IN THIS ISSUE
(Click on the story link)

SERVICE PARTNERS

SPECIAL OFFER Jan 2003

ECO EVENTS

Cool Communities Program

1. Interested in reducing your home energy bills
2. Want to do something abut climate change and
3. Live in the Leichhardt municipality

The NCC would like to hear from you. The Cool Communities project will run workshops with community groups, but individual households are welcome to join in also. 

Contact: Felicity Calvert
Tel: (02) 9279 2466
greenhouse@nccnsw.org.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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Watch This Space

New Eco Store Opens in Sydney

The Sustainable Design Gallery and Gift Store at 53 Griffin Road North Curl Curl Sydney has just been opened and supplies quality, environmentally safe lifestyle products, building materials, interior products, art and workshops in permaculture.

Contact:
The Sustainable Design Gallery and Gift Store 53 Griffin Road, North Curl Curl Sydney
Tel: (02)99359502
Fax: (02)99359514
kim@sustainabledesign.com.au
www.sustainabledesign.com.au

CONTACT US

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

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for the next issue. 
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or view it online

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

Best Home Loan Rates

Best Fixed Rates

Following is a list of the best fixed rates currently available 
(as at 19th January 2003).

Fixed Period   

1 Year

5.25%

2 Years

5.99%

3 Years

5.99%

4 Years

6.39%

5 Years

6.29%

Best Discounted split rate: 4.25% Best Variable rate: 5.9%

Are you paying the best rate for your Home Loan?

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)

Online at www.earthrepair.net

Issue 7 - January 2003

Dear Readers,

Welcome to our first edition of EcoNews for 2003. A whole new year stretches out before us providing huge challenges and opportunities. Some of the big issues we face this year include (click on the link for more detail):

1) A Shaky World Economy & War in Iraq

2) Climate Change and Ratifying the Kyoto Protocol

3) The (Sorry) State of the World

4) The Drought and Bushfires in Australia

5) The (Abysmal) Environmental Record of Bush/Howard   

1) A Shaky World Economy & War in Iraq/Korean Peninsula 

The global economy is still very shaky. Despite post-S11 fears of a big recession, the world economy actually managed to grow by 2.8% last year (2002) - higher than the previous year's 2.2% (2001). Now, with major oil price hikes already underway, experts are predicting a possible global recession if war in Iraq is prolonged. With all the billions that will be spent on waging such a war (and the post war reconstruction of Iraq) imagine what could be done in terms of providing housing, food and clean water to the poor and environmental repair?

Disturbing Fact #1 - 24,000 people die every day from Hunger (why do we need to kill more in an insane war?)  

Please, we beg all our readers, get informed about this insane war (see our Xmas Econews for a list of information resources on the US motives and possible consequences of war). And join the growing movement of humanity working to turn the focus of Bush, Blair, Howard and their cohorts from war to peace, justice for the poor and a sustainable future for our planet! 

2) Climate Change and Ratifying the Kyoto Greenhouse Targets

2002 was the second hottest year on record (behind 1998 - not so long ago). People who deny climate change is underway either need their heads examined or must be hired stooges for the heavy produces of CO2 (aluminium smelters, coal energy generators, car and oil companies, etc). 

Solution #1: Sign the Kyoto Protocol - Reducing Greenhouse emissions is the key to addressing Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol sets out a framework for reducing CO2 emissions that is enforceable by law. 

Canada and New Zealand recently signed (hooray!) but Russia has stalled the process of making it law (boo!) - the targets become enforceable if 55% or more countries sign up. Australia and the US still refuse to sign (BOO!!) - much to the shame, annoyance and opposition of people in the US and Australia who can think in terms longer than the next election.

3) The (Sorry) State of the World

Eminent scientists and researchers have been working hard at piecing together a comprehensive picture of the earth and how it is coping with the demands we make upon it. A new report has been released by the Sustainability Program of Redefining Progress. Several disturbing facts emerged from the research including: 

Disturbing fact #2: The world population is growing fast and already consumes 20% more than the Earth can support! 

Humanity is putting increasing pressure on global ecosystems with consumption exceeding the Earth's biological capacity by 20 percent. This means that biosphere needs about one year and three months to renew what humanity consumes in a year. 

Click here for Summary prepared by ENS
- The Environment News Service 

4) The Drought and Bushfires in Australia (and Greenhouse)  

We are in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years and the worst bushfires in recent memory - the current fires circling Canberra have already destroyed 400 homes and the ACT is set for another few days of extremely dry and windy weather. 

Drought & Fire Linked Closely to Climate Change: A report recently released by the World Wildlife Foundation (Australia) co-authored by Professor David Karoly, formerly professor of Meteorology at Monash University, Dr. James Risbey from Monash University's School of Mathematical Sciences and Anna Reynolds, WWF Australia's Climate Change Campaign Manager argues that drought is closely linked to climate change and the Greenhouse effect. Even more reason for Australia to sign Kyoto. 

Click here for Summary from ENS | Click here for Full Report

5) The (Abysmal) Record of Bush & Howard on the Environment   

The Bush administration undermined America's landmark environmental laws on almost a daily basis in 2001, according to two new reports published in the US. The reports document more than 100 anti-environmental actions by the administration last year, and point to ongoing efforts to undermine existing protections and delay proposed new rules that could help the environment. Maybe that's part of the reason for all the talk of war - to distract us whilst he dismantles all the environmental gains made in the US in recent years?

Click here for the ENS review of the Reports

Funding for Major Renewable Energy Research Centre Axed: The Howard Liberal Government has performed little better on the environment with some seriously short sighted recent decisions including the Federal Government's decision to discontinue funding the hugely important Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE).

According to Ric Brazzale, Executive Director of the Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy, this decision strikes at the heart of Australia's emerging renewable energy sector. "At a time when other developed countries are moving towards decentralised renewable energy systems Australia is going the opposite way - into centralised coal-fired generation," said Ric Brazzale. 

And that's just SOME of the big issues ahead in 2003! 

2003 promises to be a VERY busy year for everyone here at Ecological Homes. The challenges ahead are daunting but we are excited by the possibilities. Despite the doom and gloom and threat of war, we look upon 2003 in a positive vein and welcome the challenges that lie ahead working to help make real improvements at the local, regional, national and global levels.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and feedback on the newsletter and stories related to the environment. The deadline for contributions to the February issue is 7th February, 2003. From the team at Ecological Homes, we wish you all a great 2003! 

Story #1: Santa Wishlist - Prize Winners 

Tell us your Santa Wishlist - Prize Winners

Last issue we invited readers to send us their wishlist for Santa. The responses were of a high standard, many of them very funny and thought provoking. We have picked the following 3 responses as the best from the many we received. Each person wins a 2 week holiday package for 2. Thank you to everyone that sent a response.

Winner #1: Short and straight to the point: 

"(I wish) That the worlds oil reserves only lasted another year", Donald

Winner #2: A Wish for Peace: 

"I wish that George Bush would declare peace on the world and turn his weapons into plowshares", Margaret

Winner #3: Our favourite and funniest response : 

"I wish that in "another maritime incident" Mr Ruddock and Mr Howard are rescued (by members of the Bashir and Bahktari family in an overcrowded Indonesian fishing boat) from an oil exploration boat, capsized off the Great Barrier Reef by a pod of Minke whales trying to escape a Japanese scientific expedition.

I also wish that George Bush appoints a Sydney cab driver to oversee his Iraq invasion, who in turn appoints Telstra to handle the communications and Peter Reith's new defence company to handle the public relations. Several thousand green berets and waves of aircraft take control of a deserted Pacific Island, no one hears from them for six weeks over Christmas, and then Peter Reith rejects claims that things went astray by showing digitally enhanced Gulf War footage mixed with some Rambo movies.

I also wish that after an all night bender where he is photographed with a woman called Deliciosa and a few Manly detectives, Bob Carr announces that he is introducing a wage swapping policy. All teachers, nurses, police and other essential services personnel swap wages and entitlements with senior public servants, politicians and judges for December and January each year.

I also wish that the Western division gets 40 points of rain every week for the next three months (during the week), nobody else loses a house to bushfires and my daughter begins to sleep 8 hours a night!", Andy

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Story #2: EH Director Puts Money Where His Mouth Is

Lewis Hiley, one of the Directors of Ecological Homes, has decided to lead by example and get solar panels installed on his new terrace in Erskineville, Sydney. 

His new 3 panel (450kw) system supplied by Pacific Solar will produce about a third of the power the terrace will need and help prevent tonnes of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere.

Lewis says "If every home owner in Australia only bought 3 panels each we would make a huge difference to the environment. With the benefit of the rebate offered by the Australian Government, an installation this size is easily affordable for an environmentally-responsible home. A system this size costs about $6,000 and pays for itself within 10 years. After that I will be getting electricity from the sun for free!".

The installation only took 4 hours and through the use of a Sunlogger meter (see picture on right) Lewis is able to monitor how much electricity is generated each day from the panels.

The rebate for solar panels will most likely run out in the next year or so and the Federal Government has not announced any new funds for the rebate. If you are seriously thinking about getting solar panels then now is the time to act.

How much are the rebates?

The Federal Government rebate is issued under the Australian Greenhouse office - $5 per watt to a maximum of $7500 for a system size of 1500 watts

NSW is the only State Government to offer a solar power rebate In addition to the Federal Government) and provides $2.40 per watt for systems over 1500 watts to a maximum of $7400.

Contact one of our Eco Consultants today to find out how to get a Solar Power solution installed for your home and turn your roof into a power station!

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(Photos for this story supplied by Cameron Ivers - Solar Installer) 

Story #3: Eco Property Buyers Club Launched

Ecological Homes is happy to announce the launched of our Eco Property Buyers Club. The Club has been designed for people who would are seeking a secure and high yielding property-based investment plus helping change the way that homes are built with beautiful new Eco Homes.

We are currently seeking sites for high quality terrace houses (like the one on the left) to be built in high rental demand areas in Sydney and Melbourne.

Once built, we can help you find the right tenant and manage the property. But of course, once you see the finished home, you may want to live in it - the choice is yours!

Key Benefits of the Club Include:

• High Quality, Master-built new terraces/townhouses in sought-after rental locations

• An attractive capital gain from buying your investment property at 5% less than the wholesale valuation

• Wide range of Eco Technology upgrades (discounted prices on selected eco products)

• Options to individualise your investment property and add further value

• Free bi-monthly electronic newsletter to keep you updated on the progress of your investment and other great eco investment opportunities

• Plus a wide range of other benefits (assistance with finance, property management, etc)

Contact us to find out more about becoming a club member and securing your beautiful & eco investment property (a membership fee of $1500 applies).

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Advertising Space Available in EcoNews

In less than a year (8 months), the Ecological Homes website has recorded more than 800,000 hits from over 15,000 unique visitors. On average, each visitor spends up to 7 minutes viewing our site. This is an incredible growth and has been due largely to our visitors referring the site on to their friends! 

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