IN THIS ISSUE
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ECO EVENTS

The Watershed Initiative

The Watershed has resources and experienced staff on hand to provide information and advice to local residents and businesses on ways to reduce our ecological footprint.

Visit the Watershed to find out about a wide range of environmental initiatives, such as, worm farming, composting, rainwater tanks, recycling, sustainable housing and permaculture. The Watershed runs free workshops on Saturdays, and is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers.

Contact: Vanessa John 
Tel: (02) 9516 6366 
218 King St Newtown NSW 2042 watershed@marrickville.nsw.gov

Handy Water Saving 
Hints for the Home

• Order and install a DIY "Greywater your garden kit" or a "Water Saver Kit"

• Install a Rainwater Tank to harvest rainwater from your roof (Book a quote) 

• Install a AAA rated shower head (cuts water use for showering by up to two thirds)

• Install a toilet flush water saver (see the Eco Starters Pack for more details)

• Buy a front loading AAA rated washing machine

• Put a cover over the pool to stop evaporation (also helps keep the pool warm)

• Wash your car on the Lawn (make sure you use a bucket - it is illegal to hose your garden during the current water restrictions)

Calculate Your 
Ecological Footprint

How much land 
& water do you need?

Worldwide, there exists 1.8 biologically productive global hectares per person. The average Ecological Footprint in Australia is 7.6 global hectares per person. We need 4 earths to sustain the Australian average lifestyle!

Q. How much earths your lifestyle require? Click here to complete a short Ecological Footprint Calculator and work out how many earths your lifestyle requires.

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CONTACT US

Ecological Homes Pty Ltd
PO Box 2504, Strawberry Hills
NSW Australia 2012
Phone: 1300 73 07 07
Fax: (+61 2) 9557 8422
twalsh@ecologicalhomes.com.au
www.ecologicalhomes.com.au

Our Shop Address:

230 Enmore Rd, Enmore NSW 2042

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© Copyright 2002 Ecological Homes Pty Ltd (ABN 71 002 980 047)

Best Home Loan Rates

Are you paying the best rate for your Home Loan?

Contact our friendly loans consultants at Hiley Home Loans to advise you on the best home loan rates and see how they can help save your thousands to finance your eco home renovation or installation.

Request a Free 
Home Loan Check 

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The Earth Repair Charter

Please Endorse the Earth Repair Charter

(If you haven't done so already)

Visit Their Great New Website www.earthrepair.net

Vol 2 (Issue 7) Apr 2004

Dear Reader,

In the past month we saw the release of the most substantial evidence to date that clearly and undeniably links human activity to Climate Change: 

"There is no doubt the composition of the atmosphere is changing because of human activities, and today greenhouse gases are the largest human influence on global climate ...the likely result is more frequent heat waves, droughts, extreme precipitation events, and related impacts, e.g., wildfires, heat stress, vegetation changes, and sea-level rise which will be regionally dependent." (See: Study commissioned by US National Science Foundation)

Yet, despite these clear warnings, our leaders continue to sit on their hands on this issue forcing the Kyoto Process to the brink of collapse and denying us the potential, as a nation, to develop dynamic renewable energy industries to take advantage of rapidly emerging Carbon Trading markets (see story below)! 

Fortunately, Ecological Homes is here to help, providing affordable solutions that allow Australian households dramatically cut their Greenhouse emissions AND save money on their regular bills at the same time! This month we feature: 

• the up-coming launch of the revolutionary new Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water System technology at the Sydney Home Show and the chance to Win the World's Best Solar Water Heater! 

• the launch of our new range of Eco Globes - affordable, long lasting, energy efficient light globes

• plus we take a look at the impact of the recent NSW State Government Budget on buying your first home in NSW. 

As always, we welcome your thoughts and feedback on the newsletter and stories related to the environment. The deadline for contributions to the next issue (May 2004) is April 30th 2004. Send us your feedback or stories

Thanks ... The Ecological Homes Team

Q. What Does Ecological Homes Do?
A. We are Your One Stop Shop for Sustainability

We provide a "One Stop Shop" solution for all your eco housing and home finance needs including: 

Win the World's Best Solar Water Heater! 

Last month we featured a revolutionary new solar hot water system (based on evacuated tube technology) that can be retro-fitted to an existing water heater (Gas or Electric storage) making it up to 75% more efficient or installed as a completely new system that is up to 40% more efficient than any other flat plate solar water heater!

This month, we announce a new competition where a lucky household has the chance to Win an Evacuated Tube Solar water heater - simply the best hot water system on the Planet!

Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water System (see picture above) can be retro-fitted to most electric and gas storage tanks resulting a system up to 75% more efficient and that pays for itself in less than 3 years (based on an average Sydney household currently using electric water heating)!

This technology is superior to other hot water technologies in many respects including:

• lowest greenhouse emissions
• 30-40% more efficient than flat plate solar systems
• easy and inexpensive to install
• maintenance-free
• not affected by frost
• low profile and modern design
• lightweight (no need to strengthen your roof)
• tough and durable

Visitors to our website, our shop in Enmore, Sydney or people who visit us at the up-coming Sydney Home Show (13-16 May 2004 at the Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour) will have a chance to win one of these amazing new water heaters. 

In addition, we will giving away lots of other great environmental products for the home.

How Do I Enter the Prize Draw? (Click here)

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Turn on the Lights With our New Range of Eco Globes

Lighting can account for 10% of the energy used in the average Australian home. The energy used for lighting can be reduced by 50% simply by installing energy efficient compact fluorescent light globes.

Until quite recently, compact fluorescent light globes have been unpopular due to the eerie white light they tended to emit (and their high cost). 

After carefully researching the market for the best energy efficient globes, Ecological Homes brings to you a range of Eco Globes - highly energy efficient and cost-effective light globes that produce a beautiful warm light, much like a normal filament globe.

Our range of Eco Globes:

• use 80% less power than a comparable filament globe

• produce a beautiful, flicker-free warm light

• last 8 times longer than a standard filament globe

• are available in a wide range of wattages (see below)

• are available in both bayonet and screw fittings 

How much do they cost? Our Eco Globes sell from $8.95 each (includes GST) and will pay for themselves very quickly with savings you will achieve on energy and replacement globes. Money-back Guarantee - if for any reason you are not happy with our globes, simply return them and we will refund your money. 

Order your Eco Globes today and receive a free globe! For every 4 globes you buy, we will give you the fifth one free = a saving of 25%!  

Contact us today place your order.  

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Buying Your First Home in NSW?
The Impact of the NSW Budget Impact

NSW Government Abolishes Stamp Duty 

for 1st Home Buyers! 

In the NSW State Government budget, released by the Treasurer Michael Egan, the Government announced that it will abolish stamp duty for people buying their first home worth up to $500,000. 

This means that as a first time home buyer in New South Wales you pay no government stamp duties on your home purchase after April 3, 2004.  

On a $500,000 purchase this is a saving of up to $20,000 AND you are still eligible for the $7,000 Federal First Time Home Owner’s Grant!

For a lot of prospective first home buyers, this can make a world of difference.

Why not give, Patrick Chidambaram (our friendly and expert home finance broker) a call today to find out how we can help get you into that first home (or buy a new one)?

Contact Patrick today for expert advice 

on buying your first home

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Kyoto Climate Change Protocol on Brink of Collapse?

Under its own provisions, the Kyoto Protocol cannot take effect unless and until it gains ratification by those industrialized countries responsible for at least 55 percent of the world's total annual production of greenhouse gasses.

Russia puts out 17 percent of those emissions; the United States 36 percent, and the United States has already withdrawn former President Clinton's provisional ratification of the Protocol.

Of the 120 countries that signed the Protocol, only 50 have ratified it, and several of those countries have now indicated that they have no intention of actually complying with its provisions.

Establishment of New International Body 
to Fight Climate Change

The NSW Premier, Mr Bob Carr has lent his support to the establishment of a new body (the International Climate Change Taskforce) to build on the work done to get the Kyoto Protocol off the ground.  

The initiative has been launched by three of the world's leading think-tanks - the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in London, the Centre for American Progress (CAP) in Washington DC and the Australia Institute in Canberra.

It brings together leaders from politics, business, science and civil society from around the world to create an International Taskforce on Climate Change.

The project’s purpose is to develop proposals aimed at conserving the gains made on climate change at the international level through the Kyoto Protocol, and building on them to help ensure climate change is addressed effectively over the long term. These recommendations will be aimed at all governments, with special emphasis on the UK. (click here for more details)

Australia to Miss Out on Multi-Billion Dollar 
Emission Trading Scheme (ETS)

Australia seems certain to be left out in the cold on major new, multi-billion dollar markets for trading in Carbon Credits that are likely to emerge to support initiatives like the Kyoto Protocol. 

Under the Greenhouse emission reduction targets set by the Kyoto Protocol, companies will require permits for the levels of emissions they produce. Companies that fail to produce sufficient permits to equal their emissions will be able to buy carbon credits on an open market or face severe financial penalties. 

Europe is leading the way in this area with the establishment of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

As of 1 January 2005, companies from sectors covered by the ETS scheme must limit their CO2 emissions to allocated levels in two periods, from 2005-2007 and 2008-2012 (to match the first Kyoto commitment period). Click here for more information on the European ETS scheme.

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Wise Words that Inspire

"Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context -- a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan." - Eliel Saarinen

"When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong." - Richard Buckminster Fuller

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