Bob through the window

Bob looking through my window Bob and Bert, the chooks in the run outside the kitchen window, love to see what’s happening inside the house. Who knows, some cooking may be underway and some tucker may be about to be thrown through the kitchen window to peck? Lottie, who has the blog, A place a day, took this lovely photo through one of the windows (it’s got raindrops on it, so you’re looking through a glass sparkly).  It’s Bob checking things out. Bob... Read More

Terrific photos of the house

Lottie’s put some terrific photos of the house, chooks, bees and things up on her blog, here: aplaceaday.blogspot.com… Thanks, Lottie, may the photos be with you, Michael  Read More

Chippo to be a trial demonstration suburb

On Monday night Sydney City Council resolved: RECOMMENDATION It is resolved that: (A) Myrtle Street and the surrounding areas, Chippendale, be used by the City as a demonstration site to showcase sustainable street technologies and programs; (B) a detailed plan for the site be developed over the next six months, for funding consideration in the 2011/12 budget; (C) the Chief Executive Officer negotiate an agreement with Mr Michael Mobbs under which he will provide technical advice,... Read More

New Second Edition of Sustainable House to be reprinted

The publisher of the second edition of my book, Sustainable House, tells me that since it was published in October this year it’s 5,000 copies are almost sold out and they’re reprinting it in January. Thanks again to UNSW Press, Elspeth Menzies my commissioning publisher there, to Jessica Perini for excellent, professional editing, Saima Ali for the new photos, and all involved. May the books be with us, Michael  Read More

Five houses tracking their energy use in Darlington

One of the houses tracking energy use There are five houses tracking daily energy use in Darlington. You can see which ones they are because they have signs on them facing the streets like the one above. This one has come fifth for the last day’s energy use.  See how the sign says it used 38% more energy use? May the low energy bills be with them – and thanks to you five houses, great to see, Michael  Read More

Sustainable linen

Bamboo sheets.  Mmmm. Just slept in new ones I bought this week.  $140 on special. Better to the touch than cotton, and, I’m told, warmer in winter and cooler in summer. And, of course, the bamboo uses far less water than cotton to grow, so it’s a material that, in the growing at least, causes less damage than does cotton growing. They cause no allergies, apparently. May the bamboo sheets be upon your bed, Michael  Read More

13th on the list

Woo hoo – a smiling one. In this weekend’s Spectrum the Sydney Morning Herald’s Literary Editor, Susan Wyndham has included my book, Sustainable House, in her list of the year’s top books to buy for Xmas. 13th. That’ll do. A great incentive for me to catch up on some more writing. May the books be with you, Michael (And that’s terrific, Susan, thank you.)  Read More

Talk at Devonshire Cottage, Chatswood, Wed 10 Nov

I’m giving a talk called, ‘Tips for Sustainable Home Design’. It’s on Wednesday 10th November 2010 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM at the ‘Devonshire Street Cottage’. The cottage was built in approximately 1920 and has under gone a major green retrofit.  It is a great example of what can be achieved with buildings of that age and on a small budget.  Also there is a fabulous edible community garden out the back to explore. Location: 34 Devonshire Street, Chatswood... Read More

Talk at Mona Vale Library this Wed

On Wednesday this week at Mona Vale library I’ll be talking about what worked and what didn’t at the house, how the solar panels are after 14 years, how the site has kept over 1.5 million litres of sewage here. The aim is to explain how my new book  gives a full account of what’s happened living in a sustainable house in the city for the last 14 years. For a warts n all evening, and to see what may work for your sustainable project, come to the library at 630... Read More

Special tours Sydney’s Sustainable House – Saturday 19 September 2015

Tour Fact Sheet – Sydney’s Sustainable House and Chippendale Road Gardens A house tour in September 2013   Special tours Click here for all Tour enquiries I’m giving a house tour on Saturday 19   September  2015;          cost $15 per person. Start 1130 (arrive by 1125, please), finish 1230.   To celebrate the publication of the second edition of the book, Sustainable House, and my new book, Sustainable Food - and to make the information about... Read More