IN THIS ISSUE
(Click on the story link)

SERVICE PARTNERS

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SPECIAL OFFER Aug 2003

ECO EVENTS

The Watershed Initiative

The Watershed is a Community Environmental Resource Centre located on King Street in the heart of Newtown. It is a joint initiative of South Sydney and Marrickville Councils and is funded by the NSW Stormwater Trust.

Resources and experienced staff on hand to provide information and advice to local residents and businesses on ways to reduce the impact on local waterways and protect Sydney's aquatic environments.

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 weekly workshops on Saturdays.

Watershed Awards

The Watershed is running an Award for businesses and households that are working to reduce their wastewater. Prizes worth up to $10,000 are up fro grabs.

Entries close on 
1st September 2003

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

Handy Water Saving 
Hints for the Home

• Install a AAA rated shower head (cuts water use for showering by 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

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.

Q. Ever wondered how much "nature" your lifestyle requires?
 
A. 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.

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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

FEEDBACK & ADVERTISING

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for the next issue? 
Let us know

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for the next issue. 
Contact us for a rate card 
or view it online

© 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?

Learn how to finance a solar power installation simply by re-financing your loan

Due to recent changes to the legislation governing home loan brokers, we are no longer able to advertise best home loan rates in EcoNews.

However, our friendly loans consultants at Hiley Home Loans are on hand to advise you on the best rates over the telephone. 

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

Send an E-Card 
and Help Support Nature

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Vol 2 (Issue 2) - August 2003

Dear Reader,

We have had a great response to our Favourite Tradesperson promotion with nearly 60 tradespeople being recommended so far - keep those recommendations coming and we will be able to publish a comprehensive online listing of quality trades contacts (click here to recommend a tradesperson). 

We have also received an amazing response to our feature on the Evacuated Glass Solar Hot Water system - a revolutionary new solar hot water system that is twice as efficient - register your interest in this amazing technology.

In this issue of Econews, we take a look at:

• Strawbale Building - the perfect and sustainable low-cost building solution for Australia 

• the recent power blackouts in the USA, Canada & Sydney and the case for renewable energy and energy conservation

• the impending ban on the use of treated pine timber due to major health concerns associated with its use 

• a regressive new tax Bill being proposed by the Howard Government could starve environment groups of public donations - we are asking readers to contact the Treasurer to register their opposition

• and a great new personal loan product available via Hiley Home Loans.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and feedback on the newsletter and stories related to the environment. The deadline for contributions to the August issue is 19th September, 2003.

The Ecological Homes Team

Story #1: Build Your House With Straw

A quiet revolution is underway in the way that people build their homes - at the heart of that revolution is the humble strawbale. The numerous benefits of this beautiful, natural and sustainable walling material include:

• Exceptional Insulation Quality resulting in lower heating and cooling costs 
• Greater Ease of Construction - friends and neighbours can help build each others homes
• Structural Stability
• Environmentally Friendly - uses an annually renewable product and helps reduce air pollution from farmers burning off straw
• Reduces Need for Timber = less forest destruction 
• Non-Toxic Material, so no off-gassing or harmful chemicals and no hazardous building materials to dispose of 
• Provides an Additional Income for Farmers from what is generally regarded as a waste by-product of grain production 
• Improved Fire Ratings - when covered in 2-3 cm of stucco or earth render, straw bale walls have greater fire resistance than a normal drywall
• Greater Soundproofing - strawbale walls by themselves provide a silent, comfortable home, there is no need for additional soundproofing materials.

"Who would want to live in a house made of straw?" you are probably asking yourself. Well, you will be surprised to learn that a house made of strawbales can, in fact, be a house of much beauty as illustrated below:

This house (plus a substantial winery and tasting room complex) was built for the owners of the award-winning Lethbridge Winery by strawbale builders John and Sue Glassford from Huff'n'Puff Constructions.     

The house and wine complex were designed by the Winery owners, Dr. Ray Nadeson and his wife Dr. Maree Colliss. For their wines, Ray and Maree wanted a space that could maintain an even cool temperature of 17-18 degrees Celsius plus being beautiful and affordable. 

The result for their winery (see image on left) is the largest load bearing jumbo bale building built in Australia to date (350 sq m) able to maintain a constant temperature of around 17-18 degrees Celsius without air conditioning no matter what the external temperatures are at the time.  

The house and winery complex at Lethbridge incorporate several traditional building elements such as a concrete slab floor, timber truss roof, galvanized iron coloured roofing, etc plus the amazing new Air Cell fibreless roof insulation. The walls were rendered with cement which was pre-coloured prior to application. The result is beautiful and energy efficient buildings made from sustainable materials and some very happy makers of some superb wine! 

"What a wine!!! This wine has ample body, full dark cherry/plum pudding flavours, savoury dry tannins and a beautiful balance." 

Lethbridge Merlot 2001  - 4.5 stars (James Halliday - Wine Companion 2003-04) 

Click here for more details on this straw bale project and further references on strawbale construction.

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Story #2: Billion Dollar Black Outs in the USA & Canada 

Whilst the USA and Canadian Energy Departments are still working hard at finding out the cause of the massive power black outs that recently hit large parts of north east USA and eastern Canada, impacting up to 50 million people and costing these economies up to US$1 billion, one thing seems clear: these black outs could have been avoided!

The U.S. Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) argues that a combination of policies to encourage greater energy efficiency by households and business, along with greater investment in renewable energy technologies, would have prevented such a massive power black out. These initiatives need to be incorporated into a National Energy Plan.

The power supply problems being experienced in the USA and Canada are not confined to these countries warns Hans Nilsson, chairman of the IEA Demand Side Management Programme. "We are facing much of the same problems in Europe, Asia and throughout the world."

Many people in Sydney are already experiencing intermittent power shortages with black outs expected to grow in Castle Hill, Parramatta, the Penrith area, Liverpool, Chatswood, Mona Vale, Hurstville and Caringbah due to an ageing grid and spikes in energy demand arising from increasing household reliance on air conditioning (in turn due to poor house design & construction).

The NSW State Government's Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) estimates that about $1 billion is required to upgrade Sydney's electricity networks, built over 30 years ago. 

It would appear that Australia too desperately needs a National Energy Plan to help us deal with the growing demand for power. The State and Federal Governments would be wise to put additional funds into programs targeted at businesses and households to encourage greater energy efficiency and support for the development of renewable energy such as solar power before massive power black outs become a regular occurrence closer to home.

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Story #3: Toxic Health Problems with Treated Timber

Planning to Use Treated Pine - Think Again!

Pine timber treated with copper chrome arsenic, (CCA), Australia's most common building material, is likely to be banned by the end of 2003 due to major health concerns associated with CCA. 

The Australian ban of CCA treated timber is in line with similar domestic bans in the USA and EU. Treated timber's biggest problem is the cancer causing agent arsenic, one of the three significant poisons contained in CCA treatment. 

Arsenic is a known cancer causing chemical and has the highest cancer rating in the World Health Organisations (WHO) list of cancer causing chemicals. Recent studies reveal that arsenic can be picked up by children playing on playground equipment or decks made with CCA treated timber. 

European studies indicate that people working with CCA treated timber can inhale arsenic from sawdust and fumes associated with cutting or sanding CCA treated timbers. It has been claimed by timber treatment companies and state forestry departments that CCA treatment is safe but recent reviews have found disturbing amounts of arsenic in chemical tests of old and new decks and playground equipment. Even coating timber with paint or urethane appears to only stop the arsenic problem for about six months. 

Arsenic is used in CCA treated timber to stop insects such as termites and borer while the copper is used to stop fungal rot. Chromium compounds function to fix the chemical in place and stop the poisons leaching. If treated timber is burned the chemicals are concentrated in the ash which is highly poisonous. For more information visit these web sites: 

• Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority

• Commission of the European Communities (2003)

• Environmental Working Group (2002) All hands on deck.  

• Queensland Forestry Research Institute, Timber Note 42 

• US EPA (2002) - Manufacturers to use new wood preservatives, replacing most residential uses of CCA.  

Back to top (story provided by Michael Bland) 

Story #4: Regressive New Tax Bill Proposed

"New Tax Law May Cut Off Key Income Source for Environment Groups" 

The Howard Government has introduced a draft bill to parliament (the Charities Bill) which will effectively strip tax concessions from non-profit organisations like Greenpeace, the Wilderness Society and Friends of the Earth if they are deemed to be "attempting to change law or government policy". 

Under the current tax laws, most environmental non-profit groups groups are exempt from income tax and people that make donations can claim these donations as tax deductible. This new bill would effectively cut off the main source of income for many non-profit organisations seeking positive change. Click here to read more about this regressive bill.   

Please Register Your Opposition to this Bill - We urge our readers to contact the federal Treasurer, Mr. Peter Costello, to express their opposition to this bill. Mr. Costello's contact details are listed below:    

Parliament House - Tel: (02) 6277 7340 Fax: (02) 6273 3420

Electorate Office - Malvern Office: Suite 1 1343 Malvern Road Malvern Vic 3144; Tel: (03) 9822 4422 Fax: (03) 9822 0319

Melbourne Office - 4 Treasury Place Melbourne Vic 3002; Tel: (03) 9650 0244 Fax: (03) 9650 0242

Email his office at department@treasury.gov.au

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Story #5: Great New Personal Loan Product

Personal Loans Unsecured up to $40,000

• Need a deposit for your home?

• Consolidate your Credit Card debt

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• Renovate your home

• Install a solar hot water system, solar power or Rainwater tank ... it's your choice

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Contact us today
1300 73 07 07
info@hileyhomeloans.com.au

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Get Out Your Message 
Advertising Space Available in EcoNews

In little over a year, the Ecological Homes website has recorded more than 1.1 million hits from over 18,000 unique visitors. On average, each visitor spends up to 7 minutes viewing our site. This is incredible growth for a website that has spent very little on mainstream advertising. 

The amazing growth in website visits is due largely to our visitors referring the site on to their friends and the power of the Web! 

Contact us today to find out how 
you can reach this fast growing audience

Wise Words that Inspire

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."

Albert Einstein
(1879-1955)

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