IN THIS ISSUE
(Click on the story link)

1. Our Energy Future - Renewable Energy versus Nuclear Power 

2. The looming Oil Crisis and the prospects for Bio-Diesel  

3. A Manifesto for Wellbeing

4. This month's Super Special Offer

5. Buy a new Hills Solar system and get a water filter valued at $375 free!

6. Refer a favourite tradesperson

7. Refer our Website and win!

8. Eco events 

9. The Watershed Initiative

10. Handy hints

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: Eden Cove - A Rare Oasis by the Sea  

OUR PARTNERS IN SUSTAINABILITY

SPECIAL OFFER THIS MONTH

ECO EVENTS

The Watershed Initiative

The Watershed is a Sustainability Resource Centre located on King Street in the heart of Newtown. It is a joint initiative of South Sydney and Marrickville Councils.

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)

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. 
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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?

Contact our friendly loans consultants at Choice Home Loans to advise you on the best home loan rates. New purchases, refinances, investment properties, commercial properties. Ask about our "Energy Efficient 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)

Visit Their Great New Website www.earthrepair.net

Send an E-Card  
and Help Support Nature

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Wise Words that Inspire

"If you want to change the world, prepare to feel the full force of the reaction against you from those that have the most to lose." Niccolo Machiavelli

"The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. One thing we know: our god is also your god. The earth is precious to him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator". Chief Seattle

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Vol 3 (Issue 10) June 2005

Dear Reader,

In this month's issue we look at:

• Our Energy Future - Renewable Energy versus the push to go Nuclear. In a time of global warming and climate change, pressure is mounting to find more climate friendly sources of power. A push is  mounting in some circles for Nuclear power, others call for a greater role for renewable energy. What are the options?

• The looming Oil Crisis and the prospects for Bio-diesel - Oil has already hit what has been labeled a "Peak Oil" scenario where it becomes increasingly difficult to supply and increasingly expensive to produce resulting in spiraling costs due to greater scarcity.

• A Manifesto for Wellbeing - Australians today are 3 times wealthier than Australians were in the 1950s but we are considerably less happy with our lot. The Manifesto for Wellbeing reflects a growing movement that is questioning why we are less happy amidst greater prosperity and what are the solutions for improved happiness and wellbeing.

• This month's super-special offer - buy a new Hills Solar hot water system and receive a free twin-cartridge under-sink filter valued at $375!

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 (July 2005) is July 1st 2005. 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: 

Our Energy Future - Nuclear vs Renewables

In response to the growing demands for massive reductions in greenhouse emissions to help slow the rate of climate change, support has begun to re-emerge for the greater use of nuclear power in the supply of the energy requirements of country's around the world including Australia.

The NSW Premier, Mr Bob Carr, recently identified Nuclear power as a "safer" alternative to burning coal - a major source of the nation's greenhouse emissions. One of Mr Carr's arguments in favor of re-thinking Nuclear power is his belief that it will take too long to develop renewable power alternatives like solar and wind to replace our reliance on coal and the need to replace coal is urgent.

Nuclear Power More Efficient? Nuclear industry advocates also point out that Nuclear power (producing energy from splitting atoms in fuels such as Uranium) is more efficient in generating power than burning coal or harnessing the wind. For example, the electricity supplied to the grid from one 1,000 MW nuclear station with a life of 50 years is equivalent to that of 2,000 large 2 MW wind turbines with a 50 year life if the intermittent nature of wind power is accounted for.

Nuclear Power Already Widely Used - there are already 441 nuclear electricity generators active around the world and 27 more are under construction. The International Atomic Energy Agency says 60 more nuclear power plants will start up over the next 15 years and many of these will be in China.

Huge Financial Gains for Australia - Australia also has vast reserves of Uranium (the key fuel source for Nuclear power generation) and stands to profit handsomely by from increased export revenue arising from its expanded use overseas.

Nuclear Energy - A Dangerous Path to Tread

The reaction by the renewable energy sector and the environment movement has been, understandably, one of shock and horror.

Opponents to Nuclear Power raise several crucial points:

• nuclear power generation results in the creation of radioactive nuclear waste and the huge problems (costs and dangers) associated in its disposal

• in this age of global terror, production of nuclear waste exposes the world to potential nuclear terrorist activities via the use of "dirty bombs" - every nuclear power station also becomes a potential nuclear terrorist threat

• the real levels  of CO2 emissions arising from Nuclear power generation may indeed be as great as coal generation when the effects of mining, transportation, processing and waste disposal are factored in.

Greater use of Renewable Energy
is the only solution in the long run

Ultimately, the world needs to develop greater renewable energy production such as wind, solar and harnessing the sun for things like heating water.

Clean and cost-effective renewable energy technologies already exist and are already in great use (wind energy now accounts for about 2.5% of global energy production). Despite limited support from key governments like the USA and Australia, the global renewable energy is expanding rapidly.

Governments, however, need to commit to much higher levels of renewable energy in their total energy expansion plans. The Chinese Government recently committed to producing 10% of the nation's energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. In contrast, the Howard government has set a pathetic renewable energy target of 2% for Australia by 2020 and Bob Carr has just announced the plan to build 5 new gas burning power stations for NSW.

Greater use of renewable energy is the only way to provide an endless source of clean, planet-friendly power for future generations.

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The looming Oil Crisis and the
Potential for Biodiesel

Readers of past issues of EcoNews will be familiar with the issue of "Peak Oil" and the emergence of Biodiesel as a fuel alternative to Oil.

Basically, the argument behind "Peak Oil" is that the world has already reached peak oil production. We are now consuming oil at four times the rate that new Oil reserves are being discovered and made available.

The consequence is rapidly rising oil production costs which, when combined with increased demand for Oil, results in spiraling costs of petrol and diesel for consumers. Oil recently hit an all-time record of US$60 per barrel and is predicted to nearly double in cost to $US100 per barrel in the coming 2-3 years.

These massive costs in oil prices inevitably flow on through the global economy threatening to undermine economic growth and plunge the world into a prolonged recession.

Greater fuel efficiency provides no solution - a lot of work is being done to make existing petrol and diesel based vehicles more efficient thereby resulting in lower consumption of oil. However, these efficiencies are no match for the massive increases in consumption as vehicle ownership spirals in countries like China and India.

Biodiesel to the rescue! Biodiesel, Diesel fuel produced from plant-based natural oils, is emerging a a truly viable alternative to normal Diesel.

It is possible to switch a oil-based diesel vehicle over to Biodiesel with little or no impact on the vehicle's performance and pay the same or less than normal Diesel.

Even the US President George Bush has acknowledged the potential contribution of biodiesel. When speaking at the opening of a new bio-diesel plant in Virginia USA,  Mr Bush indicated that his government expects biodiesel will contribute up to 20% of the US demand for transport fuel by 2030 (full story).

Of course, biodiesel cannot solve our transport fuel supply problems of the future alone. It can make a very important contribution to meeting demand over the coming years whilst new fuel technologies like Hydrogen Fuel cells and electric engines get established and public transport infrastructure is developed to reduce dependency on the private car.   

Supply of biodiesel is a big problem - one of the big problems for drivers wanting to use biodiesel is getting hold of the stuff. There is very little biodiesel being produced in Australia on a commercial basis. It is possible to make your own biodiesel at home but it is very difficult to produce home-made biodiesel to a consistent quality that will not end up damaging your vehicle.

Biodiesel Users Group - Ecological Homes invites inquiries from EcoNews readers interested in joining a Biodiesel Users group that can access high quality, commercially produced biodiesel.

Register you interest in joining
our Biodiesel users group today.

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A Manifesto for Wellbeing

What is "Wellbeing?"

In a world of seemingly endless options, what choices will make us happier? Studies of happiness show that the following things all enhance our wellbeing:

• a good marriage
• the company of friends
• rewarding work
• sufficient money
• a good diet and physical activity
• sound sleep
• engaging leisure
• and religious or spiritual belief and practice.

Optimism, trust, self-respect and autonomy also make us happier. Gratitude and kindness lift our spirits. Having clear goals to work towards, a ‘sense of place’ and belonging, a coherent and positive view of the world, and a belief that we are part of something bigger than ourselves also foster wellbeing.

Arguably, many of these things are increasingly missing from our lives. We are working longer and harder than ever before but we increasingly less happy. 

Where to for Australia?

Increasing numbers of Australians feel that the political system has let them down, and that governments are not responding to their real concerns. We seem to have lost sight of a vision for a better society and to have entrusted our future to wherever the market takes us.

The Manifesto for Wellbeing website (www.wellbeingmanifesto.net), developed by the Australian Institute (www.tai.org.au) presents a new manifesto, one that takes as its starting point the belief that governments in Australia should be devoted to improving our individual and social wellbeing.

Please sign the Manifesto and pass it on to your friends - after reading the Manifesto, why not join the other 2809 people that have signed it and pass a link to the website on to your friends.

Click here to sign
the Manifesto for Wellbeing

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This Month's Super Special

Free Hot Water from the Sun
 + Free Water Filter*

If you currently buy bottled water you are probably spending more than $500 a year for the privilege.

Ecological Homes in conjunction with Hills Solar are proud to bring our readers an unbeatable deal on the amazing Hills Solar hot water system:

• Ecological Homes will supply a free twin-cartridge under-sink water filter* (see picture below) to the first 20 customers that order a new Hills Solar water heater and pay a 20% deposit on their new system

This is a truly unbeatable deal!

• save up to 80% on your water heating bills with a new Hills Solar water heater
• reduce your household greenhouse emissions by up to 5-6 tonnes per annum
• and get a twin cartridge water filter valued at $375 for free!

*Note: offer excludes installation (easy to DIY install or installation costs about $70-100 if done by a plumber.

Click here for more details on Hills Solar

Click here to order your system  

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