Death by birding, why women have less super, and long-term rental solutions

THREE NEAT THINGS

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ISSUE 033 | 11 April 2023

Hi friends! 

Last week I photographed a previously leaky old workers cottage that has been transformed into a energy efficient and energy independent house in inner Melbourne. The owners wanted to show how easy it is to get off fossil fuels, and also offer an energy efficient, solar powered and aesthetically pleasing house for the long-term rental market - unheard of in these times! 

The house also provides a model for landlords to install solar on investment properties - showing it can be good for the environment and also provide a return. This is done by using solar metering to bill tenants for electricity usage at a small discount to market rates - meaning everyone wins. 

We need to see more of these comfortable, healthy, all-electric and energy efficient long-term rentals in the market, as they not only benefit the environment but also provide a fantastic sustainable housing option for renters - what an inspiring project!

Marnie x

1

IPCC report - resist the urge to despair

The IPCC's Sixth Assessment has brought together key learnings from its previous reports.

In short: we have reached a precipice and we simply must get out of fossil fuels and get our emissions plummeting. At the same time, we need to step up efforts to adapt to the dangers that, owing to past inaction, are now coming at us no matter what.  

Finally, the good part, yes – we have the solutions, but the pace of progress has been far too slow and it’s time to give it everything we’ve got through this make-or-break decade. 

2

Why women have less super

Australia's superannuation system disproportionately favours men, leading to a gender retirement super gap of 23.4%. 

This means that by age 60, one third of single women in Australia will be living in poverty. The Guardian Australia has created an interactive article to explain this using cups of coffees.

3

Death by Birding

My new favourite podcast - Cesar Puechmarin, veterinary student, wildlife nurse and natural history dilettante, invites guests to talk about life through the bizarre lens of bird watching.