Many thanks to Claudia and Jason and family for use of their home for the belated formal launch of our climate project on Sunday (August 30).

We were blessed with a brief break in the continuous wet weather (as NSW sizzles in mid-Summer temperatures, breaking all records for August).

Here is a replica of the little garden signs that participating households will be displaying in their front yards.

This comes with a commitment: to reduce the household’s carbon footprint by 5% minimum per year. We aim to do everything we can to ensure that this commitment can be easily met, and that task will keep us very busy for the coming year!

And thanks too to Nel Smit, a community representative on Tasmania’s Climate Action Council, who launched the project for us on Sunday.

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Sustainable houses throughout Australia will be opening their doors for you to look inside on Sunday 13th September.

See the real benefits of sustainable housing up close. Learn what you can do with your own home. Meet the professionals and find out about useful products.

Check out the sustainable house day website for house locations in Hobart area. Admission to all houses is free.

Waterworks Valley is the most solarised street in Tasmania (anybody wish to contest that claim?) and maybe we should challenge every other street community to do better – in the interest of promulgating sustainable living.

This year four more local households have installed solar hot water systems (at 60, 104, 166 and 191 Waterworks Rd) and several other households have signed up for solar hot water and solar photovoltaic systems – through South Hobart Community’s fantastically successful bulk purchase initiative.

(I hasten to add that solar is not the be all and end all. There are, of course, zillions of less photogenic things that are just as worthwhile – like growing home vegetables, recycling and walking kids to school.)

Chris @ 195

Waterworks Valley’s application for Climate Connect grant has been approved by the Tasmanian Climate Change Office.

This is a major project that will be conducted in the forthcoming 12 months. For an outline click HERE. Or you can download the grant application HERE to see what it entails.

Many thanks for those who contributed to this. And watch this space for more!

NOTE: A new weblink devoted to this project will be set up shortly.

Chris @ 195

Our sister group, South Hobart Community, has taken a cue from Waterworks Valley Solar Project and is now offering a bulk purchase deal on both solar hot water and solar power (photovoltaic).

Now is the time to go solar power before federal rebates change mid-year. You can register an interest on their website.

G’day all! Just heard a couple of Sydney uni students interviewed about their recent year-long bike-ride around Oz promoting sustainable living.

Their website (Everybody Has Power) is particularly good, especially for younger people and includes Facebook links.

The site includes a set of interesting ‘personal sustainability challenges’. Worth a peek!

Sam at 104

On Tuesday 4th Nov community members met and made following agreements:

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Here is some Government funded green goodness:

Click HERE, type in your details and you’ll get 2 free Energy Saving Light Globes sent to you.

Only one set per household, it’s an Australia-wide initiative, so spread the word!