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The costs involved are high and the expertise in re-building houses Water tanks and solar hot water seem quite prevalent in Melb - what's the cost/experience g

The costs involved are high and the expertise in re-building houses Water tanks and solar hot water seem quite prevalent in Melb - what's the cost/experience gap that you're referring to? Afaik you still get a federal rebate for installing a solar system. In VIC you get rebates for installing tanks, showerheads, etc in existing buildings. But yeah, I broadly see your point - the two construction issues that get to me are (1) no verandas and (2) no trees. A veranda makes a big difference, and a couple of properly placed trees can make a big difference to the amount of (summer) solar radiation hitting a house.

bootload 18y ago
"... Water tanks and solar hot water seem quite prevalent in Melb - what's the cost/experience gap that you're referring to? ..." If you want re-cycled water with minimal waste. Solar power hooked into the grid selling back to the power companies. Houses re-fitted with better insulation, access to high efficiency white-goods. Proper citing of properties with north facing aspects. This all takes money. To get the desired outcome, you have to think decentralised rather than the centralised reliance we have now. Adding tanks & restricted showers is a 1950's solution to a much bigger problem. Btw where I grew up ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157612299413869/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157612299413869... a large portion of my school mates lived on tank-water and generators for backup ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/245135326 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/245135326 So water tanks are nothing new. What I'm suggesting is a more radical thinking of dwellings, having the capacity to capture and store drinking water. Installations of solar heating and electricity. Power that feeds back to the grid during the day & pulled off during the night. There is no effort like this being undertaken in Melbourne save a few enviro-houses. This kind of redesign cannot happen without the combined work of architects, local planners and local government. It's not an easy task because "... But yeah, I broadly see your point - the two construction issues that get to me are (1) no verandas and (2) no trees ..." That is a problem. I think there is a definite disadvantage living where you cannot add trees or verandas. The other is water. My current geo location gets on average 20% more than the rest of Melbourne.
- jwilliams 18y ago
  If you want re-cycled water with minimal waste. Solar power hooked into the grid selling back to the power companies. Houses re-fitted with better insulation, access to high efficiency white-goods. Proper citing of properties with north facing aspects. This all takes money. Yup agreed - tanks and solar hot water are still a good idea, although I'll agree they are only a step towards. It's not an easy task because Not sure what you were going to say there :) .. What's the best mechanism for this? Is water and energy just too cheap? Bump up the cost of both (with a safety net) and put it into subsidies?

bootload 18y ago

"... Water tanks and solar hot water seem quite prevalent in Melb - what's the cost/experience gap that you're referring to? ..." If you want re-cycled water with minimal waste. Solar power hooked into the grid selling back to the power companies. Houses re-fitted with better insulation, access to high efficiency white-goods. Proper citing of properties with north facing aspects. This all takes money. To get the desired outcome, you have to think decentralised rather than the centralised reliance we have now. Adding tanks & restricted showers is a 1950's solution to a much bigger problem. Btw where I grew up ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157612299413869/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157612299413869... a large portion of my school mates lived on tank-water and generators for backup ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/245135326 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/245135326 So water tanks are nothing new. What I'm suggesting is a more radical thinking of dwellings, having the capacity to capture and store drinking water. Installations of solar heating and electricity. Power that feeds back to the grid during the day & pulled off during the night. There is no effort like this being undertaken in Melbourne save a few enviro-houses. This kind of redesign cannot happen without the combined work of architects, local planners and local government. It's not an easy task because "... But yeah, I broadly see your point - the two construction issues that get to me are (1) no verandas and (2) no trees ..." That is a problem. I think there is a definite disadvantage living where you cannot add trees or verandas. The other is water. My current geo location gets on average 20% more than the rest of Melbourne.

jwilliams 18y ago
If you want re-cycled water with minimal waste. Solar power hooked into the grid selling back to the power companies. Houses re-fitted with better insulation, access to high efficiency white-goods. Proper citing of properties with north facing aspects. This all takes money. Yup agreed - tanks and solar hot water are still a good idea, although I'll agree they are only a step towards. It's not an easy task because Not sure what you were going to say there :) .. What's the best mechanism for this? Is water and energy just too cheap? Bump up the cost of both (with a safety net) and put it into subsidies?