Sustainable Places Australia

Happy Earth

erland — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:47:19 +0000

Wollongong, NSW 2500
"At Happy Earth, we’re on an adventure in urban sustainability, exploring how we can retrofit a typical house and lawn into a healthy, efficient home with an abundant food garden. For us being sustainable is really about living happier, healthier lives and feeling good about doing things that are good for us, the planet and our community. It’s about wholesome food and lower bills, meaning more time for family and friends, and less time working."
Find out more at: www.happyearth.com.au

Concord Sustainable House

erland — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:24:44 +0000

Concord, NSW 2137
In 2004 we renovated our 80 year old three bedroom Californian Bungalow in Concord, NSW. A large amount of thermal mass was added to the northern end via a concrete slab & an internal double brick wall. This was complimented by high levels of insulation, including double glazed windows, plus strategic shading and adjustable cross flow ventilation. The house is disconnected from the local water authority for both supply & sewerage collection and uses harvested rainwater for potable purposes plus on-site treated black water for flushing toilets & washing clothes.

Rob's Rooty Hill Residence

RobKemp — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:33:31 +0000

Rooty Hill, NSW 2766

The house itself is a 50 year old bricked-over fibro house. After purchasing the house in '99, I installed a 300 litre Solahart Black Chrome XII Solar Hot Water System with electric boost, followed by a 1.35kW grid-interactive PV system in 2000, a 300 litre 'drinking water' tank, and a 2000 litre tank which is now plumbed to the laundry. In the following years I tried a SunLizard Solar Air Heater and canvas external window blinds. In 2008 I've added a 7,000 litre under-floor ecosac bladder, which supplies water to the house. Mains back-up is via a Rainbank controller.

Glenorie Wildlife Refuge

erland — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:21:28 +0000

Glenorie, NSW 2157

Glenorie Wildlife Refuge is situated in Sydney's North West. The property is gazetted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act as a Wildlife Refuge. Twenty years ago several property owners whose land constituted a wildlife corridor between Cattai Creek and Little Cattai Creek applied together to become the Glenorie Wildlife Refuge. Thus around 80 hectares of native Sydney bushland on Hawkesbury sandstone was protected. Wallabies, goannas, snakes, parrots, cockatoos, micro bats, many invertebrates and a wide variety of acacias, eucalypts, casuarinas and hakeas are just a few examples of the fauna and flora found here. We work to keep out weeds and feral animals. Read more...