Sustainability – Page 6

Ecological solutions that will help your family

Guest post by Nick Stoyanov

It’s about time for people to start paying attention to their environment.

Although it might sound like something that is hard to do, we can easily change our ways becoming a more ecologically conscious society.

In fact, there are so many solution that we can implement in our home which will save us money, spend less resources and unburden local energy providers.

On top of that, by implementing some of these solutions, you will also be able to live a healthier and more productive life.

It’s a win-win situation.

You still don’t believe me? . . . . Ok, let’s check some easy ecological solutions that you will surely love.

Changing your lights

When it comes to low energy consumption, LED lights are one of the best examples how you can make a difference with a small change

For example, they use between 25 to 80 % less energy.

As if that wasn’t enough, they also last between 3 to 25 times longer than the standard light bulbs.

The secret lies in their ingenious model that is able to do so much with so little.

Next time you wish to save some money and help the planet, just make sure to change your lights.

Saving water

Saving water is no brainer. In their quest for a greener planet, some people go really far and they rarely even use water for flushing and choirs around the house.

Instead of opting for such drastic measures, you can collect water yourself.

Water tanks and barrels are not a new concept.

Barrels have been around for ages allowing you to collect rainwater that pours down from the roof.

This water can be later on used for various house jobs.

Water tanks are a bit more advanced.

They work together with submersible water pumps.

When rain falls, it is collected in tanks.

When you need to use it, submersible pump will send it to a certain section of house for further use.

It is a great solution that will have an enormous impact on your bills.

Solar panels

In times of need, people tend to be rather resourceful.

Solar panels are one of the latest solutions for global energy deficit.

Instead of burdening your local energy providers, you are now able to generate power yourself without any additional costs.

This method is becoming increasingly popular being accepted and promoted by various governments of the world.

In certain regions, governmental bodies are even giving subsidies for its use.

All you have to do is put several panels on your roof and you are ready to go.

If needed, it is also possible to place them in your backyard.

Naturally, this gives you much more space.

This is especially great for agricultural households that are heavily reliant on power.

Planting a garden

There are so many upsides to why a homeowner should plant a vegetable garden in his backyard, it is becomes really hard to go against this decision.

In last couple of years (especially since the global crisis) there are more and more urban families that are choosing to do so.

Reason is simple: the costs are really high and oftentimes we don’t even know what we’re eating.

Backyard garden is a perfect solution for the whole family as it provides a constant source of food.

Although it requires more attention than the previous things from our list, it is definitely something worth considering.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this and similar articles will open your eyes to all the benefits of going green.

Even if you do not care about the planet, there are so many financial benefits when it comes to sustainable solutions making them really hard to neglect.

Graphic courtesy of Neetal Parekh

Why I Didn’t Want A Tesla Battery

I recently posted about my experiences of getting quotes for Solar Power (Obtaining Quotes) and one of the questions I have been asked is “Are you getting a Tesla Battery?”

Here are my reasons why not

Tesla Battery

The total installed cost of a Powerwall 2 battery is being quoted at $10,150.

With 13.5 kilowatt-hours of storage that means a cost of approximately $750 per kw hour that’s quite an effective price.

Background

My solar system is limited by suitable roof space to just over 3.00kw

The estimated power generation is around 4000kw hours a year with a monthly average in summer of 16kw hours a day.

In winter it is much lower at an average of 6 kw hours per day.

Evaluation

Prior to the solar installation we were using about 7- 8 kw hours/day without using air conditioning. and another 4-5 kw hours with air conditioning.

It would probably be more if we were home all the time but we both have part time jobs.

In Summer we have a lot of excess solar power, but we are only using 2 – 4 kw hours of grid power when the panels aren’t generating so the battery will only save us around 2 -3 kw hours per night.

In winter we won’t have much excess power during the day so I would estimate that we will only be able to put 1 – 2 kw Hours per day into the battery which will get used up every night..

Overall it looks like we would probably average 2kw hours, or less, of power from the battery a day.

With our supplier, Powershop, the benefit of using power from a battery is approximately $0.25 /kw hour (The difference between the ‘Feed in rate’ and the ‘Anytime rate’)

Our saving = Days in the year x Average kw hours saved x Benefit from battery use

= 365 x 2 x $0.25

= $183 per annum (a rate of return of less than 2% on the $10,000 investment)

This is a much worse rate than overall solar installation . . . see Reviewing Solar

Conclusion

With battery life guaranteed for 10 years you won’t be seeing any real savings, not even if the battery lasts a further 5 years.

If Tesla, or someone else, were to offer a battery system with a quarter of the capacity(say 3kw hours) for a quarter of the price ($2500) I might get excited.

If you have got a lot more panels and a high evening, and night time use, then a Tesla Battery may work for you.

Review of Solar Cost / Benefits

In our new house we hadn’t got solar so I thought I would review the financial advantages of installing a system.

I found a useful calculator on Solar Quotes a great site with lots of useful information.

Working through the Solar Quotes Solar Power Calculator I came up with the following for a 2kw system.

Calculator Input

2kw system in Victoria

Expected use – 50% of output

Calculator Output

Installation Cost $3900

Power generated 2628 kilowatt hours

Saving in first year $340

That’s around an 8.5% rate of return , better than I could get at the bank,

If we use more than 50% of the power the rate of return will be even better.

Is it worth upgrading?

An extra 1kw system would cost around $550 extra and generate an extra 1314 kilowatt hours

If the whole of the extra panels output went just to feed in tariff at $0.06/kw hour the figures it would save me $78,84.

That’s a 14% rate of return.

Our System

We decided to go with a 3.3 kw system with 13 Panels.

Eight panels facing North, and five panels facing west to maximise late afternoon and evening performance when we get in from work.

Expected saving from our $4,450 system = $340 + $78.84 = say $418 (a 9.4% rate of return)

Why Solar Makes More Sense for Retirees

Currently both my wife and I are semi retired and only working part time.

We currently have a considerable amount of money in Superannuation and other savings

In January 2017 as a result of government changes to pensions the amount payable to us when we reach pension age will be reduced by $3/fortnight ($78 per year) for every $1,000 of assets we have over $375,000.

Money spent on the house is excluded from the asset test.

Financial Situation in Retirement

So for us

By investing our $4,450 in solar rather than leaving it in the bank we have lost $133.50 interest (best bank deposit rates currently are around 3%)

We stand to gain $347.1 in extra pension payments ($78 x 4.45)

Net income gain = $347.10 – $133,50 = say $213.

Add to a the power savings identified above gives

Overall Annual Return = $213 + $418

= $631 (14% rate of return) . . . . and unlike money in the bank these benefits will keep up with inflation!

Should You Get A Micro Inverter Solar system

I’m just in the process of getting a solar power system for my latest house.

One of the changes since I last bought a system is that micro inverters are now more common than they used to be…….so I thought I would do some investigation.

What Are Inverters

Basically the solar panels produce Direct Current (DC) Electricity.

The DC electricity needs to be converted to Alternating Current (AC) and matched to the Grid.

Basically the inverter is a box of electronics that carries out this task.

Difference between a Traditional Inverter and a Micro Inverter

A traditional inverter is a single box, on the house wall, that combines the electricity from each ‘String’ (group of panels) and does the conversion in that box.

When you have a micro inverter system each panel has its own inverter which is mounted on the panel of right next to it on the roof.

This photo shows an Enphase micro inverter, one of the more common types available in Australia

System Differences

Probably the first difference that most people will notice is that a Micro Inverter system will be around 20% more expensive.
One of the issues with a Traditional Inverter is that if one panel in a string is partially shaded it affects every other panel in the string. (if one panel fails all the panels in that string will stop working) This means that a micro inverter system can be more efficient.
The cables on the roof will run at a much lower voltage with a Micro Inverter making it safer.
If a micro inverter fails it means you will have to get on the roof.

So What Did I Pick

With only the two of us we decided that a 3kw system would be big enough.

Looking around the house there are no trees or other shading to affect the panel locations.

We therefore decided that the traditional inverter system would be fine as far as efficiency is concerned.

With 2 strings each limited to 1.5kw we thought the voltages wouldn’t be unacceptably high.

Air Conditioners – Why The Star Rating Is More Important Than Price

I’m currently in the market for a Split System Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner.

I went round a couple of the big box electrical stores last weekend and saw several models in the 3.5kw range, with prices ranging from $650 to $1,000.

But is the higher star rating of the more expensive models worth the extra dollars?

Finding Out The Savings

Well I went to www.energyrating.gov.au website to do a little investigation

I used their calculator and based my search on:

A 3.5kw Unit.
Heating for 5 months at an average of 10 hours per day.
Cooling for 7 hours a day for 2 months.
Power at $0.287 per kW hour.

The results were:

The best 6 Star unit would cost around $236/year to run.
The worst 2 Star unit would cost around $551/year to run.

That’s a huge difference of $315/year!

In other words buying the more expensive unit would be cheaper after less than 2 years!

When I decide to buy; I’m only going to be looking at the 6 Star units.

‘Green’ Beer Fridge

When you move into a new home most people like to get a new fridge.

Either the old fridge doesn’t fit, or just doesn’t look as smart as the rest of the kitchen.

So what happens to the old fridge?

If you are like me, it gets claimed as a beer fridge.

A lot of environmentalists say that running a beer/bar fridges is bad for the environment, as you are doubling the power use over a single fridge.

Not only that, but I estimate it is costing you around $0.30 a day (or $110 a year)

A Green Solution

Well the fridge is just a big insulated box, so it won’t warm up too fast.

And we are going to be getting solar panels.

Also I don’t have a beer before lunch time and rarely late in the evening.

So the new plan is to put a time switch on the fridge to run from 9,00 am until 7.00pm.

Time to cool the beer down after the solar panels start generating. . . . . . and the beer should stay cold until late in the evening.

Keeping Solar Panels Clean

I saw this solar panel with the sharp jagged plate on the top edge to stop bird perching the other week.

So I thought it was a good reminder that solar panels aren’t just fit and forget. . . . if they get dirty performance will go down

Here are some of the issues:

Bird Poop

The main issue is birds perching on the top edge so either a wire, spikes, or a plate like this one will reduce the risk.

General Dirt

You will know that all windows get dirty over time so its the same for solar panels.

Having a reasonable slope on the panels is a good start so rain will wash away the majority of dirt.

It may also be worth investing in one of those glass shield products that makes the glass ‘smoother’.

Lichen

People on the Alternative Technology Forum have found this can be a problem.

At the very least it could be worth aiming to inspect the panels once a year and give them a clean.

Save Energy By Upgrading To An Eco-Friendly Property.

Guest post by Hubert Dwight

Many people are quick to complain about how high their energy bills are, but they fail to take any real action to minimise the expenses.

Inside the home, lighting, electrical appliances, hot water, heating and cooling dominate energy consumption within their property.

Improving consumption habits will make a difference, however leveraging energy efficient technology will allow people to make greater energy savings with very little effort.

Here are a few ways improvements can be made to the home.

Roofing

A roof that is a lighter colour will reflect more light and heat, which keeps the home cooler.

According to Steve King, Senior lecturer of architecture at the University of New South Wales, this can potentially cut down air conditioning usage and costs by 1/3rd.

Glass on windows and doors.

Many homes tend to have the wrong kind of glazing for the climate in their area.

For example, homes in warm climates that have large double glazed windows may find that their property gains too much heat, thus forcing people to use air cooling systems more.

Alternatively, properties located in areas with a cooler climate tend may be losing considerable heat due to single glazing.

Upgrade to energy efficient lighting.

People can reduce their lighting energy consumption by fitting their property with LED light bulbs.

LED technology is great because it allows people to continue with their lifestyle, while drawing less energy to illuminate an area.

The bulbs are more expensive than incandescent, or fluorecent fittings, but they last much longer and provide better lighting.

Savewise, who are specialists in residential and commercial LED lights can help secure government subsidies for those people that are interested in upgrading their existing property to use energy efficient lighting.

Air conditioners

Air conditioners are an essential appliance that will make a property feel more comfortable.

It’s important to invest in an air conditioner that is energy efficient because it will consume less energy and incur a lower running cost.

Heating

People can provide additional insulation to their property to keep the heat from escaping.

Additionally, investing in heating through reverse cycle inverter air conditioning can be a cost efficient way to increase your room temperature without incurring a high energy consumption cost.

Refrigerators.

Refrigerators run 24h a day in the home and tend to consume a lot of energy.

To minimise the energy consumption costs, look out for appliances that carry the energy star logo and any energy guides that will advise you on the running costs of the fridge.

Another tip when purchasing energy efficient refrigerators is that a top mount refrigerator uses 15% less energy than a side by side refrigerator.

Dishwashers.

Investing in an eco-efficient dishwasher will help to save water and electricity.

Look out for dishwashers that have a high energy star rating and also keep in mind that you should run the dishwasher overnight to take advantage of the ‘off peak energy tariffs’, or if you have solar panels when the sun is shining.

These are some simple ways to improve the eco-friendliness of your property and it should reduce the overall energy consumption, which will save you money over the long run.

Review the appliances that are being used in your property and see where you can make an upgrade today!

Protecting the Planet with Sustainable Kit Homes

Guest post by Andre Smith

In the past, home construction relied heavily on safety and aesthetics without giving much thought to where the supplies were coming from.

However, that trend is changing as people look for ways to be eco-friendlier in their daily lives.

If you’re ready to build your dream home, then consider a sustainable home.

In addition to featuring earth-friendly building materials, they’re also more energy efficient so that you can keep your utility bills down in the future.

Steel is the New Wood

Wood-framed houses are giving way to sustainable steel structures that go up faster, last longer, and are completely recyclable.

Steel buildings will never fall prey to insects like termites and ants.

They’re especially coated to prevent rot and ensure that your new structure lasts for generations to come.

With a great range of colours available, you can choose the perfect shade and avoid the hassle of painting your new home exterior.

Another great benefit of steel is the superior strength to weight ratio.

You can easily span greater distances using less material, and that results in a more aesthetically pleasing finish.

You’ll create a more open floor plan while saving a good deal of money on labour and supplies.

Finally, steel is 100% recyclable, so any scrap materials can be reclaimed and put to another use.

Passive Utilities

Rather than focusing on how a home looks, the sustainable builder focuses on how a home will work with the surrounding environment.

With passive design options, you can take advantage of the climate to reduce heating and cooling bills.

This is why you need to work with a team that will come out and survey your land.

When your home is oriented to the site based on prevalent breezes and the path of the sun, it’s easy to keep your property cool and comfortable without relying heavily on your air condition.

In addition to placing your home properly to take advantage of the sun in the winter, you can also have well shaded exterior windows and doors to easily keep everything cool in the summer.

Move to the Insulation

Wood has a natural insulating factor, but that doesn’t mean that you should rely on it when building.

Steel homes use insulation to effectively minimise heat transfer.

Homes should also be effectively sealed to stop air leaks in a passiv manner to helps you lower energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

Condensation can become a problem in some cases, but knowledgeable builders know how to keep the air circulating in your home so that this won’t be an issue for you.

Focus on Thermal Mass

The right structure will also keep a focus on building materials with higher thermal mass.

Wood doesn’t retain temperatures very well, but concrete, brick, tiles, and metal are all excellent at storing heat.

Their higher thermal mass helps you lower energy bills in a sustainable home.

The materials should be integrated as part of a passive design system, but your kit home will already take this into account.

Water for the Future

Sustainable home designs in Australia look beyond the heating and cooling to look at water conservation.

Living in a dry climate, it’s important to be mindful of water usage.

With carefully planned kit homes, you can reduce the quantity of water consumed with improving the quality of storm and wastewater.

This is accomplished by including features such as:

Water efficient interior fixtures
Landscaping using native plants
Collection tanks fed by the stormtroughs
Greywater systems that allow some domestic water to be reused

Solar Solutions

One great benefit of living in Australia is that the regular sunshine can provide you with an alternate power source.

Modern sustainable kit homes make excellent use of solar power for appliances, lights, and even hot water.

Rather than relying on the traditional power grid, you can lower your energy bills drastically by turning to the sun for all of your power needs.

You can also choose wind systems for your kit home if you live in an area with enough open space.

This allows you to use renewable energy at night and during the rainy season.

The houses go up fast, and they last as long as traditional designs.

However, with some planning and passive additions, they can work with the local environment to provide you with a more enjoyable living space.

Off The Grid In Little River

Is living off the grid realistic?

To find out I recently visited an open day of this “Off The Grid’ House in Little River, Victoria.

All the electricity for this large 38 square 4 bedroom house are generated from solar panels on the garage roof.

The 30 north facing panels can generate up to 5.5 kilowatt.

The power is stored in a 48v battery bank that can provide around 22 kilowatt hours per day.

The Battery Bank is a little bit bigger than a standard chest freezer. . . much smaller than I expected.

On the October day I visited the battery bank was already 98% charged at 10.00am, so already recovered from the overnight power use.

Want to find out more? . . . then visit this link: theoffgridsolarhouse.com