Innholdsfortegnelse for 168 / Jul-Sep 2024 i Renew Magazine

Jul-Sep 2024 Hey there, As the chill sets in for many across Australia, there was some welcome news in Victoria, with the State Government being the first to propose new minimum requirements that will greatly improve the quality and comfort of rental housing from late 2025. In a concerted push from various players, including Renew, the better standards will help many of the state’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable households by reducing energy bills, improving health and wellbeing, and lowering environmental impacts by moving away from gas appliances. You can read more about the changing minimum requirements on page 22, and learn some effective ways to keep your rental at a comfortable temperature year-round. Also this issue, we bring you a bumper guide on preparing homes and communities for floods, showing…

Many tend to think of off-grid living as a new idea. If pushed, we might think it originated in the 1970s, in the heady days that created Earth Garden, Grass Roots and our very own Soft Technology magazine (the precursor to Renew). Some might complement this ’70s ‘hippy’ image with a more contemporary association. Noting a recent explosion in tiny houses, few could have missed the rising tide of urban gardening and ethical food networks, of complementary health practices and the hipster-driven return to the artisanal and the hand-made. All these affiliations help explain the prevalent shared desire to resist certain aspects of consumer culture and take more control over our day-to-day life. What many don’t realise is that these decisions, made in the face of rising industrialisation and consumerism,…

In the remote Northern Territory’s Gulf of Carpentaria lies Mumathumburru, also known as West Island. Its coastline features sandy beaches and rocky outcrops, surrounded by clear, expansive blue waters home to diverse marine life. Inland, the landscape is characterised by rugged terrain, lush vegetation and cultural sites that hold deep significance for the Garrwa and Yanyuwa people. Yet despite the beauty, energy insecurity is forcing First Nations custodians to leave. The Power to Country initiative, a collaboration between GARUWA, Original Power and Ngardara Cooperative, aims to transform this lived reality through selfdetermined, community-led renewable energy solutions. At its core, Power to Country underscores the importance of sustainable energy in empowering First Nations people to live on Country on their own terms. The Power to Country story begins with Shirley Simon,…

Electrical • Elevate electrical points: Raise electrical and data points above flood level. • Circuit planning: Use separate circuits for lower and upper levels to minimise disruptions. • Appliances: Raise washing machine, dryer and shelves above flood level. Walls • No cavities: If possible, design walls without cavities. Ensure they are moisture-sealed below flood level. • Seal frames: Use water-resistant paint to seal pine frames. • Material replacement: Use fibre cement sheets instead of plasterboard below floodline; use FSC certified or recycled hardwood for framing. Kitchen • Water-resistant cabinets: Replace cabinets with water-resistant materials and elevate them above flood level. Flooring • Durable flooring: Use tiles or concrete instead of carpet; use tiles for skirting. • Solid doors: Replace hollow doors with solid, aluminium or glass doors to prevent swelling…

Poorly performing windows are the bane of anyone striving to make their home more energy efficient. Improving window performance means either upgrading the windows (or just the glass), or applying some form of secondary glazing. For renters or the seriously budgetarily constrained, window upgrades come down to applying some form of easily removable film. The simplest and lowest cost option is what’s known as bubble glazing—applying a layer of bubble wrap to the glass to provide a level of insulation. Not only does this greatly reduce heat loss in winter, by preventing warm, moist air in the room from coming into contact with the cold glass, it also prevents the bulk of condensation. Which bubble? There are a number of different types of bubble wrap available. For windows where you…

Sunny Miller is a big fan of cooking in the backyard using his solar cooker, and will try to convert anyone who shows the vaguest of interests to get on board. Having trumpeted the benefits of solar energy, and worked in the sector for many decades, he adopted the name “Sunny” and continues to spread his rays from the patch of land where he lives in Safety Bay, Western Australia. Sunny’s particular passion for solar cooking was sparked on a trip to India where he attended a conference on the subject. He came back and started the Solar Cooker Interest Group. “We published brochures, and I’d set up anywhere and everywhere, at fairs, fetes and on the streets, showing these cookers,” Sunny says. “People would say, ‘Oh, what a great…

I wanted to write to you this edition to let you know that Renew has partnered with Australia’s most trusted online will platform, Gathered Here, to help you write your will online for free. This partnership comes because our supporters have expressed an interest in pledging a gift to Renew in their will. We are incredibly grateful to those who might be considering this, and we want to make the process as easy as possible. Traditional estate planning can be costly and time consuming but Renew supporters who write a will via Gathered Here can do so for free, in a matter of minutes. Wills can also be updated, for free, as many times as you like. You don’t have to include a gift to Renew to claim your free…

01 Stylish heatpumps Most hot water heat pump systems have a cylindrical tank and an integrated or separate compressor unit. The Emerald Energy hot water heat pump range is a little different. The heat pumps come in three tank volumes—220, 270 and 320 litres, and feature a nice squareline style integrated case made from painted galvanised steel. But they don’t just look good, these wi-fi enabled heat pumps use R290 hydrocarbon refrigerant (with a global warming potential of just 3—better than all other refrigerants except CO2) and the DC inverter-powered rotary compressors give them rated CoPs of 4.8, 4.9 and 5.2 for the three sizes respectively. The units are available in two versions for domestic use—with or without a 1.6kW backup booster element, and commercial use models as well. Recovery rate…

FEATURE On paper, Australia has bipartisan agreement to deliver net zero emissions by 2050. The unspoken theory that underpins this commitment is that once the target is set, we take the actions needed to work towards meeting it. A big test is on the way for this theory. By early next year, the Australian government will be laying out its commitments for emissions reduction to 2035. The independent Climate Change Authority is likely to recommend speeding up emissions reductions from our current rate, alongside laying out some of the actions needed in each sector of Australia’s economy. With so much at stake, it’s worth unpacking what is under consideration. Setting a 2035 target International climate agreements are built on a web of national targets and commitments. Under the Paris Agreement…

Green Rebuild Toolkit www.greenrebuildtoolkit.com Resilient Building Council www.rbcouncil.org Mullum Cares www.mullumcares.com.au/byron-shire-residential-flood-adaptation-project/ Maribyrnong Council Community Recovery Association (MCRA) contact@mcra.au Resilient Lismore www.floodhelpnr.com.au Queensland Government Resilient Homes Fund https://www.qld.gov.au/housing/buying-owning-home/financial-help-concessions/resilient-homes-fund Guidelines JDA Co has authored flood resilience design guides across multiple states and jurisdictions, including: Flood Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes https://www.qra.qld.gov.au/resilient-homes/flood-resilient-building-guidance-queensland-homes Victorian Building Authority – Flood Resilience Guide https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/159296/Flood-Resilient-Guide-to-Retrofitting-your-Home.pdf NSW Government Flood Resilient Design Framework https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/Flood%20Resilient%20Design%20Framework.pdf…

PLASTIC POLLUTION I read Renew 166 of the interview with Craig Reucassel and his frustration with the plastic problem. Plastic pollution is a subject that is very worrisome to me and many others. In 2020 your magazine featured a team dealing with the hard plastic problems in Timor Leste. Plastics have permeated land, sea and water and all living creatures including humans. The problem is growing despite our awareness. Until REDcycle collapsed in late 2022, I was content in the belief that there was a recycling pathway for soft plastics which cover most of the items that enter our homes. Now all that soft plastic goes to landfill, in addition the volumes of waste are increasing as the population grows and manufacturers continue to take the cheapest option for packaging. Councils…

Together with her husband and growing family, Kate Nottingham has been living off-grid in different ways for over 10 years. Taking the leap from interior design into sustainable living advocacy, Kate is passionate about self-sufficiency and encouraging people to live as sustainably as possible within their means. What started over ten years ago as small community-driven workshops focussed on simple living tips and tricks, the Off-Grid Living Festival has grown into one of the premier sustainability events in Australia, regularly attracting over ten thousand people every April. Believing that all change must start in the home, and with everyday activities and choices, Kate and her family have slowly built a community which shares their passion for all things sustainable. The festival attracts an ever-expanding audience who share an interest in…

Talk to an engineer or town planner about floods and they’ll ask you what type: riverine, overland, flash or urban flooding from overwhelmed drains and hard surfaces—the list goes on. Flood risks vary around the country depending on topography and climate, with climate change and extreme weather events escalating these risks. According to the Climate Council’s Climate Risk Map of Australia, floods pose the greatest climate threat to Australian homes. By 2030, riverine flooding is expected to threaten 80% of high-risk properties. The vast Murray-Darling Basin, spanning significant portions of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, places large areas, especially floodplains, under pressure. Regions along the NSW Northern Rivers and the eastern seaboard, including areas around the Brisbane River, the Hawkesbury-Nepean region and the Fitzroy River catchment near Rockhampton, are…

Surrounded by a locally planted, endemic, warm temperate rainforest and a meticulously maintained food garden lies our family’s off-grid home. Despite setbacks caused by the 2019 wildfire, the orchard is now in full swing, due in part to our unwavering dedication to sustainable agriculture. Our family works hard to provide optimal growing conditions for the plants. Recognising the importance of microclimates, water availability and nutrient-rich soil, we have elevated our gardening game by incorporating premium compost into our practices. For us, composting is not merely a chore but an essential aspect of the food production journey. Given the diverse range of food we cultivate, our garden requires a substantial amount of organic matter for composting, far beyond what the kitchen scraps and garden waste can supply. To meet this demand,…

Government's 'future gas' strategy released Quite a few people I have talked with about this document feel it is ‘Labor’s last straw’ on climate. Clearly the Australian Labor government is hostage to powerful interest groups who place their profit above humanity’s future. Government leaders have even been prepared to blindside Labor parliamentary members. This is not the way to govern Australia. In my extensive submission to the consultation process in November last year, on-line at Make a submission Future Gas Strategy: consultation paper - Consult hub (industry.gov.au) (https://consult.industry.gov.au/future-gas-strategy/survey/view/60 ) I mapped out serious problems such as enormous over-estimation of the amount of high temperature industrial heat that isn’t easily electrified. Unfortunately the software used to save my submission deleted all the graphs in my submission, undermining the potential for readers…