ORGANIC food is a trendy lifestyle choice in Australia. (source: The Australian) - News widgets and RSS feeds on Feedzilla.com
December 30, 2009
OBE Beef poised for China (source: The Australian)
Recycled Christmas Tree
Inhabitat: Talk about re-cycling! This simple and elegant alternative Christmas tree in Bermondsey Square, London is made out of 35 wheels from old bikes, and has been delighting passers-by with its unconventional looks.
Designed by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, the tree is a very fitting symbol of sustainability on a worldwide scale – especially since the wheels making up the design are borrowed from U.K. charity Re-Cycle which collects recyclable bike parts to restore old bicycles and ships them to Africa to be used for transportation by local people and health workers fighting the AIDS epidemic.
David Roberts, deputy chief executive of igloo, the developers who commissioned the recycled tree said: “The Bermondsey Square tree not only looks great; it can be used year after year.
Recycled Christmas Tree Made of Bike Wheels! [Inhabitat]
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Solar-powered community to include 500 homes
Solar energy may offer myriad compelling benefits, but its use in homes is still far from widespread. California developer Comstock Homes is now developing what it calls the nation’s first single-builder solar-powered community, however, just 10 miles from downtown LA.
Comstock’s Villages at Heritage Springs will include more than 500 residences set on 54 landscaped acres in Southern California’s Santa Fe Springs. A variety of sizes, styles and floor plans will be available, ranging from 1,390 square feet to 2,166 square feet, two-story townhomes to three-story houses with optional loft. Regardless of the size, energy efficiency will be at the heart of each Villages home, with features such as double-pane, low-emissivity (Low-E) windows; energy-efficient lighting, heating and air-conditioning; cool roof tiles; and a tankless water heater. Perhaps even more significant, however, is that all homes will feature SunPower solar roof tiles to power their lights, appliances, TV and other electronic devices, allowing them to exceed the National Energy Standard by 50 percent, Comstock says. With a wireless monitoring system for energy-use tracking, the SunPower system can save consumers up to 60 percent on their electric bills, including credits for extra energy production. The development is expected to be finished next year, according to CoolerPlanet, with single-family home prices ranging from USD 500,000 to USD 750,000.
There is another large, solar-powered development in California already, CoolerPlanet points out—a 650-home community from Lennar Corp. in Roseville. Either way, with all the many reasons to decrease dependence on fossil fuels, both provide a large-scale example of the possibilities. A model to be emulated in sunny places around the world! (Related: Thin, flexible solar paneling — Solar panels, measured and designed remotely — Solar panels shaped like clay roof tiles — Free plans for eco homes.)
Website: www.villagesatsantafesprings.com
Contact: www.villagesatsantafesprings.com/contactus.html
Spotted by: Jim Stewart
