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Ecorenovations Living Green Kitchens

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 05:26:24 +0000

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?

It all sounds very idealistic, but research recently conducted by Ikea has found that householders in UK and Ireland (where the research was done) not only ‘want a kitchen with built in energy efficiency, but they are looking for an inherently green space in which the garden and kitchen merge, allowing food to be grown in both areas’.

I love the idea of having a green kitchen, with fresh herbs, maybe even the odd strawberry or tomato on tap. But the reality for me is that I can’t keep plants alive. It seems I am not alone. Rigging up a system of hydroponics could be the answer, with inventions like the nano-garden taking low maintenance to a new level. However, I get the feeling the low tech option will require much less energy and material and will also do positive things for our internal air quality. So to incorporate living features into our green kitchen we need to consider a few things:

close to the sink so that water used to wash vegetables can be reused to water plants
easy access to a surface or outside for potting activities/or to put them outside to enjoy the sunshine/rain
over an easy wipe area to mop up overenthusiastic watering
may need to place the pots in a plate of water to prevent ants
direct access to sunlight
in an area that is easy to get to, but out of reach of toddlers

With the kitchen capable of generating up to a quarter of domestic greenhouse gases through cooking and refrigeration, I’ve already got the energy efficient appliances. I’ve got my waste separation area in my future kitchen all I’ve got to do now is persuade the bank manager, oh and get someone to design it for me.

Wind Turbines For The Home

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:57:20 +0000

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.

The small vertical access turbine ‘eddy’ which has been created for home or office use, starts turning in 8 mile per hour winds. It is 4′6” wide by 5′3” tall. Unlike horizontal axis wind turbines no mechanism is needed to turn the wind turbine towards the wind meaning better performance in areas where a tall tower isn’t feasible, obstacles are nearby or the wind is more turbulent. Therefore they are better suited for harvesting air flow found around buildings and other obstacles, situations more common in areas where people live. They are also quiet.

Urban Green Energy are expanding into Australia and will be installing vertical axis wind turbines in Australia in the coming months. We’ll be heading over to check them out when they are up and running.

For more information check out the Urban Green Energy website.

Choosing Your Chocolate

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:28:03 +0000

Its a subject close to my heart – chocolate. Over the years I have become a chocolate devotee. Dinner isn’t complete if it isn’t rounded off with a couple of squares of the dark stuff. But there can be a dark side to chocolate, excuse the pun.

I’ve made it my mission to investigate the impacts of chocolate, and while eating chocolate might take a toll on the waistline, there are a number of choices you can make to ensure your conscience isn’t weighed down.

Want Free Time and Money This October? Buy Nothing New

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:00:48 +0000

Old is the New New this October, with Salvos Stores’ first ever Buy Nothing New Month. Get on board for more money in your pockets, time on your hands and a lighter carbon footprint.

Instead of a short‐term, throwaway attitude to ‘stuff’, Salvos Stores Buy Nothing New Month extends the life cycle of goods, maximises the embedded cost and resources in the stuff we buy and gives an introduction to the re‐cycled, free‐ cycled, upcycled , secondhand, ‘swishing’ and sustainable alternatives that are better for you, your wallet and the planet.

Salvos Stores Sustainability Manager, Donald Munro says, “Buy Nothing New is about seeing the value in existing stuff and reflects a growing movement of people switching off from shopping and tuning into life.”

But Buying Nothing New doesn’t mean going without. Make a Buy Nothing New pledge and you can beg, buy, barter and swap for whatever you need, as long as it is pre‐loved, but with the exceptions of necessities (including food, drink, medications and hygiene products) you can’t buy anything new.

Salvos Stores Buy Nothing New Month also shows going green doesn’t have to be expensive, but that by adapting our attitudes and approach, can be a money saving path to socially responsible consumption.

According to Affluenza author and Buy Nothing New Month supporter Clive Hamilton, “Consumption today often involves buying things we don’t need, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t like! Buy Nothing New Month is about spending our time and money more thoughtfully.”

In October, selected Salvos Stores featuring plasma screens sponsored by Radio Rentals/Rentlo will show the viral phenomenon ‘The Story of Stuff’, an animation on the lifecycle and impact of the goods we buy.

Shane Wakelin, Clive Hamilton (Affluenza, Requiem for A Species) Sarah Wilson (Sunday Life columnist & LifeStyle YOU presenter), Chrissie Swan, Gorgi Coghlan (The Circle), James Tobin (Cleo Batchelor of the Year, Ch 7 Sunrise), Monique Wright(Ch7 Sunrise), Damian Walshe Howling and Caroline Craig (Underbelly) are on board. Are you?

This October, think about where stuff comes from, where it’s going, its embedded costs and what are the alternatives. Get into Salvos Stores, markets, swap parties and online second‐hand selling sites to experience the joys of a life less wasteful. Plus there’s a prize for the most creative Buy Nothing New pledge. Logon to www.nothingnew.com.au when the site goes live on September 1^st for entry details.

Glossary

Swishing	Swapping clothes shoes or accessories with friends or acquaintances. It’s ethical, eco‐fabulous, social and fun. Marie Claire magazine on swishing “Welcome to the future of fashion.”
Up‐Cycling	Converting waste materials or use less products in to new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.
Re‐Cycling	Processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials while reducing the consumption of fresh raw materials
Free‐Cycling	Process of giving away rather than throwing away unwanted items to others instead of disposing of them in landfills. Check out freecycle.com
*’LOHAS’	Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability. ‘Lohasian’ describes people whose purchases are driven by values and attitudes about their health, the health and wellbeing of the community and the health and sustainability of the environment.

Top Tips to Buying Nothing New

Get into Salvos Stores	Save money, reduce your waste and carbon footprint. Check out your local Salvos Stores at www.salvosstores.com.au
Rent	Check out Radio Rentals for their hot range of rentals and update as needed. It’s cheaper and you lower your footprint by renting rather than buying.
Check IN at Checkout	Ask is it worth the time and the money to pay for it? If you don’t buy it, what can you do with the extra time and money, is there a more valuable way to spend it?
Don’t shop. Swap	Hold your own ‘swapshop’. Everyone brings five things cluttering their home and watch as one man’s trash becomes another man’s treasure!
Repair, don’t replace.	Got holes? Patch them with a gorgeous fabric and get a one off designer item.
Get Fit or Get A Hobby:	Don’t go shopping to alleviate boredom. Get a hobby and get out of the shopping strip.
Get the merry‐go‐round	Get into the old economy. Reuse and recycle, make stuff, alter stuff, buy used, donate quality old stuff, get free stuff, borrow, barter and trade. Have fun with it.

Buyers Checklist

Before handing over your hard earned cash, ask yourself:

Is the product really necessary?
What is its lifecycle and embodied energy?
What are the alternatives?
Where did it come from? How did it get here?
What is its environmental and social impact?
Who benefits from the purchase? What will it do for me?
What is in it? Who made it?

Top Tips for Salvos Stores Shopping

Best buys are gifts, clothes, homewares, kitchenware, books, toys and furniture.
Don’t shop Mondays. Stock gets wiped out over the weekend. Those in the know go Tuesday or Thursday

Watch your gift budget dive!Buy homewares like vases and frames, and store them for when you need a last minute gift.
Keep an open mind. Imagine the item out of the store and in a different setting.
Get over ‘second hand phobia’. Restaurants and hotels serve you from secondhand cutlery and secondhand sheets!
‘Up the hip ante’ of dresses by cutting short and sewing on mismatched patches and buttons.
Look out for jeans; you’ll get great brands, dirt cheap. Cut them into shorts or remake into skirts. It’s easy, cheap and they’re already worn in for you!
A quick test if jeans fit: Wrap the waist around your neck and the ends should touch. If you can’t fit the length of your fist to your elbow inside the waistband, the jeans are too small.
Every store differs if you don’t find what you need, try another. And new stock comes in everyday.
Ignore sizes. Second‐hand clothes may have shrunk, or designers may have changed their sizings so your frame of reference could be off. Try before you buy.

Natural Australian Cosmetics

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 05:47:32 +0000

After researching and trialling natural skincare products its time for a bit of cosmetic enhancement to make the most of those natural assets. We’ve moved our focus to sustainable, natural makeup. It’s clear that finding natural and dare we say it, eco-friendly cosmetics is a difficult task. However, the demand for more natural products, has lead to the emergence of a new breed of cosmetic company like Zuii Organic. With a focus on ‘love, nature and organics’ Zuii use Australian grown certified organic ingredients blended using their unique manufacturing process. We’ll be profiling Zuii Organic over the coming weeks and putting their products to the test.

Zuii products are free from Talc, parabens, petrochemicals, genetically modified ingredients, preservatives and have not been tested on animals. The range has been developed using certified organic flower petals, essential oils, plant extracts, vitamins and minerals.

The range includes:

Flora powder foundation produced from organic rose petals, chamomile and jasmine flowers.
Flora powder eyeshadow, the organic rose, chamomile and jasmine are blended with vitamins and minerals to deliver a range of colours.
Flora powder blush using the organic rose, chamomile and jasmine flower base.
Flora moisture liquid foundation provides medium coverage, and contains calendula, aloe vera, vitamin E and antioxidants.
Flora lipstick, contains jojoba and sunflower rich in vitamins, whilst protecting and moisturising the skin. It also contains aloe vera for extra hydration.
Flora lip tint is colour blended with organic rose petals, beeswax and aloe vera.
Flora mascara is a unique blend of coltsfoot, nettle, horsetail extracts plus vitamins E and D. No petrochemicals in sight.

We can’t wait to try them out!

For more information visit http://zuiiorganic.com/

The Future of Green Cosmetics

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 04:54:11 +0000

We are now exposed to more chemicals every day than our parents and grandparents, so its little wonder that more attention has been focused on eco-friendly and natural skincare and cosmetics as a step in trying to reduce our chemical exposure.

The number of products a woman uses on her face in a day can run into double figures when you add them up. Starting with cleansing, toning, moisturising, you then move onto makeup which may include foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, powder, blush, lipstick and more. Not to mention perfume which can contain a mixture of anything up to 400 chemicals. The new generation of cosmetics and the use of nano particles, means that women carry more chemicals than ever before and it is often difficult to decipher what exactly you are putting on your face. Companies may claim that their products are natural but what does this mean? New standards have been introduced to help to spot the real green options from the wannabes.

So in order to help you to identify more natural cosmetics standards such as COSMOS-standard and NaTrue have been introduced.

As part of the bid to reduce chemical use and environmental impacts the concept of ‘green chemistry’ has been developed. This considers the whole lifecycle of a product, starting at the raw materials which ideally comes from renewable resources and is grown without pesticides and herbicides. In the processing of those raw materials sustainable resources should be used. Once prepared, the transportation and packaging of those products should be minimal and efficient.

In-use the product should leave a minimal effect on the environment. That means it does not pollute waterways when rinsed off and packaging should be recyclable or biodegradable. Ideally the product should be effective so that less overall product is used.

Luckily for us the area of green chemistry is receiving more attention, which means that we are likely to see greater variety in the natural cosmetics available, including home-grown companies. Watch this space.

Carbon Offset T-shirts

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:30:33 +0000

A T-shirt with a tonne of carbon locked up in it? That must be a pretty big T-shirt right? Not exactly. This new range of T-shirts has been created by Treecreds. Their objective is to save forests from being logged and encourages investment in avoided deforestation offset projects. The T-shirts each contain one tonne of carbon-dioxide equivalent emissions. That is, for every T-shirt purchased, Treecreds retires one carbon credit.

Treecreds assists organisations in calculating, reducing, marketing and offsetting their emissions. Treecreds wants to raise their profile through these T-shirt. In addition to T-shirts, badges have also been created. The badges contain an embedded offset component of 0.2 tonne of carbon.

A bit of background. Treecreds was founded in 2008 and works predominantly in the facilitation of sustainable events ranging from music festivals and performances to corporate meetings. Treecreds also assists with the marketing of sustainable business practices. It does this through a range of innovative measures including carbon neutral tickets and events and the creation of eco-art installations.

Treecreds avoided deforestation offsets are different to forestry offsets which are derived from treeplanting. Avoided deforestation provides an alternative income to clearing and logging and preserves forests that would be destroyed without this mechanism. Avoided deforestation supports living ecosystems, habitat and communities as well as the embodied carbon of the trees. Credits are currently sourced from the ‘Minding the Carbon Store’ project. This project saved 12,000 hectares of forest and woodland in Queensland from clearing for the next 120 years. Treecreds also supports other project groups in Tasmania, Indonesia and Cambodia and more offsets will be available later in 2010.

For more information on Treecreds, or to get yourself a T-shirt or badge visit http://www.treecreds.com/.

Unico Testing Panel Results

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:12:48 +0000

The Green Beings Unico product trial results have now been posted. After several weeks of shampooing, conditioning and scrutinising our hair, we have given our verdict on this natural range. The panel members enjoyed using an Australian salon grade product, but did the products perform? Interesting results. To read our verdict check out our product review page.

Ewaste, Reuse and Recycling Computers

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:54:54 +0000

Most households in Australia now have at least one computer and with the lifespan of a personal computer ranging from 2-5 years that is a significant amount of ewaste. After six years it was finally time to upgrade my laptop, the conundrum is what to do with the old one, which still works, albeit slowly. So it seems there are now more options for reuse and recycling of computers, time to find out what they are.

There are many materials in old computers and monitors including gold and platinum that can be recycled and some that can’t. As well as recyclables there are also toxic substances so if there is life left in the old dog, its a good idea to look for opportunities for reuse first.

Reuse

If it still works consider donating it to a charity like ‘Reverse Garbage‘ or put it up on FreeCycle.

Contact GreenPC, ‘computer refurbishers’ who then make donated computers available to low-income communities, individuals and community organisations.

Dell will pick up Dell-branded equipment from any location in Australia and NZ. Visit the DELL website and fill in the forms for the items you would like collected.

The Bower reuse and repair cooperative, accept a wide range of items including computers.

Recycling

The first stop to find out what computer and ewaste recycling facilities there are near you is to check out Recycling Near You.

The government agency Sustainability Victoria in partnership with companies including Apple, Canon, Dell, Epson, HP, IBM etc has been piloting a computer take-back and recycling scheme in Victoria (ByteBack) since 2007 in Victoria. Or try:

1800Ewaste will collect electrical devices from any capital city location for a small fee
Computer recycling.com focuses on businesses and can offer a buyout on some equipment.
Greenbox are ‘innovative ecyclers’. Specialising in recycling end-of-life IT equipment for businesses.
Wesley E-Recycling refurbishes computers for individuals, low-income earners and non-for-profit organisations.
ERNi (Equipment Recycling Network Inc) recycles donated computers for people with disabilities – Maroondah, Victoria.
Cashforcomputers, purchase old computers and either recycle or provide to their affiliate, computersforall; Melbourne, Victoria.
PC Graveyard recycle computers and other electronic and electrical items free of charge. Pick up or drop off. covering Geelong, Ballarat and parts of Melbourne, Victoria.
MRI (Aust), offers computer recycling with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
RecycleIT as the name suggests, recycle old computers. They accept all computer and personal electronic goods for recycling from the public free of charge – Perth, WA.
E-Cycle Recovery; recycles electronic goods including computers, Adelaide, South Australia

Now there seem to be plenty of option to breathe new life into my old laptop.

Evohe Sustainable Luxury Testing

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:01:35 +0000

Ethical, sustainable business practices, certified organic, fair trade ingredients, 100% Australian made and owned. Eco-product credentials don’t come much better than that. Evohe represents a new generation of independent businesses that are serious about sustainable life and business practices. Headed by Meg and Baz Forrester, this couple has created a range of eco-beauty products that provide true sustainable luxury. Products are free of palm oil, synthetics and glycerine, include Australian bushflower essences and truly luxurious ingredients such as Arctic cloudberry, Amaranth, Wild Rosella, Lotus and more. Evohe adheres to the NIRC truth labelling pledge and state specifically the percent of certified organic ingredients that are used. The packaging is recyclable and biodegradable.

Their ‘minimised comprehensive range’ means that the products are potent so that they can be used sparingly and are suitable for many skin types and conditions. That way you don’t need to buy different sets of products for yourself, your partner and your kids.

The range of products is extensive and includes daily skincare, Evohe essence, body-hair care, treatments, eco tools and accessories (think recycled steel and bamboo) as well as the Evohe colours range or mineral makeup. What’s more they will soon be offering a spa range.

We have a bit of mutual love going on here, we love their products and business philosophy, and we want to share the love around. So we’ve got half a dozen Evohe trial packs to put out to our testing panel as we are keen to find out what you think.

Inside each pack you’ve got:

Cleanse
Mist
Moisture 24/7
Omega 369
Silica mask
Exfoliate
Body mist
Repair intensive
Omega body
Body polish
And finally a trial size sample of their mineral make up.

So if you fancy a bit of sustainable luxury, email us back when you see our product panel call out email.

Eco Baskets Take The Test

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 10:52:51 +0000

Ten years ago, Lindy McLeod was living abroad and while visiting France, admired the women of Paris rushing home in the evenings and on weekends with their fresh produce – fruit, breads, meats and cheeses – brimming in their seriously chic shopping baskets. She bought some for herself which rapidly became an indispensable part of her life because, as well as looking great, they proved to be extremely hardwearing and the handles were very strong and did not break.

After returning to Australia and realising how many plastic bags we use as a nation (at its peak over 7 billion annually!), Lindy began investigating the possibility of bringing a classic French-style shopping basket to Australia.

These baskets are genuine French-style market baskets imported from Morocco. Each one is handmade using traditional methods and techniques and so is unique. The baskets are made of strips of woven palm leaves from a species of date palm. These strips are then sewn together and the basket built up in “rounds” into the traditional triangle shape, variations of which can be found in countries all around the Mediterranean. The more rounds the bigger the basket! The handles are of genuine Moroccan leather and firmly fixed to the baskets so they never pull off. Handles are either short so the baskets can be carried in the hand or on the elbow, or longer to go over the shoulder.

Great for shopping, picnics, beach bags, gift hampers, use them for weekends away or they also make great presents.

For more information visit The Market Basket Co.

Eco Renovation – Tentative First Steps

admin — Fri, 21 May 2010 03:52:26 +0000

It has long been a dream to get stuck into an eco-renovation. In reality it’s 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.

Skipping past the spas and saunas I headed for the Green Building section. I’ve got a vague idea of what I need to be thinking about so after an initial sweep I honed in on the double glazing, solar hot water, photovoltaics, water tanks and heating.

I had been keen to find out more about eco-friendly flooring. There were a few stalls with bamboo and jute carpets, but no cork tiles. Everything you read says cork tiles are a very eco friendly flooring option, but I wanted to see them first hand, not least to see whether they have moved on from the shiny 80s style bathroom floors I remember from my childhood.

The home show was certainly a good way to see lots of different green building ideas in one place. I had a chat to someone about insulated awnings. I worked out the size of the water tank I need and got some great advice in relation to energy efficiency in the home. It also got me thinking about ‘future proofing’ the home by incorporating ’smart wiring’, particularly as I will be working a fair bit from home.

However, one of the most important things that wasn’t covered a great deal in the home show was passive design to make the most of the environment for heating, cooling and shading. The Australian government’s passive design technical manual provides an excellent resource, but as we are going to be extending an existing building we are going to be a bit constrained by what’s already there.

So, the next stage is to take my ideas to an architect who knows a thing or two about environmental design, and thats what we’ll be doing in the coming months.

If you have any advice, you know of some eco friendly products/services you just can’t do without or if you have tales of your own eco renovation efforts we’d love to hear them. We found a great blog http://greentasreno.wordpress.com/ written by a couple doing an eco renovation in Tasmania, and there are a few case studies on the government site listed above that we’ll be studying for ideas.

It looks like its going to be an interesting journey. Any advice welcomed!!

We’ll keep you posted.