Australia to achieve 50% renewables by 2030 without government intervention, analysis finds

RepuTex modelling suggests surge in state schemes and rooftop solar will reduce wholesale prices, making gas- and coal-fired power less competitive

Australia is on track to achieve 50% renewable electricity by 2030 even without new federal energy policies, according to modelling by the energy analysts RepuTex.

The analysis, to be released on Wednesday, suggests that a surge in renewable energy driven by state schemes and rooftop solar installations will reduce wholesale prices from $85 per MWh to $70 over the next three years.

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Read more: theguardian.com

Do You Want Your Home Interior To Stand Out? Try These Tips!

By tony / June 23, 2019

Want to improve the look of your home? This can be fixed by changing some things in your home to make it better show your personality. Prior to beginning your interior decorating project and making your home a fabulous one, look at this article.

Placing all the artwork in the room at eye level allows it to be shown to its best effect. Placing art at the wrong height can destroy the effect you were trying to create.

Fix up a child’s room from his point of view. Children are not able to see a room quite the way you do. Be sure they can easily access everything. Look at things through your child’s eyes and and at their level and get rid of anything that might harm them.

Pay attention to small details. It is possible to develop a richer appearance by collecting smaller items or layering a variety of patterns. For instance, you can pick your decor, cabinet knobs, window treatments and fixtures based on a theme rather than replacing your floor or purchasing new furniture.

Any interior planning project should result in an uncluttered look for the room. When a room contains too many pieces of furniture or belongings, it can seem cramped, even if the room is of a good size. Instead, select pieces of furniture that will make the space as open as possible.

When planning your interior decorating project, avoid getting carried away. It is a good idea to add some of your personality to your home decor, but make sure you stay away from anything wild and crazy. If you ever plan to sell your home, your outlandish decor may drive away potential buyers. If you do insist on decorating in your own special way, make sure that whatever you decide to do is easily reversible.

Now, you should know how to better the interior decorating of your home and bring your personality into the way it looks. Use your creativity and don’t be afraid to use interior planning to show new and different aspects of yourself and your home.

Why We Should Reduce Our Non Renewable Fuel Source Useage

By tony / June 22, 2019

TIP! Shade your windows from excessive amounts of sunlight to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Another suggestion for window treatments is installing curtains or blinds.

In the world today, there is a lot of excitement about finding various ways to incorporate green energy into a person’s day to day life. You may wonder what green energy is. Basically, this is renewable energy that is efficient, which means it is good for the environment. Green energy is so accessible that any home can use it, as you will see through the following article.

TIP! Instead of using A/C in the summer, wear natural fabrics. Natural fabrics, such as cotton, remove moisture from skin so that you stay cool.

Switch to solar heating systems for water to lower your cost of indoor water. Solar water heaters use solar energy in an efficient way to heat your water. While a few of the upgrades are costlier up front, they might be eligible for tax deductions or green energy tax credits.

TIP! When you consider solar heat for your home calculate potential hours of sunshine for energy generation during the winter months. This can prevent any nasty surprises during winter, and it can leave you ahead in the summer.

Instead of blasting the air conditioner to keep cool in summer, wear clothes made from naturally cooling fabrics. Fabrics such as cotton draw moisture from the skin, which allows you to stay much cooler. Lighter colored fabrics will help you stay cooler without needing to turn on the air conditioner.

TIP! You can increase the energy efficiency of your home by buying energy saving products. Use products such as double-glazed windows or eco-friendly doors to help reduce your energy usage without sacrificing your home’s needs.

The government has grants available to those who are willing to invest in alternative renewable energies. Get in touch with your local government to find out what kind of programs exist in your area. For instance, you might find that installation of wind or solar structures is free, or you might see a tax benefit by installing a tankless water heater.

TIP! Perhaps you are intimidated by making an large, green energy investment. Seeking the input of a professional, such as a heating/cooling specialist or plumber can educate you on options.

You may be able to use solar water heaters, and they can warm your water efficiently. If freezing temperatures are never a concern in your area, consider a system that circulates water through solar heaters before sending it into your house. However, you should still have a traditional water heater as backup for times when the sun won’t come out or if you’re going to be using a lot of hot water.

TIP! Pay attention to the watts used in your home. Get a watt monitor such as the Watt Minder or the Kill-A-Watt to find out which appliances use too much energy.

Investigate all of the energy sources your community has to offer. Check how much these utilities cost and any tax breaks or laws before making a decision. You may find that switching to one or another may provide a reduction in energy use and cost.

TIP! Use LED lights on the holidays to save electricity. A US study shows Department of Energy stated that Americans could collectively reduce their energy consumption by over 2 billion kW/h if they all changed over to LED lights.

Plan out and calculate your energy consumption rates for your home solar system for the winter months so that you know what you can consumer on a daily basis. This will guarantee that you will have energy no matter what the weather brings, and it will result in a surplus during the summer. If your plan is contingent on net usage, you will even get money back from your utility company because of the excess energy you are creating!

TIP! Replace old, energy-hogging appliances with new versions that are Energy Star rated. This rating ensures that the appliance was built to use less energy than the other non Energy Star products.

Use a laptop rather than a desktop computer to save electricity and enhance your mobility. This can cut up to 75% of your electrical use, especially if you are frequently on the Internet or using word processing software. The laptop has the added benefit of being portable, so you can use it anywhere!

TIP! One of the simplest ways to be environmentally friendly is to install a water-saving toilet. Some estimates report that about half of the water consumption in a home is from the toilet.

Choose to get most of your correspondence via email. In other words, choose to go paperless in any way you can. This will save the businesses you deal with a great deal on energy costs and mailing expenses. An added bonus is that everyone benefits by the protection of our environment.

TIP! One easy way to go green is to use an on-demand water heater. Old fashioned heaters run constantly, heating the water even when not needed, therefore wasting energy.

Don’t turn the thermostat up higher than needed in your home. When the temperature drops, reach for a sweater instead of the thermostat. Higher levels of heat use a lot of excess energy!

TIP! For room that are heavily occupied, add motion detecting light sensors. This turns the lights off in rooms that have nobody in them, which saves a lot of energy (and money).

Leave yourself reminder notes to decrease energy usage, and frequently compare past bills with current ones to see if you’re making strides. By being conscious of how you use energy, you can help significantly reduce the amount of energy you consume. If you are specifically focusing on reducing your electricity and water consumption, then you are going to be more conscious of lights left on, or dripping taps.

Green Energy

TIP! Place your refrigerator and extra freezer, if you have one, in a cool spot. Try to keep these appliances out of direct sunlight or heating vents, as this can raise the temperature, causing them to run for longer periods of time.

Being more environmentally conscious is important as we see the effects of using green energy technology. Renewable energy sources and energy efficient technologies are both considered to be green energy. It’s very easy to incorporate green energy into your home, simply by applying the information that you read in this article.

On the arsonist’s trail: inside Australia’s worst bushfire catastrophe

One day in 2009, fires swept across Victoria, leaving 173 dead. It became known as Black Saturday. When it emerged that not all of these disasters were natural, local detectives sprang into action. By Chloe Hooper

The patient had been in a coma for 12 days. Strange dreams were all he could remember. He dreamed he was in a red room, then a green room, and when, finally, he woke, the walls were orange. There was flame even in the paint colour, and he knew without being told that his wife was dead. He checked his hands and was surprised to find that his fingers – put back together now, bandaged – had been saved.

His children sat next to his bed while a young police officer had positioned his chair further away, towards the back of the hospital room. All of them were waiting to hear what had happened to him two weeks earlier, on the day of Australia’s worst recorded natural disaster. It would become known as Black Saturday: 400 separate fires had burned across the southern Australian state of Victoria, giving off as much energy as 1,500 atomic bombs.

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Read more: theguardian.com

Nissan’s idea for a better ice cream truck: Make it electric

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Instead of gas-powered ice cream vans that require generators, Nissan built a prototype with electric batteries for rechargeable, renewable soft-serve.

The e-NV200 all-electric van came out last year, but this week, for UK Clean Air Day, Nissan unveiled how it could be modified to transport, deliver, and chill ice cream.

Solar power for your ice cream.

Solar power for your ice cream.

Image: nissan

The truck has just under a 125-mile range with a 40kWh battery powering the motor. The precious cargo from Mackie’s of Scotland is served from a soft-serve machine and a freezer, which are powered by Nissan’s new recycled battery system called Energy Roam. The drink fridge is also powered through the energy system, which goes on sale later this year.  Read more…

More about Nissan, Ice Cream, Electric Vehicles, Tech, and Energy

Read more: mashable.com

Lyft drivers in electric cars can charge up for free

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To encourage ride-sharing drivers to offer “green” rides, Lyft is offering its drivers in Portland, Oregon free electric vehicle charging.

Starting in July, drivers who use plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicles on the Lyft platform can use Portland General Electric charging stations — at no cost. There are currently five stations across the region, each capable of charging six vehicles at a time with four DC fast chargers and two Level 2 chargers. 

Normally, pricing starts at $3 for a two-hour Level 2 charging session (those provide a slower charge) and there’s a $25 per month unlimited charging option, but Lyft will give drivers free access to the electric juice. Read more…

More about Lyft, Ride Hailing Apps, Electric Vehicles, Tech, and Energy

Read more: mashable.com

Let’s move to Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire: tired but handsome

Despite being beset by economic and social problems, evidence of the towns’ 19th-century heyday remains

What’s going for it? If you want to see why so many people voted (and would still vote) for Brexit, these are the perfect places to start. These conjoined twins have been in a death spiral for decades. The story is depressingly familiar: the sudden removal of a place’s main reason for being, various feeble attempts at sticking-plaster “regeneration” and decades of underinvestment. Today, Grimsby and Cleethorpes need big thinking. There are a few, much-feted, green shoots: the wind-farm industry, for instance (Grimsby has more of its energy demands met by renewables than anywhere else in the country); or the turning of Grimsby’s evocative, 19th-century dockside Kasbah district into a conservation area. Whether these green shoots will grow, though, is a moot point. The area faces formidable challenges. On the plus side, the towns can be truly beautiful, with handsome 19th-century homes, delightful parks and silky sand on the beach. Its community is battered, but of a strength most places would envy. Nobody could wish these places anything but better fortune, love and, most importantly, a whole lot of cash.

The case against Where to begin. The full gamut of economic and social problems. Grimsby, in particular, was heavily damaged by redevelopment in the 70s.

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Read more: theguardian.com

Tips On Using Your Green Thumb In Organic Gardening

By tony / June 22, 2019

TIP! Having healthy soil in your garden is your number one defense against pests! If you have healthy looking plants, they are stronger and more resistant to diseases and bugs. If you want to get the best plants, begin with a soil that has hardly any chemicals, and that will bring salts.

Organic gardening may provide you with a great way to relax and enjoy your time, or it can be quite a nonproductive hassle. In the following paragraphs, you’ll find suggestions that will help you improve your organic gardening skills.

TIP! When winter arrives, you can save some plants by placing them in your home. You should probably save the most resistant or expensive plants.

Your first and best line of defense against pests is having healthy soil. If your plants are healthy, they can more easily resist insects and disease. For the most vigorous and healthy plants, start with high-quality soil, and stay away from chemicals. These can accumulate salts over time.

TIP! The kind of soil you use will influence the results. Your soil may not be correct, but it depends on what sorts of plants you want to grow.

For the best results, select the right kind of soil. You may need to alter the kind of soil you use based on the types of plants you intend to grow. You can simply use one type of soil to make an artificial area.

TIP! If you learn that your soil has a high amount of alkaline, mix some used coffee grounds into it. This is an easy and inexpensive solution to increase the acid content back into the soil.

For weeds that aren’t in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. Considering that boiling water is rather safe, you don’t have to worry about toxins in your soil or at your dinner table. Just douse the weeds directly with boiling water, taking care to avoid damaging nearby plants. Boiling water damages the weed roots and will inhibit future growth.

TIP! Try “boiling” weeds to get rid of them. A pot of boiling hot water can be one of the most safe weed destroyers.

Don’t forget to use a good fertilizer in your garden. Manure helps your plants grow. Make sure you use a product that is commercially composted so you don’t risk adding pathogens to your garden. The options for fertilizing are vast and include environmentally sound choices, so no matter which you choose, just be sure to use one.

TIP! Be vigilant about keeping moisture off your plants. Moisture on the surface of a plant can attract parasites, and cause disease.

If you are just starting out, follow all the guidelines and rules on your chemicals and tools. If you do not do this very simple step, you can end up causing skin irritation problems that are very painful. Keep your health intact and follow the directions to the letter.

TIP! Place organic mulch close to your vegetables. The soil will stay moist thanks to the mulch.

Try to pour a bit of leftover water from your steamed veggies on them. Used teabags or grounds from coffee are a great way to add acid to the soil. Chamomile tea is effective in combating a fungus problem within your garden.

Beneficial Bugs

TIP! Take care of your knees when you’re gardening. Not everyone has the ability to remain standing in a bent position for an extended time.

Do not use broad-spectrum pesticides within your garden. These pesticides can also kill useful insects that eat your pests. Beneficial bugs usually have more sensitivity towards pesticides than bad ones. Therefore, if the number of beneficial bugs drops, the problem with pests can get bigger. This ends up becoming a vicious cycle of increasing pesticide use.

Pick your vegetables when the temperature is moderate to avoid bruising them. Twisting off vegetables causes damage to the plant; always snip them at the base of the vine.

TIP! Have all of your tools available to you as you garden to increase efficiency. Carry your tools in a bucket, or keep them in the pockets of a pair of rugged pants.

If you are horticulture with a cut, make sure that you adequately protect it from dirt and chemicals. A cut will likely become infected if it is exposed to dirt when gardening. Bandage all cuts completely, using bandages that cover and seal cuts.

TIP! You can make a raised bed with untreated wood, brick, or stone. If you choose to use wood, make sure it is naturally rot resistant and untreated.

Too much water can be harmful to your plants because the excess water can hinder the ability of the roots to acquire nutrients from the soil. Before watering plants outdoors, check with some weather stations to find out if it will rain anytime during the day. When showers are on the way, you can save yourself the chore of watering.

Botanical Insecticides

TIP! Build a garden full of diversity. The more types of plants you have, the more kinds of wildlife you’ll have.

You may be able to find botanical insecticides locally, which are often very helpful for preventing pest infestations. Some natural insecticides are stronger and more effective than the chemically engineered synthetic pesticides that are commercially available. However, due to their biological makeup, botanical insecticides often have very fast decay periods and disappear rapidly.

TIP! Make your organic garden easier to maintain. Plan out the landscaping with mainly native bushes, flowers, and grasses.

A biologically diverse garden is one of the most interesting and rewarding kinds. The more plant varieties you have, the more animal varieties you will attract. Plant various plant types to create a natural environment. Different varieties can give you a pleasant garden to relax in, while doing good things for the environment.

TIP! Plant your organic garden in the shade. These gardens are low maintenance, which is very appealing to people.

You can make organic gardening much easier. Plan your landscaping with primarily native grasses, flowers, and bushes! If you opt for native plants that work well with your climate and soil, you will be less likely to need expensive fertilizers and pesticides. In fact, you are sure to discover that such plants are able to grow beautifully in compost made out of other indigenous substances.

TIP! Many different sorts of plants will grown in an organic garden. A lot of plant varieties love acidic soil, and they will thrive well in mulch.

There are all kinds of plants that can grow in your organic garden. Mulch is a must-have for plants that require acidic conditions. These kinds of plants require a mulch consisting of a lot of pine needles during the fall each year. As the needles begin to decompose, they’ll start depositing natural acid to the soil.

TIP! Be sure you know both when and how, to properly water your organic plants. Use a special hose designed to soak plants with water.

As you have seen from the above article, there is quite a bit more to successful organic horticulture than a lot of people realize. Organic gardens require much patience and hard work, but you can have a wonderfully beautiful organic garden. Simply by reading through the techniques provided to you in this article, you should find yourself much more informed and capable of organic gardening.

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