Water saving Archives

Digging the No Dig

Growing vegies with increasing summer heat and less rain doesn’t need to be a battle, writes Carmel Killin. A solution can be found in the water-retaining and humus-rich layers of a No Dig bed.

gardening

Get water wise in your own backyard

Tips from WA garden designer Cherise Haslam on what to consider when designing a waterwise garden.

Solar & batteries

Desert Rose

An Aussie net-zero energy house takes on the competition in Dubai, bringing home an impressive second place overall in the 2018 Solar Decathlon.

Water saving

Why I built a wetland not a dam

How high up on our priority list should biodiversity be? For Mara Ripani, her family and fellow wetland-lovers, it’s crucial—and there are practical benefits too. Mara explains.

Buyers guides

Rainwater tank buyers guide

All the info you need on rainwater tank materials, siting, sizing, filters and pumps to make sure your rainwater is clean and useful.

farming

On a standard surburban block in Melbourne, Simeon Hanscamp is growing enough food to provide his local community with vegie boxes—and himself with an income. Anna Cumming visited him to find out what it takes to be a successful backyard farmer.

Buyers guides

Hot water savings: Efficient hot water buyers guide

If your old hot water system has seen better days, maybe it’s time for an efficient replacement. We show you how solar and heat pump hot water systems work, what’s available and how to choose one to best suit your needs.

Efficient homes

Sub-tropical build: bringing nature back

Richard Proudfoot and his partner have brought nature in to their suburban block, at the same time as reducing energy and water use. He describes their house and garden build, and the satisfying birdsong-filled results.

DIY

Straight up: Vertical garden lessons

The last thing you want is to spend a lot of money on a vertical garden system and then have it fail. Jenny and Bevan Bates provide advice and inspiration from their own living walls—five years old and growing strong!

Water saving

Put your stormwater to use

Even dense inner-city housing can easily hold back most of its stormwater runoff—saving water, cooling cities, reducing flooding problems and protecting rivers. Chris Walsh’s inner-Melbourne house shows how.

Water saving

Josh’s house and garden

Behind 10 Star Josh’s House is a productive, water smart and shade-giving garden—and you can find the plans online, writes Jacinta Cleary.

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