See Josh Byrne’s video about the Fremantle ecopops and his house
Josh Byrne, Michael Mobbs and Mayor Brad Pettit As Josh Byrne, the Western Australia presenter for ABC TV Gardening Australia‘s show, builds his ten star houses in Fremantle he is documenting it and making the plans, costs, data and details available for all to see. In the latest video Josh covers the ecopops as they were being built in Fremantle then takes the viewer to his houses. It’s a useful summary of both projects and you can see the 4 minute 40 second video... Read More
Sydney Standard article and video about bookshop conversation
The Sydney Standard was at the Berkelouw conversation with Costa and I last Tuesday and the article and a video is published today here. The Berkelouw Bookshop in Oxford Street, Sydney, is one of the more civilised, civilising and well-lit bookshops around. With beautiful timber floors, tall windows, high ceilings and timber shelving and desks it’s a relaxing place to read, have a meal or glass of wine and enjoy the world of books and ideas. Recommended, M Read More
Low, consistent bills that don’t keep rising
A measure of a sustainable place to live is whether the energy and water bills are consistent, low and don’t rise. Today in the first week of 2013, fifteen years after I made my house sustainable – November, 1996 – and I’ve just received the latest electricity bill for the house and the four people who live here. The energy company owes me $22. The electricity bill for the period 21 sept to 18 Dec 2012 shows: the house has a credit of $22.20 the electricity... Read More
Looking for a vacant lot for my city tent
Please let me know if you see a vacant lot in the area from Sydney’s eastern beaches out to Marrickville, Newtown or so. The lot can be soil and grass or concrete, residential or factory. I want to put a tent on it to stay in temporarily. More on the design, food, water and living plans later. I can’t offer prizes or inducements for this information but would love to see you sitting on a pallet bench on the lot outside my tent with a cold beer... Read More
What kind of sewage system?
Comes this question from yesterday’s tour: HI Michael Thanks for the tour yesterday, was great to see your systems in action! I have a quick question about the sewerage which I forgot to ask: What do you think about composting toilets v. your system for an innner city context such as yours? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Cheers Sarah My answer: Great question; thank you. A composting toilet was not an option on my small inner city terrace site because: it... Read More
Free in Freo
Flew with the dawning sun as it raced the plane from Sydney to Perth yesterday. A beautiful, thing, flying across high up like that; first flight I’ve just completely enjoyed – ever. Don’t know why. But has to be mixed up with the way I’m travelling lighter and lighter these days n nights. Anyway, to Fremantle where the rest of the day was a succession of delights. Studio room at The Painted Fish I reckoned I’d died and gone to... Read More
Live in my sustainable house
lounge and dining room Would you like to live in Sydney’s Sustainable House? Get your water and energy from the sun and the rain? Well, you can. Would you like to rent my room for six months while I’m overseas? It’s the main bedroom, sunlit, two french doors, furnished. Pay no water or electricity bills. Gas bills do need to be paid; about $70 a quarter. Rent is $250 a week, payable fortnightly. My 21 year old son is here and a friend, Karlie, rents the... Read More
Jess gives her first tour of Sydney’s Sustainable House
Two tour people + moi + glasses of rainwater Lamp, history wall – twice is not enough Last Saturday 7 July Jess Miller gave her first tour of Sydney’s Sustainable House. We had a lot of fun, shared some useful stories and, as usual, the energy and laughter were high on the agenda. Larger copies of the photos are on the website of the photographer, Peter Pakulski, here: picasaweb.google.com… Peter and cat on tour Lounge... Read More
Sustainability education courses in Australia
A question popped in my email some time ago but I lost track of it until reminded today: “Hi Michael Hope this email finds you well. In late 2010 I visited your house – thanks again for opening your doors. Since then I’ve read your book and am very interested to know whether there are any tertiary / TAFE courses (or otherwise) which focus on sustainable house design. I understand that architectural degrees do, to an extent. A permaculture course (PDC) I recently... Read More
Cool windows in summer, warm windows in winter
This question popped up in my mailbox this week: Dear Mr Mobbs, I heard your interview on ABC702 this week and you mentioned a glazing film which can be applied to glass to make it more insulated. Can you please tell me what product it is? So far, I have found a film made by Enerlogic and distributed in Australia by MEP films which claims to reduced heat loss through the glass by 90%. Unfortunately, this film has a slight golden tint to it which I would rather not have. Regards C Here’s... Read More
