Greenlivingpedia is a resource for creating and sharing information and collaborating to lighten our footprint on the planet and live in harmony with nature and our environment.
Thermal mass refers to the mass of a structure that can act to retain and release heat. This is an important component of passive solar designs. Dense materials such as concrete, rammed earth, and bricks all have good thermal mass properties. Thermal mass works to regulate and dampen down temperature fluctuations in buildings. In summer, the… Continue reading Thermal mass
The Hawthorn West house is a sustainable renovation featuring a greywater system, solar panels and numerous energy efficiency features. Owners Broderick Street and Vivienne Fraser Location West Hawthorn, Melbourne Country Australia Type Sustainable renovation House size Medium, 21 squares Summary of house features Background Brod Street and Vivienne Fraser have renovated a semi detached single fronted Victorian… Continue reading Hawthorn West house
This two bedroom house was designed to be as sustainable as possible on a small suburban block. It was built in 2001. I moved in at the time of my retirement. Entry is via a curved slate path, along a wooden walkway representing a bridge over a dry water course, continuing on slate pavers surrounded… Continue reading Knoxfield house
Submission from Lighter Footprints Climate Change Action Group (working draft) Response of Lighter Footprints to the Victorian Government Climate Change Green Paper To:<Address 1><Address 2> From:Lighter Footprints Spokesperson and Administrative Committee memberhttp://www.lighterfootprints.org Lighter Footprints is a community climate change action group with over 300 supporters from the Boroondara area in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.… Continue reading Victorian Green Paper submission by Lighter Footprints
This is the latest draft text of the “Copenhagen Accord” put forward on December 18 by the U.S., China, India and South Africa, among other countries, at the climate summit in the Danish capital.[1] Accord text Draft decision -/CP.15 Proposal by the President Copenhagen Accord The Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers, and other… Continue reading Copenhagen Accord
Stuart McQuire’s home in West Brunswick was the first in Victoria and the second in Australia to feed energy it created into the state’s power grid. Since 1996 the house has has generated more electricity than it has used. After an outlay of $5000, Stuart hasn’t paid an electricity bill. Owners Stuart McQuire and Wendy… Continue reading Brunswick West house
Many communities are taking local action to embrace green living and care for the environment. These articles provide some examples. Global Australia See Australian climate action groups for a listing of groups in Australia active on climate change United Kingdom Germany Denmark United States Costa Rica
The NSW regional city of Orange located in the central west of the state is about to become the first centre in Australia to harvest stormwater. It will be trapped from around the city, then treated and supplied to local households. The council hopes that in an average year stormwater will supply 90 per cent of Orange’s… Continue reading Orange stormwater harvesting
Owners John Poppins Location Mount Waverley, Melbourne Country Australia Type Sustainable renovation Summary of house features Efficiency For over 20 years we have used compact fluorescents where lighting is required for long hours. These have lived as long as 8000 hours over 8 years, saving electricity, money and ladder climbing. Filament bulbs are still more… Continue reading Mount Waverley house
What is a green garden? Is it one that offers habitat and food to native animals? Is it one that produces food for people? Is it one that uses a minimum of water and other resources – or one that creates a shade to cool the house, and is kept damp to help cool the immediate… Continue reading Green gardens
