Renew Issue 146
Summer issue – DIY projects, cooling buyers guide, solar and grid voltage + more
Renew 146 is our DIY and sustainable cooling special. We’ve got 8 useful DIY projects: from the beauty of visible mending that helps avoid textile waste, to getting waterwise with a no-dig garden bed, through to improving home efficiency by insulating a garage door. Our first-ever cooling buyers guide gives you all the info you need on effective shading, ventilation, fans and efficient air conditioning for both renters and homeowners. Plus we look inside the inspiring Desert Rose cooling-optimised home, present electric scooter options, explain the issues with solar and voltage rise, look at how solar can work on a shady roof, bust myths about renewable energy, present the findings and implications from the latest IPCC report – and much more!
Special feature: Sustainable cooling
Keep your cool this summer: Cooling buyers guide
All the info you need on effective shading, ventilation, fans and efficient air conditioning for both renters and homeowners.
Cooling case studies
Reader case studies x 3: Punkah fans, pre-cooling, and staying cool in the NT.
Underground cool
These architects use more stable underground temperatures to enhance passive cooling.
Special feature: 8 DIY projects
DIY: Solar dehydrator
Dry your fruit at home with this DIY construction project.
DIY: Garage insulation
From thermal images to DIY insulation: fixing home hot spots.
DIY: Reorg before you renovate
Could you avoid renovating if you just reorganised a space?
DIY: Mind your own beeswax
An easy project to replace plastic wrap.
DIY: Visible mending
Fun, gorgeous and easy, visible mending can stop textile waste from heading to landfill.
DIY: No dig garden
This is the most waterwise garden bed around, a reader writes.
DIY: Self-watering vertical garden
A low-maintenance garden to give you greenery in tight spaces or even on a balcony.
DIY: Shade for your vegies
A simple project to shade your vegies from the harsh summer sun—designed so it can stay up in winter.
Other articles
Desert Rose
This zero net energy home is also dementia-friendly and designed to stay cool in desert conditions.
What we do now matters more than ever
Professor Lesley Hughes from the Climate Council explains the latest IPCC 1.5 °C report.
Z-NET Hepburn
Victoria’s Hepburn Shire is aiming for another first with its zero net emissions transition plan that covers energy, transport and agriculture.
Mythbusting renewables
Mark Diesendorf counters the common myths put forward about renewables.
High grid voltage and solar
How big a problem is voltage rise and how much of it is due to solar—and what can be done about it?
Solar on a shady roof
This Renew reader was told solar wouldn’t work on their shady roof, but they found a way.
Electric vehicles
Electric trucking
Electric trucking looks set to take off soon, with lots of options on the horizon and many economic advantages.
Two-wheels good: electric scooters
Chris Jones is a big fan of his electric scooter, and considers a couple more options on their way to Australia.
