IN THIS ISSUE
(Click on the story link)

1. Kyoto Protocol comes into effect - finally!

2. Houses of the Future Exhibition

3. The End of Oil and the Cars of the Future

4. Special Offer this Month - $200 off a New Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water System

5. Refer a Tradesperson

6. Refer our Website!

7. Eco events 

8. Scary environmental facts

9. Handy hints

10. Finance News

11. Calculate your ecological footprint

12. Best home loan rates

13. Wise words that inspire

14. Advertise with EcoNews

15. Contact us & your feedback

16. Special Feature: Jackgreen 100% green electricity

17. Petition to get Mr. Howard to sign Kyoto Agreement  

OUR PARTNERS IN SUSTAINABILITY

SPECIAL OFFER THIS MONTH

ECO EVENTS

Scary Environmental Facts

Climate change - the five hottest years on record have all occurred since 1997 and the 10 hottest years since 1990. (Source: US National Climatic Data Centre)

Energy & Climate Change - the burning of coal (thermal energy) accounts for over 85 per cent of Australia’s electric power. Each tonne of coal burnt to produce electricity produces 3 tonnes of CO2 (a major greenhouse gas).

In 2001, 54 million tonnes of coal was burnt by Australian coal thermal power stations to produce electricity resulting in 162 million tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere. (Sources: Australian Coal Association, Press relase by Mike Rann - SA Premier).

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

• 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)

If you live in Sydney, please observe the following water restrictions issued by Sydney Water

• No hosing of lawns and gardens EXCEPT hand-held hosing BEFORE 10.00 AM and AFTER 4.00 PM on Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays.
• No filling of NEW or RENOVATED pools greater than 10,000L except with a permit from Sydney Water.
• No sprinklers or watering systems AT ANY TIME
• No hosing of hard surfaces including vehicles AT ANY TIME

See www.sydneywater.com.au for more details on water restrictions in Sydney

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)

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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 3 (Issue 7) February 2005

Dear Reader,

On February 16, 2005 an event takes place that takes us one important step forward in the urgent task of cutting greenhouse emissions and slowing down the rate of climate change - the Kyoto Protocol becomes part of International Law.

There are many supporters and critics of this initiative. Whilst the establishment of the protocol DOES have severe limitations, it demonstrate however that nations CAN act together to address huge global problems.

The ability of people around the world (and their governments) to react to massive global challenges in a timely and positive way was further demonstrated by the amazing humanitarian response to the awful Tsunamis of 26th December 2004.

In this issue we take a look at what the enactment of the Kyoto Protocol means and explore what else is needed to achieve the levels of greenhouse emission reductions being called for by the international scientific community.

This issue we also take a look at:

• Houses of the Future exhibition - free public exhibition in Sydney

• Cars of the Future - recent developments in Greener Vehicles

• news on a special offer we are running on our planet saving evacuated tube solar water heaters (Save $200 on a new solar hot water system!)

• and a reminder about our exclusive Jackgreen 100% green electricity offer for our readers in NSW

We also include a new column in our EcoNews - "Finance News" written by our finance expert, Patrick Chidambaram to help you keep abreast of important developments on the personal finance front.

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 (March 2005) is March 4th 2005. Send us your feedback or stories

... from 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: 

Kyoto Protocol Comes into Effect - Finally! 

Kyoto Protocol Becomes LAW! 

After 8 eight years of protracted and difficult negotiations, the Kyoto Protocol finally becomes a binding international law on February 16th 2005. The key aims of the agreement are to put measures in place that will result in cuts to the level of global greenhouse emissions.

Signatories to the agreement have been set limits on the levels of greenhouse emissions they can produce. These limits have to be achieved by 2012. Countries that have signed the agreement and who fail to achieve those targets will have measures forced on them to achieve those limits. 

Along the way, the Protocol has generated a lot of support and opposition. Opponents to the agreement, including the governments of Australia and the USA argue that it unfairly advantages developing countries like China who do not have binding targets to reduce emissions whereas developed countries (like the USA and Australia) that are heavily dependent upon greenhouse emitting industries are unfairly punished resulting in economic disadvantages, loss of jobs and investment, etc.

Other critics of the agreement argue that it ultimately will contribute very little to the urgent need to achieve large scale cuts in greenhouse emissions. If successful, the Kyoto agreement will have only cut greenhouse emissions by 1% by 2010 compared to 1990 levels. Leading climate scientists are calling for cuts in the region of 50-60% of 1990 levels within the next 10 years in order to stabilize climate change and avert the global environmental choas that is being predicted from climate change.

Clearly, the Kyoto Protocol alone will not solve the issue of climate change. Much, much more is needed and needed urgently if we are to stabilise the rate of climate change. Other important measures include:

• massive investment in renewable energy industries (solar power, wind power, geothermal, wave power, etc)

• removal of direct and indirect subsidies to the use of fossil fuels (the Howard Government announced a $1.5 billion subsidy in its Energy Paper for the INCREASED use of fossil fuels)

• massive investment in public transport using non-fossil fuels or more environmentally better fuels like LPG

• introduction of stringent energy efficiency targets for homes, business and industry backed by generous rebates for the implementation of energy saving measures

• introduction of a carbon credits trading scheme along the lines of that launched recently in Europe to provide investment for the development of renewable energies and energy saving technologies 

In such desperate times, it calls for governments with the vision and commitment to drive the changes required. Unfortunately, in key countries like Australia and the USA, that vision and commitment is lacking.

Fortunately, great progress is being made by key Governments in Europe and by average people around the world who are taking personal steps to make a contribution via the installation of energy saving appliances, solar hot water and solar power in their homes and learning ways to save energy in the home. Plus we are learning how to build better homes - homes that help us reduce our energy and resource use (see story below "Houses of the Future").

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Houses of the Future

The year 2004 was International Year of the Built Environment. The Houses of the Future Exhibition, currently Olympic Park in Homebush, Sydney, is the showcase event for this initiative.

Houses of the Future challenges Australians to consider the future of our built environment and the most tangible element of that environment – the house.

Each of the six houses is made of a different material, and is designed by an architect working closely with the trade association or research institute working with that material.

The six houses form part of a new generation of prefabricated dwellings emerging around the globe. The houses are a response to growing consumer demand for homes that are modern, environmentally sensitive and of high quality.

The objective of the exhibition is to promote new ways of providing affordable, environmentally sustainable, prefabricated housing in Australia that are also futuristic and innovative in their design and offer a vision of what the House of the Future might be like.

The Timber House - Ecological Homes is a proud sponsor of this event - we have supplied one of our leading edge Evacuated Tube solar hot water systems as part of the Timber House put together by Innovarchi Architects and the Timber Development Association of Australia.

The Exhibition opens on 19th February 2005 and runs until 31st October 2005 and is free to the public. Full details and how to get there:

Venue: Jacaranda Square, Olympic Park Homebush
Cost: Free to general public; fee for groups with a guide
Bookings: info@sydneyolympicpark.com.au or call 02 9714 7888
More information: Call 02 9714 7888
or Visit www.housesofthefuture.com.au
Parking: Casual parking is available for $3 per hour or $15 per day maximum.
Public Transport: Contact Transport Infoline www.131500.com.au or call 131 500 for further information

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The End of Oil and the Cars of the Future

According to the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (Aspo), the world's oil production may be about to reach its peak - forever.

Aspo's current best guess as to exactly when world oil production will peak is by the year 2008. Other analysts argue the peak will be in about 10 years. What cannot be denied is that world oil supply is going into decline some time soon.

As world oil production slows, the cost of oil increases in line with the economies of supply and demand plus the increasing costs of extracting oil from more difficult to reach places or host materials.

In the past, $US30 a barrel was always regarded as a high price for crude. We have seen the price of crude exceed $US40 for the past six months. Whatever short-term fluctuations occur following the northern winter, we are unlikely to see cheap oil ever again.

In light of oil (and its refined by-product - petrol) becoming increasingly expensive interest in and the development of more efficient forms of transport and alternatives to transport that relies upon oil is growing dramatically.

No doubt, you will have heard about the Toyota Prius Hybrid passenger car, seen one on the road of read about it in previous issues of EcoNews (Sept 2002).

Hybrid vehicles (combining smaller petrol engines with electric motors powered by energy captured during braking) are emerging as the most promising alternative to the petrol guzzling cars of old. Toyota currently leads the way in this emerging field with its innovative and stylish Prius (see below).

More than 300,000 Prius hybrid cars have been sold since their launch in 1997 and sales are growing by an amazing 50% per annum. On the heels of this success, other major car manufacturers are beginning to offer hybrid cars amongst their range of models including major players like Honda, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes and even Porsche.

Generally, these hybrid models are being targeted at the small to medium sized end of the personal car market. Ford has taken a very different approach opting to produce hybrid cards in the larger four-wheel drive and utility market with its innovative Ford Escape Hybrid (see image on left)

The philosophy of Ford is provide hybrid solutions for popular vehicles that are amongst the biggest users of petrol. This approach for Ford seems to be paying off for Ford - the Ford Escape Hybrid was awarded Truck of the Year at the recent 2005 Detroit Motor Show and advanced orders for the vehicle are strong. The car is planned for release in Australia sometime this year.

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Wise Words that Inspire

"Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory, nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt, 1899

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