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.

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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.

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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!”

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Image Credit: Finn Peacock + AI

Fronius says Australian rooftop solar + inverter has CO2 & energy payback under one year.

Last month, a huge, hulking Austrian handed me a physical report called: [Read more…]

Powerful permanent magnets made from Rare Earth Elements (REEs) give us cheaper, lighter and more efficient generators and motors for wind turbines and electric cars. [Read more…]

Do you want to weaken Putin’s hand while making European nations more willing and able to cope with disruptions in their energy supply? 

Of course you do! One simple way to help Ukraine is to stop using gas.  

You can start immediately. [Read more…]