ReNew Issue 124
ReNew Issue 124 is out now!
- High-tech shack
- The lithium homestead
- Wind directions
- Energy access
- Electric communities come together
- First place (first try!)
- Know your renewables: solar panel basics
- Cool competition: winter PV testing
- How sustainable is solar PV?
- Plastic Free July
- Australia-wide monitoring trials
- Smart meter guide
- Display your power
- No smart meter? Other energy monitoring options
- PVOutput: online solar monitoring
- Measuring a loaf of bread
- Window and film buyers guide
- Biochar benefits
- Build-your-own solar hot water system
- ATA member profile: Bruce Plowman
- Pears Report: Energy inefficiency
- Salvage It! Fax machines and hair trimmers
Issue Contents:
High-tech shack
A house designed as a fibro shack retrofit is soon to become a sustainable housing laboratory—after competing in the Solar Decathlon China. Beth Askham reports on the many energy-efficient features of this net zero energy home.
The lithium homestead
Replenishable Energy in Queensland recently installed a large lithium battery based system in the bush. Rollo Sherriff describes how impressive it is.
Wind directions
How’s that—the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere is now operating in Victoria! Alicia Webb gives us an update on the state of wind in Australia.
Energy access
The Alliance for Rural Electrification steps up a campaign for small wind in developing countries.
Electric communities come together
Robyn Antanovskii finds there’s an EV for everyone at the recent expo, organised by the
ATA’s Melbourne EV branch.
First place (first try!)
John Evans tells how his students won the schools e-bike race in the 2012 Hunter Valley
EV Prize.
Know your renewables: solar panel basics
Solar panels are popping up on homes everywhere, but how do they actually work? Lance Turner gives us a tour of the basics.
Cool competition: winter PV testing
Colin Dedman updates his popular PV testing to include new panels and those that had previously only had a run in summer.
How sustainable is solar PV?
Engineer Alex Bruce became a convert to life cycle assessment (LCA) after failing to answer a question on PV sustainability. He describes how LCA is used by the company he co-founded, eTool.
Plastic Free July
Three years in, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz knows about the good and the ‘slightly tricky’ of going plastic free.
Australia-wide monitoring trials
After a spate of trials, is there a better deal in store for householders, asks Jack Nicholls?
Smart meter guide
The ATA’s new booklet helps householders understand the new products and services smart meters can provide.
Display your power
Richard Keech explains the curiously named Zigbee network used by smart meters and in-home displays, and tests three displays.
No smart meter? Other energy monitoring options
Rich Haynes considers options for monitoring if you don’t have a smart meter.
PVOutput: online solar monitoring
Australian-run website PVOutput enables you to compare how your PV stacks up against others around the world. Gary Gliddon explains.
Measuring a loaf of bread
Michael O’Connell uses a plug-in energy meter to measure his daily loaf!
Window and film buyers guide
Poorly performing windows can drag down the thermal performance of your home. Lance Turner looks at some solutions.
Biochar benefits
John Hermans explains what biochar is, its environmental benefits and the process he uses to make it.
Build-your-own solar hot water system
After a slow and costly start, Martin Chape’s DIY solar HWS is working so well that there’s heat to spare. He describes the challenging build.
ATA member profile: Bruce Plowman
Having just turned 94, active ATA member Bruce Plowman takes time out to talk to Beth Askham about his home, his love of technology and the role he played in war-time communications.
Pears Report: Energy inefficiency
According to the International Energy Agency, energy efficiency is the key to carbon abatement—but that’s not evident in a range of recent reviews in Australia, writes Alan Pears.
Salvage It! Fax machines and hair trimmers
Mechanical paper-handling parts and an excellent scraper are just some of the parts you can rescue from these oft-discarded items, writes Julian Edgar.
