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.

It’s been described as “the most successful dramatisation of climate change to hit the silver screen”

August 20 to August 30
State Cinema

From the Director of McLibel and the Producer of the Oscar-winning One Day in September.

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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

It happened at our group gardening meeting. Gazing lazily at a sunflower, Stuart G suddenly broke into a mad scientist type of smile. We knew then he had an inspiration that would save the world.

And the stroke of genius is? Well everybody knows how sunflowers track the sun across the sky. And… well… technology buffs have tried all sorts of ways to get solar panels to track the sun across the sky. There, you have it!

Care to calculate the power output from a hectare of micro solar panels attached to sunflowers and connected to the power grid?

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.

My meter is running backwards…the government just gave me $8000…it must be Christmas!!

I’ve just had a 1Kw solar system put in – so easy to organize, no hassle with the rebate. Easy!

Now (with the federal government policy backflip) people on any income will be eligible for a rebate – but they will have to install 1.5Kw system to get the full amount ($7,500). I installed a 2Kw inverter so can upgrade simply by adding more panels. But for now 1Kw will cover my needs.

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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

Another Waterworks household has decided to install solar photovolatic system (guess who?).

Meanwhile, we all need to press for better feed-in tariffs (how much you get paid for surplus power), so that more people are attracted to go solar. And we have an opportunity to do just that.

The Tasmanian Government has issued a discussion paper (click HERE to download) on a proposal for a national feed-in tariff . This Monday (24th) is deadline for your feedback.

Meanwhile, the federal senate has just released its report (click HERE to download), generally favouring a unified national approach.

So please do take up the opportunity to have your say.

The Home Energy Audit workshop we conducted in June was well received. We decided to investigate a bulk purchase of insulation blanket – the best thing most homes can do is improve the thickness of insulation in their ceilings.

So…. here is some info about Insulation blanket from ringing around various suppliers. 

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