PV Industries’ new solar panel recycling facility at Bankstown Airport officially opened this week, supported by funding from the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA). [Read more…]

A Sungrow battery installed by I Want Energy.

Here are two facts about home batteries:

1. Using a home battery reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Making and installing a home battery increases greenhouse gas emissions.

The good news is the first effect is much larger than the second.  Pinning down how much home batteries reduce emissions isn’t easy, but I’m going to take a stab at it.  Hopefully, by the time you get to the end of this post, you won’t want to take a stab at me.

[Read more…]

A Sigenergy home battery installed by Stag Electrical Solar and Refrigeration ACT.

Home batteries lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Unless, of course, you’re a complete nutter and use a battery to deliberately raise them in an attempt to cook the planet.  But this ruins the savings, so only a complete loony would try it.

[Read more…]

Plenty of people get solar to do their bit for the environment. Although renewables are far better for nature than fossil fuels, a new book details the little-known impact that solar panels have on insects, birds and bats. Here’s how to make sure your panels aren’t part of the problem.

[Read more…]

Since 2008 for this installation

Perhaps it’s a function of the ludicrous property market, but Australians all seem to obsess about return on investment these days. Some people say they’re too old to install solar power, but I’d like to explore why it’s always a good idea, no matter what stage of life you’re at.

[Read more…]

Our hearts go out to those Australians facing the current onslaught of floods nationwide. Times like these underscore the importance of knowing what to do in an emergency without the added stress of figuring it out on the spot. [Read more…]

Happy New Year from my straw-bale home in Adelaide. Now, don’t let the eco-friendly construction fool you – my place is an energy-hungry beast, and I’m the guy feeding it! With thermal mass and careful orientation, the house is a champion of efficiency, but my family’s lifestyle… well, that’s another story. [Read more…]

2022 is on its final legs and soon to expire.  Even though it’s disrespectful to speak ill of the soon-to-be departed, I’m going to come straight out and say — when it came to greenhouse gas emissions — 2022 was the absolute worst. [Read more…]

The best place for solar panels is on your roof. Despite this, over one-third of our solar electricity comes from large-scale solar farms. Their construction can involve land clearing that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  

These emissions aren’t good, but they are trivial next to those from fossil fuel generation. [Read more…]

Recently, I’ve noticed a number of solar myths coming back to haunt the comments section of this blog. Here’s the latest one:

“Those black solar panels actually heat the planet by increasing the amount of energy the earth absorbs from the sun?  Ha! You never thought of that did you!”

[Read more…]