Regardless of who wins the election on Saturday, the battle for sustainability in our region will continue come Sunday morning.
Two homes and one business will be showcased during Lismore Council’s Sustainable House Day, demonstrating a range of features that have slashed each owner’s bills and increased self-sufficiency.
Lisa Bartholomew and Bruce McNicol’s Lismore Heights home boasts a 2.1 kW solar system, a chemical-free ionised freshwater swimming pool, a 10,000-litre integrated rainwater tank, energy-efficient lighting, water and energy-efficient appliances, chickens, composting, vegetable gardens, fruit and coffee trees, and a ducted convection wood heater which heats the entire house using garden and joinery waste.
Richard Swinton and Cindy Thummel of Clunes participated last year and will again show off their retrofitted AV Jennings home with a similar list of features. Richard will also give a presentation at the Sustainable House Day Seminar and Trade Show on Friday evening, September 6, at the Lismore Workers Club.
The free public event is a partnership between Lismore City Council, Rous Water and the Workers Club to share water and energy efficient ideas and help turn Lismore into a model of sustainability.
The seminar will also include a talk by Michael Qualmann, solar energy consultant, and Guy Stewart, a DIY home retrofitter who turned a powerless/waterless bush shack into a sustainable home.
If you want to know how to save money and reduce your CO2 emissions but don’t own your own home or have the means for solar or retrofits, there will be a home energy workshop from 4.30pm with Colin George, energy educator and consultant for Coolplanet and the Australian Sustainability Institute. You can also take a rooftop tour of the Workers Club’s new 100kW solar system.
Rous Water will be displaying ways to save water while the Nimbin Neighbourhood and Information Centre, Northern Rivers Community Gateway, the Green Building Centre and the Lismore Community Sustainability Forum will have info on their local initiatives.
The Sustainable House Day Seminar and Trade Show is on Friday evening, September 6, from 4.30-8.30pm at the Lismore Workers Club. A free supper will be served. To register your attendance phone Lismore City Council on 1300 87 83 87.
During Sustainable House Day on Sunday, 8 September, living examples of sustainability will be open between 10am and 4pm. Visit Lisa and Bruce’s home at 49 Ross Street, Lismore Heights, and Richard and Cindy at 24 Ryces Drive, Clunes, as well as Rainbow Power Company at 1 Alternative Way, Nimbin.
