Optus + NBN – Fail 2
A couple of weeks ago I posted about the problems in getting an Installation Appointment but things didn’t much better. Stage 5 New Optus Modem arrives in the post followed by an NBN installation engineer on the 5th May. the…
Read more
Tree Caravan????
Passiv Haus
What is a Passiv Haus (Passive House)? Well as you might have guessed the term originates in Germany, and relates to a method of achieving more sustainable performance (and lower Energy Bills) It’s a technique which doesn’t rely on good orientation, high thermal…
Read more
Lollipop House
Can you Lick This? This ‘Lollipop House’ is in Giheung-Gu, South Korea The unusual shape incorporates 7 rooms, each on a different level, as you can see from the drawing on the right. For more pictures check out freshome.com For…
Read more
Sensor Switches
Fed up with lights being left on! Why not plan some internal sensor switches for your new home. Unlike the sensor lights commonly used for outdoors its common to have a sensor switch wired into the lighting circuit rather than a…
Read more
Solar Electricity To Heat Water
Do you need a separate solar hot water system? Could you just heat the water by electricity generated by your Photo Voltaic (PV) solar cells? I have carried out a desktop exercise to help you review the options. Solar Water…
Read more
Optus + NBN – FAIL
Since the National Broadband Network (NBN) became available in our area our story of customer service with Optus has been appalling! Stage 1 At the end of March we tried to use the Optus on line system to book an installation. After…
Read more
Pallet Furniture – Win or Fail?
So the house cost a lot more than your original budget . . . . and now you can’t afford furniture! No worries all you need is a few 2nd hand pallets! It’s an interesting idea so it…
Read more
What are Green Walls? and Why are they so Spectacular?
Guest post by Hubert Dwight Green walls, known by a variety of names, including living walls, eco walls, vertical gardens or bio walls, are one of the biggest design trends of our era. Originally developed in 1938, green walls were then…
Read more
Reinforcement In Slabs
I regularly hear the question “Where should the reinforcement mesh go in slabs?” Well here is some advice. . . . Understanding The Materials Concrete – Strong in Compression, but weak in Tension. Steel Reinforcement– Strong in Tension, and strong in…
Read more