IN THIS ISSUE
(Click on the story link)

SERVICE PARTNERS

SPECIAL OFFER March 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

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 
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 24th March 2003).

Fixed Period   

1 Year

5.25%

2 Years

5.95%

3 Years

5.80%

4 Years

6.12%

5 Years

6.19%

Best Discounted split rate: 4.25% Best Variable rate: 6.25%

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

Vol 1 (Issue 9) - March 2003

Dear Reader,

The Ecological Homes team has had a very busy month (which helps explain the lateness of this edition of EcoNews). This also helps explains why we may not have responded to your requests for information but, rest assured, we do respond to all inquiries and one of our staff will be in contact with you shortly.

Solartech Free Rainwater Tank Offer Ends this Month

We have had a tremendous response to the Solartech Free Rainwater Tank Offer - 300 litre flat plate solar hot water heater plus a 500 litre rainwater tank for $1200 (after RECs)!

This offer expires at the end of this month (30th March), so you need to contact us today if you want to take advantage of this unbeatable deal.

For more details on the offer click here.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and feedback on the newsletter and stories related to the environment. The deadline for contributions to the March issue is 11th April, 2003.  

Story #1: HURRY LAST DAYS! Deal of the Decade - 
300L Solar Hot Water & Rainwater Tank for $1200!

This is Not a Typo!

Yes .. thanks to Solartech, an innovative West Australian based company, you can now get a 300 litre (electric boosted) solar hot water tank plus a 500 litre rainwater tank for $1200 - this includes rebates and GST (installation cost & delivery not included). 

The cost of a Solartech Genius hot water system now rivals that of instantaneous gas and has a shorter payback period of about one to two years due to lower operating costs (see below)!

*Note: for an average family of 2 adults and 1 child

A Lifetime Guarantee Against Corrosion: The genius Made and designed in Australia from highly durable plastics - it comes with a 10 year general warranty and a Lifetime Guarantee against rust and corrosion. No other solar hot water system offers those kind of guarantees!

Add costs for installation ($600-800 depending upon difficulty of installation) and you have an installed system for under $2,000 - that is substantially cheaper than any other solar hot water system on the market and is the only system guaranteed not to corrode for a lifetime.

Limited Offer: Get a Free $500 Rainwater Tank When You Order a Solartech Genius 

If you place an order before March 30, 2003, you will receive a 500 litre polyester rainwater tank worth $500 completely free to help water your garden! 

The tank you receive (on left) as part of this special offer: 

• fits neatly ender the eaves of your roof

• is easily connected to a downpipe to capture rainwater from the roof 

• is fitted with a leaf-trap & filter

• stores up to 500 litres of rainwater and has an easy to operate tap

• is 1,592cm high and 656cm wide

• is Guaranteed for 10 years 

• and is Available in a wide range of colours. 

Hurry ...             Limited Offer ....        Expires 30/Mar/03    

This offer expires on 30 March 2003. Get your order in today to secure this great hot water and rainwater tank deal for your home.  

Place Your Order by Email Or call us on 1300 73 07 07

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Story #2: How Toxic is Your Paint?

Is Your Paint Making You Sick? 

Most people are completely unaware that the paint they use to paint their homes (inside and out) are extremely toxic. Indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air and is considered by the USA Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to be one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes are among the leading causes. 

Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint. It is unsafe to be exposed to these compounds in large quantities or over extended periods of time.

New environmental regulations, and consumer demand, have led to the development of low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes. These new paints are durable, cost-effective and less harmful to human and environmental health.

Ecological Homes has recently been appointed as the exclusive Sydney-wide distributor of the best Non-toxic paints on the market, the range of Oikos Paints. Oikos paints are completely non-toxic, water-based, biodegradable and contain no dangerous metals or solvents. They come in over 200 different colours with a variety of finishes to suit your decorating needs.  

Benefits of Oikos Non-Toxic Paints

• Health - reduced toxins benefit everyone, including those with allergies and chemical sensitivities

• Environment - reduces landfill, groundwater and ozone depleting contaminants

• Effective - according to a recent study by Consumer Reports, low-VOC products performed well in terms of coverage, ability to scrub painted surfaces and cover flaws on previous coats

• Water-Based - easy cleanup with soap and warm water

• Low odour during application, no odour once cured. No off-gassing

• Painted areas can be occupied sooner, with no odour complaints

• Not Deemed Hazardous Waste. Therefore, cleanup and disposal are greatly simplified.

Click here for more information about 
the Oikos Range of Non-toxic Paints.

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Story #3: Growing Water Scarcity Threatens 
Global Food and Environmental Security

Disturbing fact: Water demand is increasing three times as fast as the world's population growth rate.

Growing water scarcity threatens the food supply of nearly three billion people, as well as the health and productivity of major wetlands and other ecosystems around the world, say scientists at the 3rd World Water Forum, recently held in Kyoto Japan.

Currently, some 450 million people in 29 countries face water shortage problems. The entire Mediterranean region, including parts of southern Europe, North Africa and Middle East, Pakistan, parts of India and China, most of Sub-Sahara Africa and major regions in North and South America, especially the western United States, will face severe water shortages in the coming years. Northern Europe also faces serious problems.

By 2025, about 2.7 billion people, nearly one-third of the expected world's population, will live in regions facing severe water scarcity, says a study by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, containing the most heavily populated and poorest regions of the world, will be most severely affected.

Click here to read more from the recent 
3rd World Water Forum

Click here for the Savewater Website 
for some great ways to reduce the water used by your home, school or business.

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Story #4: Howard Government Caps 
Solar Power Rebate Scheme

Australia's solar power industry is set to come to a grinding halt following a decision by the Australia Greenhouse Office (AGO) to cap grants for new solar power systems.

Due to overwhelming demand the AGO's program to support households install solar power or photovoltaic (PV) systems the rebate has been capped at $100,000 per month to enable the program continue until the end of the financial year. This effectively means that only 14 household systems now can be supported each month Australia-wide!

According to Ric Brazzale, Executive Director of the Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy, "this means Australia's solar power industry will effectively come to an immediate grinding halt."

The Howard Government announced the introduction of the solar program in 1999 as part of a suite of greenhouse initiatives at the time of the introduction of the GST. Prior to this PV systems were tax exempt. The program started on 1 January 2000 and provides households that install a PV system a rebate of $5/watt, up to a maximum of $7500 per household. The rebate is designed to stimulate Australia's emerging solar power industry.

This funding cap now makes the purchase of a solar power system more expensive for the average household and comes at a time when the Australian government needs to do MORE not LESS to encourage the take up of solar power and help reduce greenhouse emissions.

Why, we ask, is this short-sighted funding freeze happening right now? Could it be something to do with cutting back on "less essential" programs to fund the War in Iraq? With Government support and Vision Australia could be well on its way to being a global leader in new sustainable industries like Solar Power. Instead we are led by fools hell bent on spending millions sending our troops to an unjust and inhumane War.

What can you do to Help our Solar Power Industry? 

Why not send an email or letter of protest to the Hon Ian Macfarlane, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources? His contact details are listed below.

Parliament House Contact: Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 7580 Fax: (02) 6273 4104

Email: Ian.Macfarlane.MP@aph.gov.au 

Electorate Office Contact: 216 Margaret Street Cnr Margaret & Duggan Sts Toowoomba Qld 4350

Postal Address: PO Box 777 Toowoomba Qld 4350 Tel: (07) 4632 4144 Fax: (07) 4638 2147

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Advertising Space Available in EcoNews

In less than a year (10 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 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

Ralph Bunche

"No permanent good can ever be the outcome of untruth and violence."

Mahatma Gandhi

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Send an E-Card and Help Support Nature

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