Efficient homes
Lessons from Wavertree House
Featured in this year’s Sustainable House Day program, Wavertree House is an off-grid home in Darwin River inspired by the tropical architecture of 1930s government architect Beni Burnett. Andrew Spiers discusses the ideas behind the project and what contemporary Australian housing can learn from designing with climate rather than against it.
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ReNew
Quick solar lighting
When I needed a light inside our new garden shed, a ready-made mini solar lighting system made it easy, explains Lance Turner.
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DIY
Deleting the genset
If you have the need for the occasional use of a generator, then why not replace it with a much cleaner battery backup system instead? Lance Turner explains how.
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Products
Product profile: Portable solar recharge hubs
Providing device recharging for events or outdoor areas with no access to electricity can be difficult, but the Furnicharge Freedom Hub makes it simple.
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Products
Product profile: Solar in a box
The SunPack comes as a pre-configured system, complete with battery, inverter and solar panels that you just swing into place.
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Solar & batteries
Powering Indigenous communities with renewables
Many remote communities rely on polluting and expensive diesel generation. Jodie Lea Martire seeks out the Indigenous entrepreneurs and partnerships driving a more equitable renewable approach.
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Solar & batteries
Built with solar, runs on solar
Designing and building a more sustainable home is fertile ground for innovative ideas. Howard and Libby Elston explain how generators were largely avoided when building three new units.
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Off-grid
Off-grid in the suburbs
Martin Chape tells us about his experiment in taking a suburban house off the grid.
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Solar & batteries
Know your renewables: off-grid basics
With reducing grid reliability and steadily increasing electricity prices there’s been renewed interest in giving energy companies the flick. Lance Turner takes a look at the how and why of going off-grid.
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Solar & batteries
Neighbourly sharing: mini-grid in Mooroolbark
Neighbours in the Melbourne suburb of Mooroolbark are set to share their energy generation via a mini-grid in an Australian-first trial run by AusNet Services. Eva Matthews finds out what’s involved.
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Buyers guides
Get the right energy storage: A battery buyers guide
The battery bank in a stand-alone or backup power system can make or break the system. Lance Turner examines what to look for in a battery bank and how to get the right battery for your needs.
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