IN THIS ISSUE
(Click on the story link)

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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© 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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Vol 3 (Issue 5) November 2004

Dear Reader,

In this month's issue we look at:

• Planet Saving Technology #1 - Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water: We are offering customers the chance to secure a new system and save $200 on top of any rebates that may apply for your new solar water heater! You can also transform your existing energy guzzling electric or gas water storage heater with an Evacuated Tube Retro-fit and get $100 cash discount! Register your interest soon as these systems are selling fast! 

• Greening the Workplace - this month we look at strategies to make your workplace or business greener (and save literally million of dollars on energy and water costs!).   

• Australia's first Green Star Building - on a the theme of Greener workplaces, we take a look at the Green Star Building rating scheme recently launched by the Green Building Council of Australia and it's first fully accredited "Green Building".

• Make your home water efficient by 2007 or no sale - the NSW Premier, Mr Bob Carr, has recently announced that all homes in NSW to be required to be water efficient by 2007 in order to be sold. We take a look at what this initiative will require. 

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 (December 2004) is December 3rd 2004. 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: 

Unbeatable Deals on Evacuated Tube Solar water heaters! 

Planet Saving Technology! 
Early Bird $200 Cash Discount Offer
Free Water & Energy Saving Devices for Retro-fit Installations 

We have had an amazing response to the launch of the Evacuated Tube Solar water heaters (see picture above). 

The many households and businesses that were quick to secure one of our new systems are now already benefiting from a new water heater that is up to 80% more efficient than their old systems, that slashes water heating bills and dramatically cuts greenhouse emissions.     

First Container Load Sold Out ...
Secure Your System today!

The first container load sold out in a couple of weeks and another container load is on its way. Numbers of systems are limited and are selling fast. Register your interest today for a free quote for a revolutionary new Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heater or a retro-fit of your old gas or electric storage water heater and avoid any delay in getting this planet saving technology installed in your home, business or workplace.

EARLY BIRD $200 CASH DISCOUNT 
FOR COMPLETE NEW SYSTEMS  
$200 WATER & ENERGY SAVING PACK FOR RETRO-FIT INSTALLATIONS

NEW SYSTEMS: 
Pay a 50% deposit on any new system and receive 
a cash discount of $200 ON TOP OF ANY REBATE THAT MAY BE PAYABLE!

Until the end of November, we are offering customers the opportunity to secure a revolutionary new Evacuated Tube Solar Water system and receive an Early Birds $200 cash discount on any new system on top of any rebates you may be eligible for!

RETRO-FIT SYSTEMS: 
Pay a 50% deposit on a retro-fit system and receive water and energy saving devices worth up to $200!

Until the end of November, we are also offering customers the opportunity to retro-fit their existing gas or electric storage heater with an Evacuated Tube solar water system and receive water saving valves and energy saving compact fluorescent globes worth up to $200!

Register now for an obligation free quote!

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Greening Your Workplace!

Australian businesses spend literally hundreds of millions of dollars every year on the consumption of energy and water. Energy costs alone account for about 25% per cent of total operating costs for businesses and industry. It also accounts for a massive proportion of the nation's total Greenhouse emissions.

Thanks to a growing array of innovative technologies, there are many effective strategies to reduce levels of energy and water consumption in the workplace. Here are just a few:

• installation of energy efficient lighting
• installation of movement sensors and timers to control lighting
• installation of energy efficient water heating technologies
• installation of water saving devices
• replacement of less energy efficient machinery with newer, more energy efficient equipment.

The implementation of energy saving measures like the ones outlined above make sense not just from an environmental perspective resulting in lower Greenhouse emissions, less pollution and less demand on scarce water resources. These initiatives can substantially improve the profitability of an enterprise with payback period of 2 or 3 years in many instances.   

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION - If you run a business or work for a business or organisation that can improve its consumption of energy and water, we invite you to contact us to receive a free initial consultation.

Contact our office today to find out how your workplace and become Greener and more profitable and make a major contribution towards a better planet!      

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Australia's First Green Star Building

Launched in October 2002, the Green Building Council of Australia's mission is to define and develop a sustainable property industry in Australia and to drive the adoption of green building practices through market-based solutions.

The Council's objective is to promote sustainable development and the transition of the property industry to implementing green building programs, technologies, design practice and operations.

To do this, it advances and promotes the creation of a green building rating tool, economic incentives, government initiatives and programs, new technologies and industry knowledge.

The design of Australia's first Green Star office building, 8 Brindabella Park (see image above), has been awarded five stars under the Green Star-Office Design rating tool. Features of the design include strategies to achieve a 53% reduction in water consumption compared with a standard building of similar size, and a 5 star ABGR rating for energy.

Other design features include: 

• small car spaces, and installation of cyclist facilities (storage, showers etc);
• water efficient fittings including waterless urinals, dual flush toilets, 5A rated shower heads, and hands-free infra-red taps
• 100% outside air (no recirculation);
• low emissions products used throughout including low VOC paint, carpet and adhesives;
• a centralised heating and cooling plant to reduce energy and water consumption;
• extensive use of environmentally friendly materials including recycled steel and timber, and minimal use of PVC-based products;
• storage areas to facilitate the recycling of waste during the building's operation;
• a commitment to recycle more than 80% of construction waste.

Visit the Green Star Building website for more information

www.gbcaus.org

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NSW Home Owners required to make their home water efficient by 2007 or no sale

"This is about cultural change, about changing the way we view our water consumption and finding ways to actively reduce our demand," Premier Bob Carr said in defence of the announcement. "It frees up water for indispensable, unavoidable uses."

Home owners will be required to install devices such as AAA rated shower heads as well as devices to slow the pressure from taps and weight-in-toilet cisterns.

All new homes will also have to comply with water guidelines under a building sustainability program which should cut household water use by 8 per cent and has already seen 240,000 households convert to water efficient products.

Businesses will also have to retrofit their offices and submit water management plans every four years to the Department of Energy Utilities and Sustainability from March, 2006.

Government departments and local councils will also have to have water plans in place. Sydney Water will also be forced to change its operating licence and include minimum response times for crews handling major leaks and water mains breaks.

Ecological Homes offers a wide range of quality and affordable water saving devices to help you achieve greater water efficiency in your home. 

Contact us today for more information. 

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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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