Net Zero are definitely the buzz words these days and while industry pursues that goal it’s also on the agenda of homeowners. And battery storage is key. It’s part of what is now known as Battery Energy Storage Systems or BESS, and one application helps store power generated from clean energy like solar photovoltaic or […]
Being Green Just Got Easier
‘It’s not easy being green’ may have been a hit song by a frog 30 years ago, but for most people renovating a home that original message still rings true. Till now that is. The Green Building Council of Australia—GBCA—has just launched their sustainable guide to home renovations so builders, designers & homeowners can make […]
Are Copper Cables “Invisible Waste”?
The United Nations this week said the world is throwing out nearly $10B of electronic waste—or e-waste—a year, calling it “invisible” because most people don’t know it can be recycled. Most of it is lying around out of sight in our homes, including unused cables, electronic toys, power tools, vaping devices, and countless other small […]
Lets Get Serious On Smart Meters
The Federal Government wants to see 100% of homes with smart meters by 2030—starting with a compulsory roll out in 2025—that could deliver $507M in net benefits across the country. The Australian Energy Market Commission—AEMC—is pushing a new campaign that it says offers “customers more ways to engage with the energy market now and in […]
Electrified Home Debate Sparks Up
I see that Sydney City Council now wants to ban gas connections in all new homes and some businesses, an all electrification trend that just seems to keep growing. Victoria got the ball rolling with a gas ban from January 1 next year but the ACT and some councils like Waverley in Sydney have also […]
What’s Most Important To Australian Cablers?
Registered Cablers recently did a small survey of Aussie Cablers to find out what they’re most concerned about and what they’d like to know more about. It proved very interesting. We asked 2 big questions. First we asked Cablers to rate 10 topics they’d be interested in learning more about, ranging from the AS/CA S009 […]
Running Out Of Gas?
Weaning our homes & business off using gas is fundamental if Australia is to reach net zero greenhouse emissions by 2050 according to a new snapshot. The Grattan Institute said governments here need to set deadlines to end gas use while launching campaigns to help households go “all electric” that’s run on renewable energy. It’s […]
Our All Electric Homes
We hear a lot about decarbonisation of industries or the grid, but one of the biggest changes is happening in the humble home. And it could be massive. Our homes are going all electric right before our eyes and they’re increasingly doing it sustainably, efficiently and smartly. That means lower power bills for one, but […]
Spotlight On Energy Efficiency
A new report says Australia is doing dismally on cutting energy use, at the ‘back of the pack’ when compared to most of the world. Over nearly a decade starting in 2002 Australia reportedly cut energy consumption by just 1%, way behind places like Europe & Japan……and with even the USA cutting it by 12%. That […]
Australia Gets Smart About Smart Meters
I’m glad to see a new study calling for all Aussie homes to have smart meters installed…..a 100% uptake by the end of the decade in other words. Smart meters have been around since the day dot but really only in a half hearted way. Smart meters—just to remind you—measure energy usage digitally and allow […]
“Wire For Wireless”
I caught up with Ivan Rostas of Stratus Integrated Systems recently, an early fan of Smart Wiring when we still called it structured cabling. He had a great story to tell. Ivan did the Smart Wiring course way back in 2004 and began promoting it on his web site which then caught the eye of […]
Homing In On Energy
There’s been a lot happening on the home energy front recently as standards get set to rise. And that’s big news for consumers and construction professionals. For a start all Australian governments have now agreed to raise the bar on energy efficiency standards for new-build homes. It’s the first change to the National Construction Code […]
