> never take a gas co CEO’s word for anything - everything mentioned here needs a good ol’ fact check… https://t.co/43efbaqdoK
    18 May 2023, 6:26 pm
  • Michael Mobbs
    RT @openpoliticsAU: The new Member for Aston @MaryDoyleMP has disclosed her interests. The main ones are a house, mortgage and Camry.… https://t.co/QlS7nzCQlz
    18 May 2023, 6:25 pm
  • Michael Mobbs
    RT @FreeDanDuggan: This photo was taken on the morning that NSW #PoliticalPrisoner #FreeDanDuggan was suddenly #kidnapped at #Orange o… https://t.co/JqEbc4Yv8O
    18 May 2023, 6:25 pm

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Sustainable House, 58 Myrtle St, Chippendale, NSW, 2008, Australia

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