Melbourne "Save Water Save Energy Expo" 19th &

Yak_Chat · Oct 15, 2007 9:28 am

Visit ATA at the Save Water Save Energy Expo

Buy tickets online before October 18 and save $5 per ticket, plus go into the draw to win a Karcher vacuum! For discounted tickets go to

http://www.savewatersaveenergyexpo.com.au

In partnership with Sustainability Victoria, the Save Water Save Energy Expo is on from Friday 19 - Sunday 21 October at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

It’s the first Australian expo of its kind focussed on ways to save water and energy and reduce the impact of climate change.

Enjoy
Steve

DuckyQuackQuack · Oct 15, 2007 10:55 am

Are you coming over for the Expo Steve?

DQQ

Yak_Chat · Oct 15, 2007 10:53 pm

Not this year.
I've been involved (commercially and pastime) with water for many years and I have a very close affinity to water - But I like to promote a show like this to help others understand and see what I see as pretty much - standard stuff.
Steve

d@n · Sep 16, 2008 3:15 pm

This will be another opportunity for vendors to flog water tanks, low flow shower heads and faux grass. :roll:

u9026a · Oct 25, 2008 9:01 pm

d@n

This will be another opportunity for vendors to flog water tanks, low flow shower heads and faux grass. :roll:

...and on that topic, what exactly is the point of a low flow bath tap??

Yak_Chat · Oct 25, 2008 10:15 pm

Quote:

...and on that topic, what exactly is the point of a low flow bath tap??

4 that long slow bath :wink:

obvious really.

In reality - it get people that pi&&^&d off - they go - that'll do - so they use less water.

u9026a · Oct 26, 2008 7:14 pm

Yak_Chat

Quote:

...and on that topic, what exactly is the point of a low flow bath tap??

4 that long slow bath :wink:

obvious really.

In reality - it get people that pi&&^&d off - they go - that'll do - so they use less water.

Isn't that the problem with all this Eco-crap? We always seem to get a situation where some idiot pops up and invents a new type of "Eco-Standard" (Wells rated taps in this case), which in reality is totally pointless. Meanwhile builders are allowed to build houses with very little insulation, then strap life-support in the form of a huge air-conditioner to the side of the house. What a joke this country is.

Lyn · Oct 26, 2008 7:29 pm

u9026a

Meanwhile builders are allowed to build houses with very little insulation, then strap life-support in the form of a huge air-conditioner to the side of the house.

Precisely.
It was 30 degrees yesterday - our house was 18-22 degrees inside and we don't even have external blinds yet. :shock:

Good planning = no air con required.
New houses should have a six star minimum ... if not seven.

joles · Oct 26, 2008 8:49 pm

u9026a

d@n

This will be another opportunity for vendors to flog water tanks, low flow shower heads and faux grass. :roll:

...and on that topic, what exactly is the point of a low flow bath tap??

Low flow taps on the bath is an absolute load of crap. I have short showers, my water bills are very low. BUT once a week I enjoy a bath.... loofah my body, hair treatment, face mask, glass of something...

So in the new house... it's going to take so long to fill up the bath that I'll have to be filling the kettle and saucepans with hot water in order to have a "hot" bath.... yep that sounds really...ummmm ...... "wise". :roll:

Anyone know how to circumvent this problem during the build. :wink:

Low flow everywhere else is fine by me.... but I want the water hammering out of the bath tap! :shock:

Yak_Chat · Oct 26, 2008 9:38 pm

u9026a said

Quote:

Isn't that the problem with all this Eco-crap? We always seem to get a situation where some idiot pops up and invents a new type of "Eco-Standard" (Wells rated taps in this case), which in reality is totally pointless. Meanwhile builders are allowed to build houses with very little insulation, then strap life-support in the form of a huge air-conditioner to the side of the house. What a joke this country is.

So true, but until the purchasers of houses demand it, it's not going to change and we can't ely on govts to regulate it.

IMO a house like Lyn's is the only sort of house to live in.

I drove past some new places being built today and I think is is criminal that people still build houses in pretty much the same type of design as was built 200 years ago.

But I have faith that peoples expectations and desires in house styles will change soon.

Steve

Lyn · Oct 26, 2008 9:58 pm

Yeah ... temperature wise our house is great Steve. We are even wondering if we can abandon the external blinds and save some money. Eaves are only 450mm and our orientation isn't spot on but it all seems to be working so far.

Unfortunately we don't need any low flow taps here - our water pressure is so bad that can't use more than 9L/min (if that!) from ANY tap. :evil:

Takes long enough to fill a mop bucket in the laundry let alone the spa (half an hour the one time we have used it, and it is only a very small bath sized spa). We pay $180 in supply charges for useless supply. Thought our plumber may have stuffed up when building, but the entire street has crummy water pressure. Sometimes it smells like sewerage .... hope they haven't mixed any pipes up!

u9026a · Dec 07, 2008 9:35 pm

joles

Anyone know how to circumvent this problem during the build. :wink:

Low flow everywhere else is fine by me.... but I want the water hammering out of the bath tap! :shock:

Joles, de-regulating a tap is easy - just unscrew the end of the tap and you should find the culprit which is just a washer with a few very small holes in it. Take that out and bingo - mains pressure water again.

dymonite69 · Dec 07, 2008 9:55 pm

u9026a

Isn't that the problem with all this Eco-crap?

Maybe you could start a new thread on this? It might stop people wasting money on some of the eco-shonk out there and spend it on things that are really worthwhile.

As far as water savings are concerned, a major thing someone could do is plant a water-saving garden and a native lawn.

I have done some research on the breakdown on household water usage. The results may surprise you.

http://forums.envirotalk.com.au/Househo ... t8107.html

dymonite69 · Dec 07, 2008 10:00 pm

Lyn

Eaves are only 450mm and our orientation isn't spot on but it all seems to be working so far.

Actually eaves at 450mm are fine for most temperate zone latitudes in Australia - as long as they are on the north face. They will allow all of the winter sun in but will block out most of the sun by summer.

However, you will need very deep eaves e.g. >> 1 metre on the west and east sides if you hope to provide summer shading.

u9026a · Dec 12, 2008 11:13 am

dymonite69

Maybe you could start a new thread on this? It might stop people wasting money on some of the eco-shonk out there and spend it on things that are really worthwhile.

The problem is that people have no choice - it is mandatory in most states (well here in NSW anyway), to fit some of these pointless items, like 5 star rated bath taps, in order to comply with various regulations.

Too many tree-hugging leftie Council members have their noses in this trough I'm sure.

dymonite69 · Dec 12, 2008 11:42 am

u9026a

The problem is that people have no choice - it is mandatory in most states (well here in NSW anyway), to fit some of these pointless items, like 5 star rated bath taps, in order to comply with various regulations.

Too many tree-hugging leftie Council members have their noses in this trough I'm sure.

Nothing to do with greenie bureaucrats. I am all for eco-housing that his cheap, affordable and works. The problem is a general lack of ignorance about energy efficient building practices by legislators and token laws being passed. The problems is that the building industry is just as bad and that's why we feel compelled to make 'rules'.