Okay before this turns into another "discussion". I would like to turn it into something constructive, what changes would you make to building codes to lower the ecological/energy footprint of new dwellings?

Also jumping on the constructive bandwagon, my first thought was we should get rid of some of the foolish restrictions imposed by councils and heritage listing rules. I grew up in an old part of Sydney where councils completely confound any enviroment friendly action, like the construction of roof mounted water tanks because they allegedly detract from the traditional streetscape (even from already hideously ugly back lanes and even where obscured by vegetation). So people in these areas are stuck between strict water restrictions and being prevented from doing anything to alleviate the problem by collecting rainwater (of which Sydney gets PLENTY).

Old policy objectives getting in the way of new social needs.

'cuse me, I'm still laughing....

RObert wrote:

"Bushes critics are not denying the story about his house. Rather opposing views focus on changes Gore has recently begun to make (putting in solar panels and a geothermal heating system) and attacking Bush of his energy usage in his job (Air Force 1, the Iraq war etc)."

I've got PLENTY of criticisms of Bush. Energy consumption doesn't even come up as a blip on the radar.

StG, fair call except my comments were in regard to the likely validity of the story not the general merits of either politician.

I was interested in the significant apparent difference in private choices vs public stance taken by both. I find it worth considering how often we assume that those on the other side are villans all the way through when in reality few are totally consistant either for doing good or doing harm.

As for the idea of using the thread to discuss government imposed restrictions that stop us doing better environmentally - great, I like it.

I don't know much about the building codes and where they still unreasonably restrict better choices. The drought in Queensland (he writes as it rains outside) has resulted in significant changes in restrictions on rainwater tanks and the use of greywater in urban areas.

A point that comes to mind is in regard to the requirement to use plumbers for certain tasks and the costs associated with that. Are there cost effective means we could use to make it easier for people to use collected rainwater inside the house without exposing the treated water system to contamination?

I got my state government water tank rebate in the mail today. A rebate that does not relate to how much I reduce my overall consumption by having that tank. Would rebates be better managed in a form that increased the rebate based on water savings over a period of time?

Can rebates be better setup to make them viable for the cash strapped - a letter of eligibility for the rebate so that the rebate amount was deducted off the purchase price and paid to the supplier. Are those two idea's in any way compatible?

R0bert

RObert, do the occupants of house 2 make good use of the methane
produced by the toilet of rotting decaying mass of excrement? Oh, No!
Still wasting precious water on a Cistern. Bathing in how much water?
So what, it takes energy to pump it up then pump it back! Costs money
In Grants to keep a brilliant Professor on Hand to Invent such cleaver
Things. Why can’t the rest of us have these?

ROBERT.. I hereby appoint you 'Junior prophet' :) well done.. I love it when such things are exposed.

JAMES Purser.....the simplest thing to change for improving our greenhouse situation in buiding codes would be:

1/ All lighting should be the high efficiency type
2/ Lighting should be powered from Solar based systems with battery backup.
3/ All houses should have a 'Solar Package' including the hot water, and perhaps 10 panels of solar electric and grid interactive inverter. The electricity wiring should have an automatic changeover to grid for lighting when the batteries go low.
4/ All hot water should be Solar based, gas boosted.
5/ No electric ovens or cooktops.

Hope that helps.

(P.S. I was in the alternative energy field for 10 yrs)