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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
3 June 2018

Tips for what can go wrong, and fixes, for solar

Michael Mobbs
3 June 2018
Tips for what can go wrong, and fixes, for solar

Solar system wrongly installed, solutions from data monitoring - an expert’s story

Tagged: Off-grid products, Electricity, Efficiency, Solar

Comment
Michael Mobbs
2 June 2018

Food 'waste' growing soil in Erskineville community garden

Michael Mobbs
2 June 2018
Food 'waste' growing soil in Erskineville community garden

Erskineville community garden grows its soil by gathering food waste from local shops

Tagged: Compost, Recycling

1 Comment
Michael Mobbs
25 May 2018

How to solve Australia's waste crisis

Michael Mobbs
25 May 2018
How to solve Australia's waste crisis

How to solve Australia’s waste crisis - today, each day, this year

Tagged: Soil, Recycling, Efficiency, Rate rebate

2 Comments
Michael Mobbs
16 May 2018

A great shower head

Michael Mobbs
16 May 2018
A great shower head

This showerhead is long-lasting, elegant, simply-made and saves energy and water

Tagged: Efficiency, Rainwater, Energy

2 Comments
Michael Mobbs
8 May 2018

Low Bills Living Course 23 June . . .

Michael Mobbs
8 May 2018
Low Bills Living Course 23 June . . .

Low Bills Living - live with energy and water bills for less than $300 a year - anyone can. Learn how in this four day course at Sydney’s Sustainable House.

Comment
Michael Mobbs
1 May 2018

Melbourne city's water supply is collapsing

Michael Mobbs
1 May 2018
Melbourne city's water supply is collapsing

“The forests are in what we call ‘hidden collapse’ because the ecosystem superficially appears to be intact, but the prolonged period of decline coupled with long lag times for recovery means that collapse is inevitable.”

Tagged: Rainwater, Stormwater, Draingarden

2 Comments
Michael Mobbs
17 April 2018

Three things we do to use less energy in our Sydney house

Michael Mobbs
17 April 2018
Three things we do to use less energy in our Sydney house

Three things a Sydney household does to use less energy: for hot water, cooking and house cooling

Tagged: Off-grid products, Energy, Efficiency, Off-grid, Costs

1 Comment
Michael Mobbs
10 April 2018

How much energy does my fridge use?

Michael Mobbs
10 April 2018
How much energy does my fridge use?

By monitoring my fridge's energy use I can know how much it uses compared to other household appliances; it's the biggest energy user here.

Tagged: Efficiency, Off-grid products, Energy

Comment
Michael Mobbs
5 April 2018

Famous inner Sydney terrace to rent for off-grid living

Michael Mobbs
5 April 2018
 Famous inner Sydney terrace to rent for off-grid living

This inner Sydney terrace is offered as a whole house for lease from the month of June, 2018.

It is Sydney’s Sustainable House, one of Earth’s first inner city off-grid houses, a famous model of how to keep our lovely oceans and air clean.

Tagged: Low bills, Off-grid, Efficiency

Comment
Michael Mobbs
27 March 2018

My suggestions for more efficient household appliances

Michael Mobbs
27 March 2018
My suggestions for more efficient household appliances

Ideas for lower household bills using more water and energy efficient appliances

Tagged: Efficiency, Off-grid products

1 Comment
Michael Mobbs
10 March 2018

Learn How to Live With Low Bills

Michael Mobbs
10 March 2018
Learn How to Live With Low Bills

Learn how easy it is - anyone may choose to live with low energy and water bills

Tagged: Low bills, Efficiency, Sewage, Rainwater, Electricity

Comment
Michael Mobbs
2 March 2018

Submissions invited on changes to household appliance efficiency standards

Michael Mobbs
2 March 2018
Submissions invited on changes to household appliance efficiency standards

Submissions invited on changes to Australia's energy and water efficiency standards for household appliances

Tagged: Costs

Comment
Michael Mobbs
19 February 2018

10 cents refund now for recycled cans, bottles in NSW - the where and how

Michael Mobbs
19 February 2018
10 cents refund now for recycled cans, bottles in NSW - the where and how

New laws in the state of NSW, Australia, allow anyone to claim 10 cents for recyling cans and bottles. Here is the how and where to get your 10 cents

Tagged: Recycling, Costs

Comment
Michael Mobbs
14 February 2018

NSW Councils have limited discretion to refuse approval for on site sewage

Michael Mobbs
14 February 2018
 NSW Councils have limited discretion to refuse approval for on site sewage

NSW Councils have limited power to refuse approval to on site residential sewage systems approved by the state's NSW Health agency.

Tagged: Sewage, Off-grid products

Comment
Michael Mobbs
23 January 2018

Review of Australia's national energy, water standards for appliances

Michael Mobbs
23 January 2018
Review of Australia's national energy, water standards for appliances

Australian review of minimum  energy efficiency standards for appliances has potential to cut household bills and make kitchens and bathrooms bloom with savings

Tagged: Energy, Efficiency, Red tape, Costs

Comment
Michael Mobbs
8 January 2018

A plan to sustain Chippendale

Michael Mobbs
8 January 2018
A plan to sustain Chippendale

A plan to sustain the small suburb of Chippendale beside Sydney's central business district.

Tagged: Rainwater, Recycling, Stormwater, Streetgarden, Fast track off-grid, Rate rebate

Comment
Michael Mobbs
8 January 2018

Low bills course 24 Feb

Michael Mobbs
8 January 2018
Low bills course 24 Feb

Low bills living course - four days of practical tips, products, costs over two weekends, February, March 2018

Comment
Michael Mobbs
8 January 2018

Useful recent article about going off-grid in the city

Michael Mobbs
8 January 2018
Useful recent article about going off-grid in the city

This January 2018 article about going off-grid in Sydney, Australia, has some useful costs and other data

Tagged: Compost, Off-grid

Comment
Michael Mobbs
15 December 2017

Brother and sister sell surfing gear made from plastic 'waste'

Michael Mobbs
15 December 2017

Brother and sister sell surfing gear made from plastic 'waste'

Tagged: Stormwater, Rainwater, Recycling

3 Comments
Michael Mobbs
2 December 2017
Low bills

How to cool a school - the video

Michael Mobbs
2 December 2017
Low bills
How to cool a school - the video

How to cool a school - the video. 

This 3 min. 30 sec. video shows why and how to cool a school.

Tagged: Cooling, Urban Heat Island

2 Comments
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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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