I was amused to watch a recent Masterchef episode recently where contestants were given a mystery box of vegetarian ingredients including lentils. Contestants failed to exert themselves beyond the traditional Dhal and Lentil soup. Don’t get me wrong, Dhal is a cheap easy, tasty dish to prepare but hardly a challenge!
We’ve talked many times in the past about composting with worms, the commercial options and the DIY options, previous articles can be found here. Frankly, worms are great but not suited to everyone and every situation, so for those of you wishing to enter the wonderful world of composting there is always bokashi.
We’ve mentioned the Australian Federal government’s home sustainability assessments program regularly in the past on our website, in our workshops and at events. Whilst the program has changed since July 1st and is no longer offering loans towards any recommended improvements, the assessments are still available, still free and we heartily recommend them as a useful insight into your home’s energy efficiency.
Whilst we maintain a list of assessors we recommend in particular areas and don’t necessarily recommend any particular assessor over another, Green Return have started an associates program that means groups who refer assessments to them get a small commission, so not only do you get a free assessment, but you get help fund groups like Green Renters.
So, what do you need to do?
Simple, head to greenreturn.com.au/book-now and enter ‘GRS‘ into the referral code box when you book your assessment, and that’s it.
Thanks! Enjoy your assessment, it’s very enlightening…
Environment Victoria’s popular free renters guide has been reprinted!
The guide is also downloadable and is full of tips on how to reduce their environmental impact and their bills, without needing a big budget.
The guide’s available at: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/rentersguide
It includes sections on everything from heating to fridges to food, as well as information on government rebates, a checklist for people looking for a new place to rent, and an explanation of renting law in Victoria.
In our workshops, we talk a little about discovering how much electricity your appliances and devices use, what that might be costing you and how to measure the electricity consumption in your house. Using devices like the Efergy E2, Powermate and a myriad of other devices it is relatively easy these days to ascertain which devices in your home are drawing the most electricity and when.
I was amused to come across this article supposedly about people who live in cold houses by choice. I’m not sure how much of it was about choice or necessity for most of those interviewed, something I’m sure many people in rental properties can relate to, particularly those with poor heating facilities in their homes. No ones wants to sit in one room under a heater all day or be faced with a ridiculously large gas/electricity bill at the end of winter. So how to keep warm?
A few weeks ago we came across Melbourne’s upcoming Building and Home improvement Expo and whilst we were sceptical about what we might find for renters we were still keen to attend and take a look around.
