Seminar on sustainable public infrastructure

Meet industry, council and community leaders who are designing and building sustainable neighbourhoods. With the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia and others I’ll be presenting a seminar on how to build and operate sustainable public infrastructure.  The first one is in Sydney on Wednesday and Thursday 26 and 27 March. Country seminars will follow later in the... Read More

Sustainable Tip 3 – Food, energy and water – the real monsters

The growing, production, transport and waste of food is the second highest carbon polluting activity after coal fired power stations in Australia.   Yes, my house is sustainable as it gets its energy from the sun and water from the rain on the roof.   But . . .  my tummy uses 30 to 40 times more energy and water than my house.   Each year, by using the rain that... Read More

Aussie firm brings solar lights and local businesses to urban Indian poor

Imagine employing some young folk then staying friends with them as go off in the world to do things that touch you deeply.   For me, it’s a feeling of exhilaration and simple pleasure.   One such is Monique Alfris, an engineer.   Some years ago Monique and some colleagues left Oz to set up a business making new local businesses in India who sell solar powered lights.... Read More

Sustainable Tip 2 – From pools to ponds

After a fridge a pool will be the biggest, or it can be the bigger, energy user. An option is to change your pool to a pond and, in doing so, cut down the energy and pollution it causes due to the pump running 24/7 and the use of cleaning agents such as chlorine. How:   Put some plants in, change to a low power, low energy pump, or simply turn yours off. Why:   The water is easier... Read More

A sustainable tip a day: Day 1 – Future plumb your house

Uh oh. Look here for a sustainable tip a day. (Let’s see if I can be that disciplined, hey.) For this first day, the tip is: Future plumb your house If you’re unsure whether you wish to use rainwater or grey water or blackwater but wish to give yourself the option, or offer it to those who may buy or rent your building then here’s how and why to future plumb your... Read More

Sustainable school in Ubud, Bali

At yesterday’s tour of Sydney’s Sustainable House I met two people from Indonesia and they sent me this email to provide more information about a sustainable school in Ubud: Hello Michael, How are you? I’m Andra, I visited your house yesterday with my girlfriend, Asela, Firstly, thank you for the tour, it was very entertaining and informative. This is the Green... Read More

When poetry is about sustainability

There is a poem by the Irish poet Seamus Heaney based on the legend of St Kevin and the Blackbird:  the blackbird laid its eggs in the saint’s outstretched hand as he prayed.   And then there was St Kevin and the blackbird,          The saint is kneeling, arms stretched out, inside          His cell, but the cell is narrow, so            One turned-up... Read More

Boston Uni students tour Sydney’s Sustainable House and road gardens

Last week 21 students from Boston Uni toured Sydney’s Sustainable House and the road gardens. The teacher, Gordon Hinds, let me have this background note about the Boston Uni course being taught in Sydney: Boston University has a campus in Sydney near Central Station in Regent Street. The campus has about 120 students accommodated in a dormitory style high-rise building with... Read More

Cool your roof to cool your house or building

A hot roof heats up the inside of the house or building. Think of your roof as a stove top or frypan with you in the pan or pot above the gas flame or heat source.  For the building the heat source is the sun. To cool your house you can cool your roof. A question just into my email reminded me of the roof as frypan and this is the houseowner’s problem: ‘Hello Michael I... Read More

Beach plastic is breathed in by fish who then die

Imagine the plastic we see beside the roads, rail lines, footpaths . . . then imagine it floating on and below the sea to be breathed in by fish, whales, jelly fish, crabs, whales, little critters there . . . in pieces as small as the tip of a pen or pin, getting in the lungs and then killing oceans of fish.   These folk do – Responsible Runners – and every day... Read More