Has technology and improved “modern living” actually delivered the goods?  Let’s have a look – we live in bigger more grandiose houses now with back yard blitz private courtyards – I wonder how Barry and Sally are going haven’t seen them for a couple of years?!

We have got mobile phones, blackberry’s, emails and we all catch up with our friends a lot, digitally, but we don’t get to see them that much.

The new regional shopping centre is fabulous but is a half hour round trip in the car which, incidentally is new, comfortable and very stylish.

Remember the corner store where you used to walk or send the kids down to get those top up groceries.  Good exercise on the way, bumping into the locals, that familiar face of the shop owner. Do you remember as a kid riding or walking to school?

Bring back the Village!

You can see where I am going now – bring back the Village! Coffee, cake and camaraderie in our backyards.  Walking and riding your bike to the corner store and to school, actually knowing the neighbours, sharpening the mower blades in Jacko’s shed – blokes need this as do girls the hot local gossip sessions.

So I advocate BRING BACK THE VILLAGE IN OUR SUBURBS.  Design the new estates and retrofit our existing communities with ways for our locals to connect.

It takes a Village to raise a child, so they say and maybe it takes a Village to save a marriage – a mum and dad trying to bring up a child without neighbourhood support is just madness.

Is this taking you back in time and does it touch the deepest human yearning – connection and support with your mob.

So what can we do to right this modern wrong?  PULL YOUR FENCE DOWN!

Symbolically make a stand to do something, metaphorically make an effort to connect with your fellow locals and literally rip down the palings and say a wonderful hello to your neighbours.

Remove trees and foliage that keep the winter sun out by trimming and replanting if you need to with deciduous plants – the green shade is fantastic in summer.
Before the sun goes down at the end of the day draw the curtains.  Install and use curtains when the sun goes down to keep the accumulated daytime warmth in the house.  Lots of heat is lost through windows and glazed doors and curtains are an easy and cheap solution to maintaining winter comfort. Heavy dual layered curtains with fixed pelmets provide the “seal” to stop heat bleeding through your glazing.

Heaters
When using heaters choose an energy efficient type by reviewing the star rating and energy usage at the time of purchase.  Avoid high energy using air-conditioning and use energy efficient space heaters that are only in the rooms where you need heating.

Lock off the rest of the house by closing doors so you don’t waste heat.

The worst types are oiled filled radiators which can use a whopping 2500kW.  In an average Gold Coast winter this could cost $200 to run and produce 3 tonnes of greenhouse gases.

Add insulation to your ceilings (and walls and floors if you can).  Capitalise on the Federal Governments current extraordinary rebates.

Warm yourself up by rugging up – put on a cosy jumper, your winter woollies and ugh boots and enjoy own warmth.  This will save money and the planet!

If you are really desperate you can always “snuggle up” after all warm cuddles on a cold night is a great way to save money and avert global climate change!

Australia is one of the worlds highest per capita greenhouse gas emitters and with about 20% of this effect coming from homes, we can really make a difference.

With the Qld Government expecting a 1°C temperature increase by 2030 and all the resulting problems with global warming, its up to each of us to do our bit.

What’s best to do first:
Guess what uses the most home energy? – no not the fridge, air-conditioner, heater or the stove but the heating of water by our hot water systems, washing machines and dishwashers and in the kitchen.

Our average Queensland household uses about 23 kilowatt hours of electricity per day – that’s adds up to 8 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year!  Heating water can account for up to 40% of our total energy usage and on current electricity costs if you are on the highest tariffs this could mean up to $600 per year which, no doubt, you could use for other things.

The simple solution to most of the water heating dilemma is to replace our old energy sucking dinosaur electric system with solar hot water.  Solar can provide nearly all of your hot water needs free of charge from the sun and at the moment with government subsidies, they are a deal and pay themselves off quickly.

The Federal Government is offering $1600 off the solar cost if you are replacing an old electric system in your existing home and combined with the discount from the Renewable Energy Certificates that are yours to sell back to your supplier at purchase, you could be have installed a brand new solar system for as low as $1400.

What is solar hot water? – These systems use a solar collector, which is a box with a mattrix of pipes and usually a black backing and glass cover that heats up water in the pipes and transfers the hot water to a storage tank. The storage tank is either on the roof next to the collector or Close Coupled system or on the ground or in the roof system Split system.  The Close Coupled systems are the more efficient than Split systems as the on the ground storage tanks have an electric pump which use energy! The Close Coupled systems are a bit obvious and bulky on your roof but really they are an icon of sustainable living.

The trick is with solar to buy the most efficient system you can afford.  The cheaper ones are not that efficient and in cloudy weather, particularly in winter, they use a lot of booster energy, mostly with, and you guessed it, an electric element like our old systems.

The more expensive better quality solar systems are more efficient and if well located virtually can provide nearly all your hot water needs, bar those cloudiest coldest days, for any energy input boosting at all! The electric boosting element is very inefficient and uses a lot of energy as it is heating water even when you are away on holidays!

Better boosting comes with the use of an instantaneous gas heater which is located between your solar system and your taps and augments the solar hot water by topping up the heat if the water is not warm enough.  This “on demand” gas heater is more expensive than the electric element but is a far better way to go as it is only activated when hot water boosting is actually needed.  You can turn it on and off yourself so you have direct control and in some models turn the temperature up and down.

Try to buy an Australian made system, there will be less environmental impacts and you will stimulate our local economy and preserve jobs.

Our Behaviour!
Its not homes that use energy, it’s people, the householders!

Saving money and environmental impacts is about our behaviour, so if you can’t upgrade to a solar hot water system, simply look to try and use less hot water.
Here are some simple tips:
•    Install a water efficient shower head
•    Get a shower timer and enjoy shorter showers
•    If you have to use the bath with a friend or family!
•     Use your washing machine on the cold cycle or connect only the cold water
•    Only use your or dishwasher when it’s a full loaded – it heats its own water
•    Conserve your washing up water
And the last one is a cracker…………… The Climate Change Cuppa
Believe it or not heating your jug for a cuppa uses lots of energy.

It costs money for every cup of water you boil.  Ever notice how we decadently tend to overfill the kettle and heat up 6 or 7 cups instead of just one.  At 10 times a day over a year, your family’s awareness could save your $100 a year and the world nearly half a tonne of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s about using what we need and thinking and acting now to leave a better world for our children.

So living “green”, you can enjoy your life just as much – cut back your energy usage as much as is comfortable, install solar and put the savings in the bank or better still……….. go spend it! (Kevin and Wayne will love you…)

Other info:
•    Install the first 2 metres of hot water pipe from your hot water system to save heat loss
•    Install a hot water recirculating valve that recycles your hot water
•    Locate your hot water system right next to your bathroom/s

If you are renovating your home or designing a new house, then ensure that you avoid or minimise the use of potentially toxic materials. Specify natural elements in preference to synthetic equivalents especially for the interior components.  Use water or natural oil based paints and applied finishes that contain little or no VOC (volatile organo compounds, which are known carcinogens). Whilst most paints contain these, there are a number of paints on the market that have very low VOC content.  One locally produced brand (no names!) has no VOC’s at all and is the only one satisfying the Asthma Foundations rigorous standards.

With these “healthy” paints, there is little if any smell straight after painting.  Remember what a painted house used to smell like – that smell is harmful to your family for years after.  Use also paints with natural pigments, drying agents and preservatives and use only non-toxic clear finishes on flooring.

Paints aren’t the only products that off gas. Finishes and adhesives also contain VOC’s and other toxic substances such as formaldehyde and benzene.  Older style particleboards are notoriously toxic so you should specify low toxicity composite boards for your cupboards and cabinets as these are now freely available.  Check all other uses of composite boards (MDF), fibre cement and plywood for their toxicity ratings

Avoid CCA (copper chrome arsenate – yes arsenate is arsenic) treated timber in your yard and particularly near your vegie patch.  For years we have been putting poisonous timber in and around our gardens.  Use LOSP’s (light organic solvent preservative) and similar low toxicity treatments or even good old untreated recycled hardwood which is durable out in the weather.

Carpets are another source of poor indoor air quality in your home.  Use those made from natural materials such as wool and plant fibres and those that specify inert (low off gassing) glues.  In preference to carpets, which are also a haven for dust mites, polish or tile your floors and use washable rugs where needed.  Replace your vinyl floor covers with linoleum, a natural rubber based product and use HDPE (high density polyethylene) in preference to PVC plumbing and electrical uses.

If you have an older house watch out for fibrous cement sheeting, it could be made of asbestos which has claimed the lives of many including my Dad.  If you are uncertain get your builder or a qualified person to check it out before you touch it. Avoid drilling, sanding or disturbing asbestos cement sheeting in any way.

If you buy a product or furniture and it smells then it is probably toxic.  Leave it outside in the open air for as long as you can before bringing it into your home so that the initial off gassing does not leave residue inside your home.

When selecting materials and items check the toxicity credentials of the supplier.  Most products come with a Material Data Sheet which lists the constituents and chose the healthy options – make your house a low toxicity home and enjoy a healthy life for you and your family!