Drinking rainwater and staying alive

Spring on the way, and spring in us if we choose it Fellow water imbibers: I’ve been asked this lengthy, well-informed and valuable question: ‘Michael, I’m planning a new house with two 20,000L rainwater tanks, possibly of stainless steel, and I’m trying to decide what roof and gutter and downpipe materials to use.  I’ve read the reports of Mirela Magyar’s studies on metal contaminants in rain water tanks in Melbourne, and I’m reading... Read More

Sustainability education courses in Australia

At last.   The Fifth Estate has published in ebook giving a comprehensive list of sustainability courses in Australia.   It’s here: www.thefifthestate.com…   Sweet. M  Read More

Third Chinese delegation visit to discuss sustainable house and Chippo Plan

#gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */ Bing the interpreter explains as I sign a copy of Sustainable House book for the delegation The delegation... Read More

Funny, honest vids that work (and don’t involve my generation)

There’s some terrific videos, vimeos and apps about how to get on with things and to repair our lovely torn Earth.   They often involve kids or folks in their 20s, 30s, not my generation.   My generation is the failed generation.  We had our chance but blew it.   Movies and vids with serious faced professors, ‘guru’s, ‘experts’ from universities – they simply don’t engage most people. And serious documentaries with a point... Read More

Free Estimator for Solutions for Construction Pollution

Free Carbon Calculator   Here is a free estimator.  It’s an excel spreadsheet. Any developer, builder, designer, consultant, council or person may use it to estimate the pollution and impact caused by their project. Once you’ve estimated the impact the estimator suggests how you may offset the impact by investing in carbon farming and by turning food waste into soil. When we build projects we use water, energy, food and other resources.  We sometimes use more... Read More

Sydney Water’s bright idea

Sydney Water's bright idea - tap water Sydney Water, the government owned business monopoly, has had a bright idea.   They’ve begun to provide empty, stylish glass bottles to cafes to serve tap water in.   The label on the bottle says, “Tap – a Sydney Water product”.   This is clever and will, I guess, re-position tap water in the minds of those eating out.  The bottle is solid and stylish.  The label is clear.  It will, I hope, make... Read More

Frasers’ face of greed

Face of greed - pedestrians jammed in narrow footpath to make way for Frasers' car park Trucks, utes and speeding vehicles do left turn here against thousands of pedestrians Took these photos today of the busy Broadway footpath now jam packed with pedestrians.   At one point the passage is about 1 metre.  The photo of the mum with kid in stroller didn’t come out too well so it’s not here.   Frasers greed is now expressed in the footpaths along its site.... Read More

Which solar panel, who to install and . . . so many questions . . .

I keep getting good questions on tours of my house and readers of my book about how to buy solar panels, what panels to choose and what are the best deals.   I’ve got another enquiry today and here it is: ‘Hi Michael I came on a tour of your home last month – loved the bees! A friend of mine has been researching solar panels and is considering installing them.  However, she is finding it hard to get objective information.  Her concern is that installing... Read More

Renovation questions

Some folks are renovating in Balmain and have asked me these questions: “Some of the questions we are grappling with at present include: Whether bladder type water tanks are a good idea. They certainly give us a bit more flexibility, and also the ability to fairly easily remove them for replacement (they will be located under the main kitchen/living area The architect is thinking about concrete for both the floor and ceiling/roof of the new back area of the house, for its... Read More

On The Renovators this week

I’ll be a guest judge on the TV show, The Renovators, this week.   It’s Episode 50 which should screen on Wednesday 21st (if my calcs are right); Channel 10.   It’s about how to make a sustainable office and making it was a lot of fun.   Don’t know how the show turns out, of course, and as I don’t watch tele if you see it you might let me know what you reckon. Fingers crossed it works, Michael UPDATE: Click here to see Michael on The... Read More