I felt like a bit of a scrooge this Christmas. Presents for my 2 year old consisted of things she needed, like a new toothbrush and a toddler cutlery set. However, when she spent most of the holidays playing with a cardboard box and bubble wrap, I realised that she would not be emotionally damaged from my meagre gift giving.
Archive for the ‘Eco-living’ category
Treasures from Trash
January 17th, 2012Dangerous Chemicals in Baby Products
May 25th, 2011
Naturopath Su-Lin Sze talks to us about some of the highly controversial substances which are readily used in baby products. She provides a summary of some of the latest research into substances which can be detrimental to the health of your baby and offers some great advice on how to select better and healthier products for you and your baby.
Sustainable Wood and Forest Protection
January 6th, 2011
Wood can be considered a fairly green construction material. However, there can also be significant environmental and social impacts associated with logging. With the help of Greenpeace’s ‘Good Wood’ guide it is easier to see the wood for the trees so to speak. Whilst it advocates using wood sourced from certified schemes such as the Forestry Stewardship Council, there is a load more advice in relation to which wood is good, the five best and worst imported timbers in Australia and questions to ask before buying timber products. An essential read for any eco-conscious renovator.
Update on Solar Rebates
November 19th, 2010
If, like us, you are in NSW and were thinking of installing photovoltaic panels on your roof to generate your own solar electricity, there have been a few changes. The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme, introduced in 2009, provides gross feed-in-tariffs of 60 cents a kilowatt/hour for the solar electricity generated. This feed-in-tariff helps pay off the cost of installation. This scheme has been reviewed and from the end of October 2010 you will receive 20 cents a kilowatt/hour for electricity sold back to the grid.
Eco Footprint Beyond the Grave
October 14th, 2010
Did you know that burials have a greater long term environmental impact than cremations? Neither did we! And theres more… Centennial Park in South Australia, is up for an environmental award for its efforts towards achieving sustainability. It is also the first cemetery in the Australia, and possibly the world, to manage their entire greenhouse gas emissions with a carbon offset scheme.
Ecorenovations Living Green Kitchens
August 19th, 2010
With renovations at the forefront of my mind, one idea that has caught my eye is the concept of a green kitchen. We are not just talking eco-friendly materials here, we are talking a living breathing space. Immediately it is clear that there are some logistics that need to be thought through to grow plants inside.There are also different levels you can take this theme to, from a pot on the windowsill to a kitchen jungle. So how can we integrate a living green kitchen into our plans?
Want Free Time and Money This October? Buy Nothing New
July 15th, 2010
Old is the New New this October, with Salvos Stores’ first ever Buy Nothing New Month. Get on board for more money in your pockets, time on your hands and a lighter carbon footprint.
Instead of a short‐term, throwaway attitude to ‘stuff’, Salvos Stores Buy Nothing New Month extends the life cycle of goods, maximises the embedded cost and resources in the stuff we buy and gives an introduction to the re‐cycled, free‐ cycled, upcycled , secondhand, ‘swishing’ and sustainable alternatives that are better for you, your wallet and the planet
Natural Australian Cosmetics
July 9th, 2010
After researching and trialling natural skincare products its time for a bit of cosmetic enhancement to make the most of those natural assets. We’ve moved our focus to sustainable, natural makeup. It’s clear that finding natural and dare we say it, eco-friendly cosmetics is a difficult task. However, the demand for more natural products, has lead to the emergence of a new breed of cosmetic company like Zuii Organic. With a focus on ‘love, nature and organics’ Zuii use Australian grown certified organic ingredients blended using their unique manufacturing process. We’ll be profiling Zuii Organic over the coming weeks and putting their products to the test.