Author Archives: admin

Foxcliffe Farm Ecovillage

Mike Hulme recently sent this update on the Foxcliffe land development at Witchcliffe.

Foxcliffe Farm Ecovillage

Image retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/24farmli.html

Dear Friends of Foxcliffe Farm Ecovillage,

I am delighted to inform you that the Augusta Margaret River Shire Council unanimously passed the amendments to the Witchcliffe Village Strategy and Local Planning Strategy that are required to enable the Foxcliffe Farm Ecovillage project to proceed to WAPC for approval.

This is the first time in two and half years, since purchasing the property, that I can write to you with some confidence that the Foxcliffe Farm Ecovillage will proceed!

The approval will enable up to 180 homes to be built on the 160acre farm. This will enable around 80% of the Foxcliffe Farm Ecovillage to be utilized for public open space, community vege gardens, dam, orchards, vineyard, recreation, community centre, backpackers/tourist accommodation, etc…

We are confident that we can achieve all of this and 100% self sufficiency in energy and water at an affordable price point of around $400,000 for house and land.

For those of you that haven’t had the opportunity to visit the Foxcliffe Farm Ecovillage it is a magnificent property with an abundance of water and great soil, immediately abutting the wonderful little town of Witchcliffe (at the intersection of Redgate Rd and Bussell Hwy, 10k’s south of Margaret River & 6k’s east of Redgate Beach).

We are hoping to receive WAPC approval by around January 2013, after which we will still have to rezone the town planning scheme (TPS), which will take us the best part of 2013. However, once we have received WAPC approval the project will have the certainty required to complete the detailed planning during 2013, so that we are ready to lodge subdivision and development applications as soon as the TPS amendment is formally gazetted.

We are very excited to be moving forward and thank the Shire’s planning officers and Council for their solid support.

We now have over 200 people who have registered interest in the Foxcliffe Farm Ecovillage; I look forward to keeping you all informed of our progress.

Kind regards,

Mike Hulme

Smart Power Grid

Smart Power Grid awareness will cause us to use our energy at the least expensive times of the day, thereby reducing energy costs and reducing the load on our power plants during the peak periods. At the same time we will reduce the CO2 in the atmosphere, positively affecting  our contribution to Greenhouse gases.

Smart Power Grid

Image retrieved from:  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/power-grid.html

PV Panels Efficiency

Retired academic and author Peter Little describes in a letter below how we can use green building products such as  PV panels and insulation between double brick construction to greatest efficacy by adopting Smart Power Grid  behaviour.

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Solar Energy Directory – Get Solar Campaign

Solar energy directoryGet Solar Energy 

solar energy directory listing from ‘Get Solar’ helps the public choose solar energy products and services with confidence – this is the basis of the ‘Get Solar’ message. We know that changing government policies and shifting compliance standards have created uncertainty for the solar energy markets.

We will offer more certainty to the public and the consumer by joining together to present a united message of quality and reliable information on solar energy products and services via the solar energy directory.

To list your products and services please go to Get Solar Solar Energy Directory.

AuSES Promotes Solar Energy Industry

The CEO of Australian Solar Energy Society (‘AuSES’), John Grimes has been representing our immense collective technical knowledge and corporate base within the organization at a political level. We in the solar energy industry must support these efforts for the well-being of the public, our environment and our industry.

Get Solar Promotes Solar Energy Growth

The ‘Get Solar’ campaign which aims to increase the use of solar energy and stimulate growth opportunities for solar energy industry companies, recognises that AuSES is a solid cornerstone of solar energy promotion and awareness, but we also recognise that it cannot do everything. By developing the ‘Get Solar’ solar energy directory we are creating a new industry collaborative effort.

Solar Energy Companies Can Collaborate

Apart from individual lobbying and marketing enterprise, solar industries can collaborate effectively with a common commercial focus in the market place. Today we need industry collaboration more than ever. Offering comprehensive information in a single solar energy directory will help focus our message.

Solar Industry Needs Reliable Markets

While AuSES carries out its important functions at the junction of industry, academia and government regulation, more is needed to help the solar industry and associated professions to develop stronger and more reliable markets.

Solar Energy Directory Offers Confidence to the Public

The ‘Get Solar’ Campaign directory is now alive: Go to our  Get Solar solar energy directory and enter your details. We need your involvement and the participation of all sectors of the solar energy industry and associated professions in this solar energy directory.

The general public must approach the purchase of solar energy products and services with confidence in our quality and professionalism, hence the ‘Get Solar’ campaign. The campaign promotes solar energy companies as well as associated services to the public, in a manner where they can trust the quality and services offered in the solar energy directory and be able to make informed choices. Having the endorsement of peak industry bodies to your listing offers extra confidence.

List Your Solar Energy Business

List your business details in the Get Solar solar energy directory. The categories of listings are flexible at this stage and the administrator of  the ‘Get Solar’ directory will consider increasing the list of categories if requested.

Free Listings in the Get Solar Directory

Currently listings are free even for premium accounts. It only takes the investment of time and effort by your sales and marketing people to add your company details and contact points.

Go to ‘Get Solar’ solar energy directory to create your listing today.

AuSES Support

Companies listed in the AuSES database will be contacted by AuSES administration to explain the opportunity to include their business in the ‘Get Solar’ solar energy directory and they will provide endorsement of this important initiative. With strong ties and allegiances to peak organizations such as AuSES, we believe that the ‘Get Solar’ campaign can complement the focus that AuSES provides and offer confidence to the public and consumer.

Solar Energy Directory Offers Customer Confidence  

Creation of a new synergy will help consumers, industrial, commercial, and institutional entities to have the confidence to commit to solar energy systems and strategies.

With AuSES endorsement you can’t afford not to be in this solar energy directory, so take action today and join the effort to tell the public GET SOLAR, and know where to go to get it…

in the  Solar Energy Directory

Green Architects

Green Architects can save the client 60-90% on energy costs in their new home.

 

This solar movie opens the scope of solar design to commercial, institutional industrial buildings, as well as the smaller scale of residential design, including the retro-fitting of existing ones.

Prominent Green Architects Perth

A number of prominent Perth green architects are interviewed in this video together with planners who point out that well thought-out land subdivisions and master planning are crucial for the success of this strategy.

This solar movie about green architects was made in the 1990s for the Australian Institute of Architects. Dr Bill Parker was involved in the production and direction. The movie entitled ‘Green by Design’ won a government energy efficiency award in 1998.

Green Architects Discuss How to Design for Energy Efficiency

The messages on going green by design and the benefits of using green architects are still very relevant in the developed world.

to learn the basic principles and how you can best orientate and design your house for optimal comfort and energy efficiency download the Climate Sensible Designs video showing why it pays to use  green architects.  Go to the www.solar-e shop to view this and other DVDs