|
SPECIAL OFFER
AUG 2002
|
|
Budget
Eco Starters Pack
-
AAA-rated shower head
-
Amaze eco-cleaner
-
Toilet flusher water saver
-
Tap water saving nozzle
Save
up to $400-$800 p.a.
for the average household for an investment of only
$120
plus postage
Save $11 - normally $131
(more
details)
|
|
Enviromower
- the Best Way to Mow Your Lawn!
Australia's
most environmentally friendly cordless electric mower.
-
no petrol, no oil
- push-button start
- no emissions
- low noise operation
- low maintenance & lightweight
$599
plus delivery
Save $50 - normally $649
(more details) |
|
Refer
our site & win!
Refer our website to your friends
using the website referral button
and go
in the draw for a holiday worth $3,000 plus you can win a double movie pass for the Valhalla Cinema in Glebe (terms
& conditions).
Holiday
Prize Winner Timothy
Bromwich wins a $3,000 holiday package for 2 in addition to a double movie
pass to the Valhalla Cinema by simply referring friends to our Website.
Congratulations Tim! |
|
|
ECO EVENTS
|
|
Saturday 21st
September 2002 - "Celebrating Sustainability" Fair
Seminars with leading experts
on Sustainable Housing, Solar Buildings, Permaculture, Mud Brick Making, Solar
Ovens, Natural Waste Treatment, Live entertainment including puppetry, theatre
and local musicians, dance and drumming workshops, wholesome food. Hawkesbury
Earthcare Centre, University of Western Sydney, Cnr Campus Drive & Science
Rd, Richmond. Entrance by donation Bookings & Stall Hire: seminar bookings
and stall hire contact Bindi Woodland - Fair Coordinator (02) 4578 1217
|
|
ENVIROTECH
EXPO - SYDNEY
27th February - 1st March 2003
Over 200 exhibitors will showcase products,
services and the latest in technology in order of "Building a
Sustainable Australia" plus a
free, three day comprehensive conference program featuring Leading
Australian speakers. Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling
Harbour. The exhibition will be
completely free of charge to all visitors. Contact the organiser - Troy Patterson
(02) 9439 4566 (02) 9439 4599 m: 0418 681 171 email: troy.patterson@kmimail.com
web: www.envirotechexpo.com
|
|
For more events see the
Events
Noticeboard
|
|
|
Escape to
the
Wollemi Wilderness Cabins
|
|
Today
our world is full of hurry and change. Well, finally here's a place where you
can come and rest up awhile.
If you want peace - time out - a
place where things have not changed and are not likely to change, a place where
you can breathe easy for awhile, this might be for you.
Wollemi Wilderness National Park
was recently listed on the World Heritage Register because it's an area of our
planet that hasn't changed since the last ice age. Here you can sit back and
look out over thousands of hectares of prehistoric land and your only neighbours
are Australia's prehistoric fauna and flora.
Click
here to make a booking.
Please mention that your heard
about it from Ecological Homes.
|
|
Handy
Hints for the Home
|
- Turn off lights when not being used
- Do not leave outdoor lights on all night or
during the day - consider using timers or sensors
- Avoid using down-lights
- Keep doors closed when trying to heat a room
- Install thick curtains over your windows to
reduce heat loss
|
|
Calculate Your
Ecological
Footprint
|
|
How much land
& water do
you need?
The average Ecological Footprint in Australia is
7.6 global hectares per person. Worldwide, there exists 1.8 biologically
productive global hectares per person.
Ever wondered how much
"nature" your lifestyle requires? Click here to complete a short
Ecological Footprint Quiz to estimate how much productive land and water you
need to support what you use and what you discard.
Back to
top
|
|
Watch
This Space
|
|
First Eco Shop Opening Soon!
Ecological Homes plans to open its first retail
shop in Sydney in early November.
Organic T-Shirts On the Way!
A range of eco t-shirts made from organically
grown cotton are currently being designed and will be released soon.
Back to
top
|
|
CONTACT
|
|
Ecological Homes Pty Ltd
PO Box 2504
Strawberry Hills
NSW Australia 2012
Phone: 1300 73 07 07
Fax: (+61 2) 9699 3478
twalsh@ecologicalhomes.com.au
www.ecologicalhomes.com.au
|
|
FEEDBACK &
ADVERTISING
|
|
Do you have a story
or feedback
for the next issue?
Let
us know
Advertisers welcome
for the next issue.
Contact
us for a rate card
© Copyright
2002
Ecological Homes Pty Ltd (ABN 71 002 980 047)
|
|
|
Issue 3 - August 2002
|
|
Dear
Reader,
Welcome
to the third edition of our newsletter - this month we welcome an additional 200
new readers of EcoNews including recipients of Lewis Hiley's Smartline
newsletter. Our readership has increased by over 40% in just one month!
Ecological
Homes provides a "One Stop Shop" solution for all your
environmental housing needs including:
-
Supply
and installation of technologies for existing homes (please call for
an Eco Consultation)
-
New
sustainable housing
-
Home
loan solutions - choose from over 30 lenders
-
DIY
superannuation and save $$
-
Environmental
education and events
|
We hope
that you enjoy EcoNews and find it helpful. We welcome your thoughts, ideas and feedback on how we
can expand and improve our newsletter. Email us with your feedback, suggestions or items for
inclusion in the next issue (deadline for contributions is 26th August 2002).
Refer
Our Website to Your Friends
& Win a $3,000 Holiday!
We invite
you to visit our Website and take part in our Website referrers promotion giveaway
which includes double movie passes and a chance to win a $3,000 holiday
for 2. Click here
for details.
|
|
Story
#1: Peter Puts His
Money Where His Mouth Is!
|
|
Solar Power to the People!
Peter Meloy is the Environmental Planner for
Baulkham Hills Council. For years he has studied, talked about and lobbied hard in his
work for sustainability. Finally, he decided it was time to act on a personal
level by making his home more sustainable!
After seeing the Pacific Solar display at our
Mini Expo, Peter contacted Ecological Homes to inquire about a solar power
installation for his home near Gosford.
 Within
a few weeks, Peter had a new 10 panel (1.5kWh) solar power system installed
making his home about 40% self sufficient for his power needs.
His
action was very timely. On the day after his panels were installed and connected
to the grid, he received a letter from Energy Australia saying that his
PureEnergy costs were going to increase by 18% on August 1. Now that he has
10 solar panels on his roof, he is getting nearly half his energy for free from
the Sun and is largely protected from energy price hikes like this.
How Much Power Can I Produce?
-
3 panels - will power all your lights,
TV, video, microwave and toaster (about 10% energy self sufficiency for the
average, energy wise, household)
-
6 panels - will power all your lights,
TV, video, microwave, toaster, fridge and dishwasher (3 uses per week) as
well as your computer for 2 hours a day (about 20% energy self sufficiency)
-
10 panels - this system will provide
you with a Green Kitchen. This includes
running your fridge, microwave, dishwasher (3 uses per week), oven/grill,
stove, toaster, kitchen lights in addition to the rest of your lights, TV,
video, stereo and radio (about 40% self sufficiency).
Why not follow Peter's initiative and contact
us today for a solar power consultation for your home.
Turn your roof
into a power station!
Back to top
|
|
Story #2:
Quantum Efficiency
Increases a Further 20%!
|
|
A leading Solar Hot Water
System Just Got Even Better
Quantum Energy, an Australian-based manufacturer
of highly efficient solar hot water systems that work like an air conditioner in
reverse, has just up-graded its heaters with a new refrigerant to become 20%
more efficient making it clearly one of the most efficient, cost-effective and
environmentally friendly water heating solutions available
today.
The new refrigerant (R134a) is environmentally
friendly and does not harm the ozone layer. It runs at a much reduced head
pressure and temperature, allowing the compressor to run more reliably, drawing
less power and significantly increasing the compressor life expectancy.
|
Comparative
Hot Water Operating Costs |
| |
Quantum |
Solar
(Electric boost) |
Electricity |
Gas |
| Annual Running
Costs |
$162 |
$458 |
$853 |
$543 |
Call us today for to learn how
much
you can save on you water heating costs!
Back
to top
|
|
Story #3:
Do-It-Yourself
(DIY) Super & Save $$
|
|
Unhappy
With the Performance of Your Super?
A significant
number of Australians are becoming concerned at the poor investment returns
being offered by the major fund managers. What has also come to their attention
is the fact that these same managers are still charging the same high fees for
these diminishing returns.
Your
superannuation is probably the largest asset outside the family home for most
Australians. More and more people are realizing that they can take control of
this most important investment and decide how and where to invest for maximum
returns
By taking
control of your own super funds, it is possible to treble your returns over the
next ten years!
Over 200,000
Australians now have self-managed funds and this number is growing by around 500
each week.
Super has
many tax benefits, including generally lower income and capital gain tax rates.
In addition, the rules under which self-managed funds operate, opens the door to
investment options not currently available to the individual that has their
funds locked into an employer's scheme.
A
superannuation portfolio that is balanced between managed funds, stocks, shares
and real estate (yes! Real Estate investments are possible under self-managed
rules) is the most effective way to create the lifestyle you want, and to
build your wealth for the future.
YOU DON'T
NEED TO BE AN EXPERT
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY!
Ecological
Homes can advise you if a Self Managed Super Fund is appropriate. We can arrange
to structure your self managed super fund to enable it to achieve maximum
returns.
So if you
want to enjoy a good lifestyle at retirement, do the smart thing.
Contact
us today to see how
YOU can take
control of your own super
|
|
Story #4:
Compact Flouros Reduce Need for
Coal Power
|
|
According to VITAL SIGNS
2002-2003: The Trends That Are Shaping Our Future, a report released by the
Worldwatch Institute, buyers of energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
have, worldwide, eliminated the need for nearly 40 medium-sized, coal-fired
power plants.
 Compact
flouros will save you 80% on your current lighting costs (compared to
incandescent lights) and are ideal for rooms where lighting is required for long
periods of time. They last for years and can be taken with you if you move.
A 20 watt compact flouro globe
will save you over $40 compared to conventional incandescent globes over 8,000
hours usage.
Would you like to help reduce our
dependency on coal power? Then switch to compact fluorescent light globes.
Simply record the number of
globes in your house you would to replace and email or fax the details to us. We
will respond with a price for the globes and postage. Please record the
following:
Note:
compact flouros
cannot be used with dimmers. Frequent switching on and off reduces their life.
Therefore, they are not recommended for bathrooms and toilets.
Back to
top
|
|
BEST HOME
LOANS RATES
|
|
Best
Fixed Rates
Following is a list
of the best fixed rates currently available and that Lender's best variable rate
for comparison.
| Fixed
Period |
Fixed
Rate |
Variable
Rate |
| 1 Year |
5.95% |
5.85% |
| 2 Years |
6.44% |
5.97% |
| 3 Years |
6.74% |
5.97% |
| 4 Years |
6.94% |
5.97% |
| 5 Years |
7.14% |
5.97% |
Request
a Free Home Loan Consultation
|
|
New
Eco Homes