Archived material from historical editions of The Generator
Former World Bank economist William Easterly says that foreign aid has too often been run in the interests of corrupt dictators and self-congratulatory bureaucrats, to the point where in some cases it’s actually intensified the suffering of the poor. Full transcript from ABC Radio National, Counterpoint
Former World Bank economist William Easterly says that foreign aid has too often been run in the interests of corrupt dictators and self-congratulatory bureaucrats, to the point where in some cases it’s actually intensified the suffering of the poor. Michael Duffy: Since WWII the developed world has spent about $US2.3 trillion on foreign aid to Continue Reading →
A NSW program which allows carbon (C) stored by forests to be used to offset fossil fuel emissions may be increasing future atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (C02), according to a Senior Research Fellow from the University of Sydney. Forests do trap CO2, but for how long? Dr Charles Warren from the University of Sydney Continue Reading →
According to John Breusch, Prime Minister John Howard will seize on Queensland Premier Peter Beattie’s concerns about emissions trading as he moves to undermine the Labor premiers’ efforts to develop a national carbon market, reported The Australian Financial Review (17/7/2006, p.8). Howard wants emission trading to wait for clean coal tech: Because of concerns about Continue Reading →
A key factor that persuaded the owners of a wholly solar-powered house just south of Moruya on the NSW south coast to go down the renewables path last year was the sheer cost of hooking up to the grid, says an article detailing their experiences in The Sydney Morning Herald (15 July 2006, p.9H).
$15,000 to connect: A power cable passed 30 metres from the home. But when the owners approached the local electricity utility they were told that to hook up the power would cost about $15,000. A quote alone to find out exactly how much was $500.
"We wanted a normal house": Using spreadsheets, they calculated the load of each appliance and estimated what the energy usage would be – about 2.7 kilowatt hours a day. "We wanted standard power points, the ability to use off-the-shelf appliances and as few limits as possible on what we could run. We wanted a normal house."
They got it for $14,000: The batteries would be designed to hold their charge through at least five full days of absolute darkness. For a total cost of $14,000, after receiving a $4000 rebate from the Department of Energy Utilities and Sustainability, they were promised a system capable of running the entire home.
Voted with their calculators: They continue: "With panels under warranty for 25 years, we could look forward to decades without a power bill. We voted with our calculators. We used a generator when we built our wall frames and roof. Seven solar panels were bolted in place, facing due north. A battery box the size of a chest freezer was deposited under one of our verandas."
House was built by the sun: The day the installer left he was asked jokingly whether we would be able to use the solar system to build the rest of our house. His answer stunned the owners and the two builders working on site. "No worries," he said. For the next two months they used solar power to get the building to lock-up stage and did not need to turn the generator on again.
Biggest tools handled easily: The system ran even the biggest tools – circular saws, drop saws, grinders, a small jack hammer – and sometimes several at the same time. "There was not one day during the building process when we were able to use more than 5 per cent of our battery capacity. We decided to buy a regular energy-efficient fridge and this ran, even through record-breaking heat, without a hitch. Two computers are regularly in use, as are about 20 lights."
Winter solstice no problem: The owners have just had a new baby so their clunky old washing machine has been running as if it is in an inner-city laundromat. A vacuum cleaner, television, DVD player and a satellite dish for internet reception are the other power guzzlers. The week of the winter solstice – the days when they get the least of the hot stuff that keeps the place ticking over – has come and gone.
Cloudy periods successfully negotiated: For the sunny week proceeding the solstice they ended each day with batteries charged to 100 per cent. "Recently, we had two separate weeks of rain and saw our battery reach its nadir – 60 per cent of capacity. In other words, after seven days of cloudy weather the glass was still more than half full."
Back-up wind capability being considered: Still, the owners add, a week of bad weather is not uncommon outside of the unusual drought conditions in their region over the past year. "At some point we could run our batteries flat – which is why we are considering a back-up wind generator."
The Sydney Morning Herald, 15/7/2006, p. 9H
Source: Erisk Net
Summer time could come a month earlier in the ACT under plans to harmonise the start and end dates for daylight saving, reported The Canberra Times (15 July 2006, p.4). COAG push: COAG has agreed to consider a proposal for the ACT, NSW and Victoria to bring forward the change to the first Sunday in Continue Reading →