Eco House Footprint (Reducing your ecological footprint)

Making schools more eco friendly

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 05:56:03 +0000

By implementing just a few of the following suggestions your school can improve its energy use and provide a more environmentally friendly working and learning environment for staff and students:

Simple passive solar techniques such as maximising the sunlight that shines into classrooms by rearranging desks and furniture around windows or installing skylights to reduce the need for lighting;

Growing climbing plants up structures alongside classrooms which receive full summer sun to reduce the need for air-conditioning;

Adjusting air conditioner and heater thermostats, installing timer controls for lights and other electrical appliances, cleaning filters and fans, fixing leaks and removing drafts will all provide savings on energy bills;

Green cleaning

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:22:32 +0000

Green cleaning is a term used to describe cleaning methods that avoid toxic chemicals, some of which emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which may cause respiratory, dermatological and allergic relations. Not only is this important in the home but also in commercial settings where chemicals can have an adverse effect on worker health, morale and productivity. Many producers of commercially prepared green products also extend environmental principles to their manufacturing, packaging and distribution processes and ensure that their products are biodegradable.

Solar Lighting

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:52:34 +0000

It was not until the 20th century that artificial light became our primary source of interior lighting. However this does not mean that we should ignore other lighting options. Two solar lighting options that should be considered are daylighting, hybrid solar lighting and solar lights in an effort to reduce energy consumption.

Daylighting techniques primarily collect sunlight and then redistribute it into the interior of a building. Daylighting can provide savings by reducing the requirement artificial lighting. Some common methods/features to incorporate daylighting into a building include sawtooth roofs (many old factories employed this method), clerestory windows, light shelves, skylights and light tubes.

Hybrid solar lighting is another solar method of supplying sunlight to the interior of a building. The basic principle behind Hybrid solar lighting systems is to collect sunlight with tracking mirrors (mirrors that track the suns movement throughout the day) and then use optical fibres (or fibres) to transport

Architecture Solar

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:01:59 +0000

Architecture - Solar, Building Design and urban planning

The existence of sunlight has impacted construction of homes from the beginning of architectural history. Advanced solar building design along with urban planning techniques had been used by the Chinese and Greeks who built their homes facing south in order to capture additional light and heat. Today we have advanced beyond simple building orientation to now incorporate many other techniques to maximise the use of sunlight.

This practice of using sunlight in building design is called passive solar design. Some common components of passive solar architecture include; reducing the ratio surface are to volume (know as compact proportion), orientation of the building relative to the sun and selecting suitable shading /eves around the building.

Heating your Home and NOT the Environment

Fri, 29 May 2009 10:19:22 +0000

Whether you are planning a new home or redesigning an existing residence the source of the energy to be used for heating is an important consideration. For those constructing a new building the best option is to incorporate new low-energy (passive) building techniques which can virtually eliminate the need for heating. However, for most people with existing homes steps can still be taken to achieve more efficient use of energy.

It is generally more efficient to heat only those rooms which we use frequently. However, if you do need to heat the majority of your home ducted or central heating can offer a more environmentally friendly solution as it generally uses less resources than multiple open fires or single appliances. Typical efficiencies for central heating are: 85-97% for gas fired heating; 80-89% for oil-fired, and 45-60% for coal-fired heating. However, if you are in a part of the world where electricity

Central Heating through the Years

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:08:54 +0000

Central heating systems are an integral – and integrated – part of most homes on either side of the Tropic latitudes, and it’s hard to imagine a time when they didn’t exist. The concept of one source of heat circulating via pipes throughout an entire building was to revolutionise home design and essentially make the open fire an aesthetic rather than practical feature. From the earliest hypocausts to modern day boilers, mankind has developed increasingly available and more efficient ways to heat their homes.

Those clever Romans – who else? – devised the first central heating system as their empire spread into colder territories. The hypocaust was used in northern Europe from around 100AD and used convected air heated by furnaces in chambers under the floor.

Cistercian monks expanded on this with the first, primitive water boilers, diverting rivers into spaces heated by wood-burning furnaces. The Royal Monastery of Our Lady of

Boilers - which is best for you?

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:03:56 +0000

Most people don't give their plumbing or central heating a second thought until something goes wrong ie there’s no hot water, or for some reason the gas bill’s enormously high this quarter. However, when these things do happen, it's worth spending some time thinking about the way they work in your house – could you improve on the situation in some way that means it's more reliable? Or is there another way that will save you money? One of the main culprits when it comes to heating or water problems is the boiler, and the range of different options out there may surprise you. Many companies install boilers but some also send out advisors who can give you advice on the best sort of boiler for you. Here’s a quick glossary for the different types.

Combi-boiler – generally these are the most popular option when it comes to new boiler purchases, making up over
Read more...

Eco Friendly Recycling - Paper

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:08:59 +0000

When it comes to recycled for the homethe material list is large. Materials can range from recycled glass, paper, metal and more.

One product use for is paperStone, a Certified (FSC, Smartwood, Rainforest Alliance) post-consumer, recyled paper architectural surface material made with 100% petroleum-free, phenolic resins. Water is the predominant solvent. It is usally used in applications for level surfaces such as table tops, counters, window sills and door thresholds.

The recycled variety comes in two series or standards: original which is made from 50% post consumer water and recycled paper; and certified which is 100% post consumer waste. PaperStone made from original paper fiber is also available.

The Fuel Debate Or How to Knock About 50c a Litre Off the Price Of Fuel

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:29:00 +0000

First and foremost this debate should be centred on Diesel NOT Unleaded. Why? You may ask. Just look at the increase in supermarket prices for your answer. While it may cost you $5 or $10 extra to fill your tank everything that is transported (which is everything) rises as Diesel rises. My average basket at the supermarket per week has increased on average $30 and that’s for one person. Australia’s whole economy is tied to Diesel and therefore it should be afforded the same priority and status as water i.e. an essential commodity.

Planting by the moon

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:43:41 +0000

Aside from its role controlling the tides some people believe that the moon influences the fluid in plants. Those who plant by the moon believe that planting seeds and seedlings during particular phases of the moon can impact on the success of the crop at harvest.

If you want to experiment with gardening by the moon you can purchase a moon planting guide or use the following general guidelines:

LED Lights - The next step in efficient lighting

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:01:15 +0000

An important part of reducing your ecological footprint is to convert your existing lighting to a more efficient form. It has been reported that around 9% of a households energy costs come through lighting the home. Many of us have already converted our incandescent light bulbs to the more energy efficient compact fluorescents (CFL). However as technological advances occur new forms of lighting are becoming more readily available and affordable.

One such technology is the light emitting diode (LED). Although they have been around for many years in household appliances they are only now reaching a point where they can produce enough light for household and commercial lighting. LED lamps last 25 - 55 times longer than incandescent lamps and their high-efficiency can lead to savings of 70% - 90% in power consumption.

Shoo Fly, don't bother me!!! Using plants to deter insects and pests

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:14:58 +0000

Many strong scented plants act to repel insect pests by masking the scent of their chosen food plants. Using these plants in conjunction with the occasional use of natural pest sprays is a great strategy to help reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic insecticides and pesticides which can have a long term residual effect on the environment. Some attractive plants to try include basil, bay, camphor, dog bane, feverfew, lavender, salvia, southernwood, wormwood and thyme.

You can also improve the numbers of beneficial insects such as lady birds and lacewings in the garden by planting calendula, catmint, hyssop, mint, rosemary, tansy and yarrow. To tackle specific pests try the following suggestions:

Ants – Pennyroyal Spearmint and Tansy
Aphids – Nasturtium, Spearmint, Stinging Nettle, Southernwood, Garlic
Bean Beetles – Potatoes
Black Fly – Stinging Nettles
Flies – Rue, Tansy, Wormwood
Onion Maggot – Oregano and Marjoram
Pumpkin Beetles – Oregano and