Guest post by Hubert Dwight

Coal has long been used as a cheap and efficient energy source around the world.

China, the U.S., and Australia are currently the top three producers of coal.

With more awareness about the dangers of fossil fuel overuse and pollution, it is time to develop more alternative power sources to balance the environment.

Fortunately, solar power energy providers, as well as hydro and wind power sources are becoming more commonplace to help lower carbon emissions and produce cleaner energy.

Continue reading to learn more about the shift in public perception on the use of coal for energy resources.

Changing Attitudes Globally

Both the U.S. and China are both the biggest producers and the largest consumers of coal.

While public perception may be going against the idea of coal usage, it is likely to not be going away anytime soon.

However, there is a push towards renewable energy sources, because reliance solely on coal deteriorates the environmental balance.

A report from National Surveys on Energy and Environment, produced by Muhlenberg College and the University of Michigan shows the attitude towards coal has shifted in the last 10 years with the American public.

The study shows that coal decreased from 48% in 2008 to 30% in 2016, while natural gas increased from 21% to 34% in the electricity grid of the U.S.

Australia’s Changing Mindset

In Australia, there is a battle over the Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s bid to construct a new coal mine.

A public outcry against the project along with years of negotiations and court rulings mean the project is still no closer to a green light.

Adani claims the mine will supply India with much-needed coal. Interestingly enough, India’s coal minister says he wants to cut coal imports.

Solar power has become affordable and accessible for Indians, currently at an all-time low.

While the large-scale Adani project promises to bring jobs, money, and products to both Australia and India, the politicians and the public are at odds and there is no resolution just yet.

The Need for Something New

Coal still provides about 75% of Australia’s electricity.

That is starting to change with shutdowns of older plants that would be too costly to refurbish.

Plants have about a 50-year lifespan, and many have or will soon pass that mark in the next decade.

This is why a push towards solar and wind energy has developed in recent years.

Politics and coal seem to go hand in hand these days. Jobs, economy, energy crisis, and global warming are all terms swirled around in parliamentary debates with political parties volleying terms back and forth without resolution.

The current political climate in the U.S. is essentially slowing the funding and support for renewable energy sources.

Cutbacks and restructuring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as President Trump’s promise to maintain and expand the coal industry are cause for concern, to say the least.

Coal is Losing Public Support

Fortunately, there are an increasing number of agencies and businesses that are rising above governmental delays and fossil fuel support to work towards the goal of more renewable energy sources.

Organisations like BASE in Switzerland have projects in developing countries all over the world to help implement renewable energy sources and innovation. In order to achieve success in their projects, they partner with public and private institutions.

While coal is still a large part of the energy industry around the world, with continued research and insistence on renewable energy sources by governments and its citizens, we can achieve a better environmental balance for future generations.

Guest Post by Jelena Djurdjevic

Buying a house can be a stressful process.

Trying to find the right place to live, making sure the property isn’t going to end up costing you a fortune in repairs you didn’t know it needed and actually getting together the money you need to buy it in the first place.

While my husband and I are still trying to get on the property ladder, we’re already thinking ahead and doing our research to find out what kind of deals we could get that would help ease the financial burden.

We’ve even spoken to a financial advisor to figure out what we could realistically afford and when.

It’s not an easy process, and there’s a lot to get your head around, but what’s concerning is that the worry doesn’t stop once you’ve purchased your dream home.

In fact, mortgage stress is surprisingly common, with 29% of Australian households experiencing it.

What’s worse, mortgage stress is set to increase this year, along with defaults.

Offset Accounts

While there are plenty of ways you can minimise the risk of both, such as by sticking to your budget and only getting a place you can truly afford, taking potential interest rate hikes into consideration, and shopping around for the best loan, we’ve been quite interested to learn about the option of having an offset account.

Not heard of it before?

Don’t worry; neither had we.

The basic idea is that you keep your cash in an offset account, rather than a savings account, thereby reducing the total amount you pay on interest each month.

Say you owe $450,000 on your home loan and put $50,000 in an offset account, then you will only be charged interest on the $400,000 by your lender.

So, you can save money on interest, without actually having to pay money into the loan itself.

What you do instead is put that cash into what’s essentially a transaction account that is connected directly to your home loan.

While this may mean that you lose out on the interest you would get from a savings account, it’s still usually a better deal since you’re likely saving more on your home loanand, you don’t have to worry about paying tax on the interest you earn.

What we love about this is that it’s something that could end up saving us thousands in the long run but doesn’t really require much effort on our part.

Plus, it could allow us to pay down our loan faster, while still allowing us access to the savings we have built up in the offset facility.

Yes, you still have access to the money; it’s pretty much a win-win.

It’s ideal if you’re a disciplined saver, which I’m glad to say we both are. However, even if you’re a spender, it could still be a good idea.

If you get your salary to go straight into that account, then the money will immediately impact how much interest you pay, as it’s calculated daily.

Help with Investor Purchase

But what if you’re ahead of us and already own a home, but are looking to upgrade? Or what if you’re a property investor?

Well, there are further advantages of using an offset account

For instance, say you’ve outgrown your current home and want to upgrade to more of a ‘family home,’ while keeping the first property as an investment.

Well, in that case, it could be even more beneficial.

While you may not currently be able to get a tax deduction for interest payment on money borrowed against your existing residence to purchase a new property, you can claim a tax deduction for all interest payments on existing debt on the investment property.

If you take money out of the offset account to help pay for your upgrade, then this will increase the interest payable on your original mortgage.

Since the loan was taken out to acquire a home used strictly for investment purposes, all of this interest cost will be tax deductible.

Lesson learned? . . . . When it comes to money matters, do your homework.

You never know where you could end up saving a ton of money and generally make life a whole lot easier for yourself.

Guest Post by Trent Anderson

There are plenty of benefits to be had from building your own home.

You get to be involved in the design process, and you have more choices as to location and features.

Of course, you do not need to do the work yourself, you can hire architects, contractors and builders to do that for you.

But, at the end of the day, you have the final say. and, that is a good feeling.

However, if you are going to build a property, you need to make sure that you plan effectively.

This includes thinking about the future, and things that might happen, and not just concentrating on the design features you are dreaming of.

Here are four things that you really should think about planning ahead for.

Is the space you need today what you will need tomorrow?

If you are planning to live in your new home for several years, you need to consider whether the space and layout is designed to meet your needs, today and in the future.

You may be a young working couple now but what if you decide to start a family in the years to come.

It may not even be in your mind right now, but if there is even a possibility of this happening, it’s a good idea to make sure you have the option of creating child friendly spaces.

If you are already middle aged, it’s worth thinking about the potential of living on ground level, should you need to when you get a few years older.

How many electrical sockets do you need?

Obviously, you need to think about the power sockets that you need today, and where they should be placed.

But, it’s also a good idea to consider future needs, if possible.

For instance, if there is a chance that you may want to convert the roof space at some point, make sure that the power supply is available now.

This can help make any changes easier.

Will your new home be pest proof?

Depending on where you live, pests can be a major problem.

For instance, in the humid southern states pests such as termites thrive.

This is why it’s a good idea to make sure that you include pest proofing measures as part of the build, including the landscaping of the outside space.

If you need any advice, it’s a good idea to speak to a professional pest control service.

How saleable is the property?

You are only just building your home, and you may not be intending to sell it anytime soon.

No matter what your intentions are now, it’s a good idea to think about what would happen if you did put the property on the market.

It’s fine to incorporate some unusual design features when you build, but being too quirky may mean that you find it difficult to sell the property, if you ever want to.

Building your own home can be exciting, but don’t get carried away.

As much as possible, you should make sure that the home you are building suits your needs for today and for the future.

5 Tips for Preparing Your Backyard for the Winter

Guest post by Hubert Dwight

Image courtesy of www.vintageindustrialstyle.com

If you love nothing more than kicking back in the yard with a beer or a glass of wine, you might start to dread the approach of winter.

When the days are short, many of us struggle to get any use out of our yards at all, because it’s already dark by the time we’re winding down.

This can be frustrating, but the solution is simpler than you think.

Winterising the garden means more than just shutting off hoses and laying down mulch.

If you create an all-weather entertaining space, for example, with plenty of heat and light, it won’t matter what time of year it is.

You can relax with friends or enjoy a little quiet time whether it’s the height of summer or a blustery fall afternoon.

Keep reading for some advice on how to transform your garden into an all year round retreat.

 

Romantic Lighting

The biggest priority, particularly if you want to use your garden after dark, is light.

You need plenty of illumination for safety and security, but it doesn’t have to look coldly functional.

When shopping for garden lights for your home, try to combine clear, bright spotlights with much softer diffused lighting.

Be creative. You can string fairy lights from the trees or install old-fashioned lampposts. You can even build spotlights into your deck or patio.

 

Reliable Heating

The other essential part of winter gardens is a reliable heat source.

It doesn’t have to be some huge, expensive system.

There are plenty of sleek and chic patio heaters which don’t take up much space or consume all that much energy.

HeatStrip, for instance, produces slimline, minimalist heating units which can be installed in awkwardly shaped or hard to heat areas.

They are low energy and specifically designed to fit a broad range of patios and verandas.

 

Sturdy Furniture

Whether it’s winter or not, if you’re hosting friends in the backyard, you’re probably going to get peckish at some point.

The good news is that high-quality garden furniture is more affordable than ever.

Just remember to be careful when choosing materials, because you need items which are going to withstand the elements.

Aluminium is a great choice as it doesn’t easily rust or corrode. However, it can get very hot if left in direct sunlight.

 

Pick Out a Feature

One way to add interest and intrigue to a nighttime garden is with a feature spot.

This might be your favourite tree or even a striking piece of garden art.

If you have a soft spot for sculpture, you could place a faux classic in the middle of the lawn or off to the side, nestled in the foliage.

The trick to making it pop, especially after dark, is the right kind of light.

Use soft, diffused spot or string lights to illuminate the feature and draw the eye.

 

Plant Some Pale

You might not think it to see them in the daytime, but pale coloured flowers look awfully striking after dark.

So, if you want to make sure that your yard is pretty even in the dead of night, add some white and pale blue plants.

Foxgloves and forget-me-nots are two wonderful choices.

White roses look fantastic too, especially when the light from your patio gives them an ethereal, luminescent quality.

For intoxicating scents, sneak in a little evening primrose.  

 

Why Your Garden Should Be an All Round Retreat

Many of us write our gardens off during the winter, but this is a lot of time for them to be out of action.

If you want to get as much value from the space as possible, don’t let the cold weather force you back inside.

All you need is a good heater, some pretty lights, and a good group of friends to banish those winter chills.