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.
Archive for the ‘Eco-renovation’ category
Sustainable Wood and Forest Protection
January 6th, 2011Update 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.
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?
Wind Turbines For The Home
July 30th, 2010
Wind turbines have historically been limited to rural areas. However, this is about to change as vertical axis wind turbines are being introduced for residential areas. Vertical axis wind turbines look more like an egg whisk than a windmill, the main benefit being that they are unaffected by wind direction so are better suited for urban areas. Residential turbines can be installed on the roof or tower and feed energy into the building through an inverter. Urban Green Energy is about to introduce the vertical axis wind turbines into Australia to provide another renewable energy option for the home.
Eco Renovation – Tentative First Steps
May 21st, 2010
Its long been a dream to get stuck into an eco-renovation. In reality it is a bit mind boggling especially when you have no experience of design, building or architecture.
A key concern is the cost of going green. Everyone knows that creating a sustainable home will lead to long term cost savings (we are talking pocket here as well as environment). But this has to be weighed up against how long you will live in the house and how much the bank manager will lend you. I’ve been doodling some ideas for weeks now, and its time to get serious. So I took myself off to the Sydney Home Show for some eco-renovation inspiration.
Eco Friendly Heating
May 1st, 2010
As winter sets in, the topic of eco-friendly heating comes up again. Gas is the most efficient of the conventional heating methods, but there are new heaters and new fuels to choose from. We’ve summarised the different ways to warm up your house this winter without warming up the globe.
Using Waste to Heat Your Home
April 1st, 2010
As Summer ends it is time to think about what you are going to do to keep warm this Winter. Our neighbour who is renovating, gave us a pile of waste hardwood, to burn in our slow combustion wood fire. This would otherwise have been destined for landfill. Fuel pellets take this concept a step further. Fuel pellets created from waste sawdust and other organic materials, burn with greater efficiency and lower emissions than wood, so we were keen to find out more.
Renewable Energy Options in your Home
February 21st, 2010
Generating your own green electricity, decentralising power generation and removing reliance on power stations is another piece in the energy puzzle. You can now get hold of a green loan and generous government rebates to install photovoltaic panels using the abundant sunshine we enjoy in Australia. But what happens when the sun is not shining? There are a few options including generating electricity in your home from gas with new BlueGen fuel cells which are going to be available in Australia in the next few months. We have done the research for you.