15 acres of solar panels on landfill

Here in Australia many landfill sites have been capped and their gas captured (unless it leaks i.e. Cranbourne) . One site in Mill Park, Victoria pipes the gas to a nearby YMCA where it is used to heat the indoor pool. Scituate is a small seacoast community near Boston in the US they now plan to use the 15 acres of capped landfill to install a solar array. This town seems to have many energy projects on the go including wind. But will it offer the return on the investment? Current wind projects will only save the town US$150-$250k (big gap there) over the next 20 years. Solar panel installations are much less controversial than wind turbines and they don’t make the noise. They can be worse for return your investment if you get it wrong.

How about trees? Habit for wildlife?

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ANZ Docklands

ANZ have started moving into their new headoffice in Melbourne. Built in Docklands in the bank of the Yarra River it utilises the local environment.

The building is the largest, greenest commercial office building in Australia to house over 6,500. All aspects of the building have built to achieve Green Star rating with the Green Building Council of Australia for the categories ‘Office as Built’, ‘Office Interiors’ and ‘Office Design’.

The building generates its own solar and wind power and uses some amzing techniques to cool and heat the building. What suprised me is the gas powered power plant!

Now if they would stop sending me junk mail they can save some trees.

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New Green Kitchenware Online Store – Products Needed

I working on a new Green eCommerce store who are looking for new green products related to the kitchen. The business is based in Melbourne Australia, with plans to sell internationally in the near future.

From energy efficient appliances to cookware which have low carbon footprint. Especially interested in products made from sustainable materials such as Bamboo.

Initially looking for suppliers with drop shipping or on-consignment (small qualities) or to work in partnership

please leave a message in a comment and I’ll get back to you.

Finally we are back for 2010

Stay tuned – new things on the way

Water Log Update – Garden & Pot Test

It has been raining the last couple of weeks but a couple of hot days put the water logs to the test.

My tomato plant in a large pot is going strong with plenty of fruit now developing. The tops of the water logs have collapsed in to the pot as the water is taken up. I’m also using the fertiliser tabs made by the same company. These tabs are also being used in the hanging basket with the rambling tomato. Import to note I did not give the big tomato any additional water on the hot days and it did not even wilt.

Down in the veggie garden I have 4 cucumber plants that are being watered by the Waterlogs. If you have tried to grow cukes they need a lot of water. I’m happy to report not only are the plants over a metre high they are already producing fast developing fruit.

www.waterlog.com.au

Drupal Developers Required – Must be based in Melbourne

A few new website briefs have landed on my desk. Looking for Drupal developers with examples of work. Must be highly experienced with setup, templating with high quality W3C compliant CSS. Only local developers as I will need to met with you face-to-face.

Contact Me

Looking for Green Sites

Hi everyone I’m back on the air so to speak.

I’m looking for your favourite Green or Environmental website. Let me know why you like as well

Rain at last!

After a record heat wave for November in Melbourne I went to Bunnings to get my bits to collect grey water. A bought a diverter and a tap for the wheelie bin. I already have some drip lines in place so I’m going to stop using the tap water (only used once this year).

But it has rained without a break for 12 hours. So much so the backyard is flooded! No rush to get the Greywater hooked up.

Pulp the Mill not Peter

Remember the protest to stop the Dam?

I was disgusted to see that Peter Cundell was arrested during a peaceful protest outside Parliament House. More than 50 people were charged with failing to comply with a police officer to move from the steps. they all recieved conditional bail with rediculious terms.

The Tasmanian government is set out to destroy some Australia’s most valuable forests come hell or high water (or both with climate change). The Tassie government has always been in the back pocket of Gunns who have been allowed to deforrest the state for many years. If gutless Peter Garret would live up to his so called morals he could end this in a blink. I guess someone will be looking for a new career at the next election. I really hope we go to a double-dissolution election (due to the stuffed up ETS) sooner than later.

The pulp will more likely come back to Australia from Japan and hang proudly on the wall of your toilet. I’ve never seen a native animal nesting in a toilet roll.

We are behind you Peter and the other protesters and I’m sure you’re work will inspire more to fight the cause.

Greywater Health Risks

There is increasing interest in using greywater for the garden. As I have been researching there is a number of health and environmental risks involved if you don’t use greywater safely.

Each state has it’s own rules and regulations and I strongly suggest you check before you install a system. While you are doing that looking into the available water grants. In Victoria greywater can be used either treated or untreated, although some conditions apply to each type of use.

If looking at diversion system you should consult with a licensed plumber before you alter any of your household plumbing.

This option carries a lower health risk. And depending on the type of treatment, it can be used for a range of purposes including garden watering, toilet flushing and in your laundry. The downside is that greywater treatment systems can be expensive to set up and operate.

Greywater treatment systems also require a council permit in Victoria and need to be operated according to strict conditions. Contact your local council for further information.

Link:  Scientific information on Greywater pollution

Untreated Greywater

Untreated greywater can be used in dry periods for garden watering. You can do this either by directly diverting it from your household plumbing fixtures, using a hose or diversion device. Council approval is not required in some areas of Australia but check your local council website first.

A warning greywater can make the householders ill and kill off your plants. A few simple precautions will help to minimise any risks to you, your family and your garden.