Gas and giving
THREE NEAT THINGS
My fortnightly newsletter - a dose of goodness, productivity hacks, and small business tips. Sign up here!
ISSUE 040 | 18 July 2023
Hi friends!
For new readers, I'm currently living in an 1890s weatherboard cottage that is probably pretty indicative of the average Australian housing stock - with very average thermal performance (it takes a lot to heat and cool). We did a bit of work on the insulation and airtightness when we bought it 12 years ago, but as we have plans to build a little passivhaus in the next couple of years, we haven't done a heap more since then to make this old gal airtight and more efficient. It was never going to be a forever home, and we didn't think we'd be here this long - but here we are. And I wasn't always a high performing house geek, that's a relatively new hobby :)
But next week my client and mate, Anthony Jenkin of Outlier is coming to our home to do a thermal performance test. Outlier offer this service to identify any air leaks and thermal bridging in the house - using a blower door system to depressurize the house, and then locating all the gaps and holes in the floor, walls, and ceiling. The house will then be inspected using their thermal camera to identify thermal bridging issues and see where insulation might be missing.
The air change rate for a certified Passivhaus must be less than or equal to 0.6 air changes per hour, under test conditions. Any guesses on what ours might be? I'm slightly terrified to find out…
Outlier are also lending me an air quality sensor, which will also be eye-opening. I'm not sure what I'll do with all this knowledge yet, but I do like data - you can't dispute science. I'll report back next fortnight!
Click here for a link to their thermal performance test - it would be a great idea to do if you're staying put for a while and want a comfortable and healthy home (less holes also equals less dust and insects), while reducing the cost of heating and cooling.
Marnie x
p.s. If you haven't already subscribed to the Outlier podcast, do it now - yours truly will be on an upcoming episode :)
1
Navigating the role of purpose-led businesses on the Voice to Parliament
As we approach a referendum on an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, many business leaders are thinking about how they can facilitate discussions or establish a public position on the referendum.
This online facilitated discussion and Q+A is run by some epic B Corps such as Bank Australia, Intrepid Travel and B Lab. Thomas Mayo, a signatory of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and one of the key architects of the wording of the proposed constitutional change, will teach us more about the background to the referendum and the role business can play in leading this discussion.
I'll be there (online) tomorrow, come and join me!
2
Renew's Getting Off the Gas free series
Renew is running a Getting off Gas series (starting next week) where they support Australian households to ditch gas. They have a free pass that gives you access to all four of their online series:
Planning Your Electrification Journey
Choosing Your Appliances
All-electric Homes and Solar, EVs, and Batteries
Trades, Wiring, Plumbing, Troubleshooting
Join their series of free events this July - August, talk to industry experts and find out how you can start your home electrification journey.
3
1% For the Planet
Did you know that only around 2% of philanthropic giving in Australia is directed to the environment and climate change?
That statistic boggles my mind, especially when most people you ask would say that they highly value nature, biodiversity and everything our great landscape offers us here in Australia.
1% for the Planet is a global network with thousands of businesses and environmental organisations working together to support people and the planet. I've just renewed my membership for the fifth year in a row, and think it's a great way to give back.
