With renovations at the forefront of my mind, one idea that has caught my eye is the concept of a green kitchen. We are not just talking eco-friendly materials here, we are talking a living breathing space. Immediately it is clear that there are some logistics that need to be thought through to grow plants inside.There are also different levels you can take this theme to, from a pot on the windowsill to a kitchen jungle. So how can we integrate a living green kitchen into our plans?
Archive for the ‘Eco-renovation’ category
Ecorenovations Living Green Kitchens
August 19th, 2010Wind Turbines For The Home
July 30th, 2010
Wind turbines have historically been limited to rural areas. However, this is about to change as vertical axis wind turbines are being introduced for residential areas. Vertical axis wind turbines look more like an egg whisk than a windmill, the main benefit being that they are unaffected by wind direction so are better suited for urban areas. Residential turbines can be installed on the roof or tower and feed energy into the building through an inverter. Urban Green Energy is about to introduce the vertical axis wind turbines into Australia to provide another renewable energy option for the home.
Eco Renovation – Tentative First Steps
May 21st, 2010
Its long been a dream to get stuck into an eco-renovation. In reality it is a bit mind boggling especially when you have no experience of design, building or architecture.
A key concern is the cost of going green. Everyone knows that creating a sustainable home will lead to long term cost savings (we are talking pocket here as well as environment). But this has to be weighed up against how long you will live in the house and how much the bank manager will lend you. I’ve been doodling some ideas for weeks now, and its time to get serious. So I took myself off to the Sydney Home Show for some eco-renovation inspiration.
Eco Friendly Heating
May 1st, 2010
As winter sets in, the topic of eco-friendly heating comes up again. Gas is the most efficient of the conventional heating methods, but there are new heaters and new fuels to choose from. We’ve summarised the different ways to warm up your house this winter without warming up the globe.
Using Waste to Heat Your Home
April 1st, 2010
As Summer ends it is time to think about what you are going to do to keep warm this Winter. Our neighbour who is renovating, gave us a pile of waste hardwood, to burn in our slow combustion wood fire. This would otherwise have been destined for landfill. Fuel pellets take this concept a step further. Fuel pellets created from waste sawdust and other organic materials, burn with greater efficiency and lower emissions than wood, so we were keen to find out more.
Renewable Energy Options in your Home
February 21st, 2010
Generating your own green electricity, decentralising power generation and removing reliance on power stations is another piece in the energy puzzle. You can now get hold of a green loan and generous government rebates to install photovoltaic panels using the abundant sunshine we enjoy in Australia. But what happens when the sun is not shining? There are a few options including generating electricity in your home from gas with new BlueGen fuel cells which are going to be available in Australia in the next few months. We have done the research for you.
Free Energy From the Sun
October 20th, 2009
According to a Newspoll survey conducted in April and May this year one in every two Australian households are considering making the switch to solar water heating over the next two years, probably due to a combination of generous Government rebates, the financial squeeze of rising electricity prices and concerns about the environment.
Create Your Own Sustainable Home On a Budget
September 4th, 2009![greenfurry house iStock_000004851573XSmall[1]](http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/greenfurry-house-iStock_000004851573XSmall1-300x225.jpg "greenfurry house iStock_000004851573XSmall[1]")
Whether you own your home or are renting there are lots of ways to spend money creating a sustainable home. There are also lots of cheap and easy green living ideas that won’t break the bank and can significantly reduce the impact of your home while you save up for the bigger ticket items. Here are fifteen top tips.