Kirsten
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Posts by Kirsten
Trendspotting: Nana Technology
Jun 24th
Trendspotting: Nana Technology
I’m pretty sure I’ve spotted another trend: the increasing popularity of nana technology. Not nanotechnology, which according to Wikipedia is “the study of manipulating matter on an atomic or molecular scale” (which I assure you, I know nothing about). I mean nana technology, that is, reverting to doing things More >
Eco Shopping in Mosman Park
Jun 9th
Eco-Shopping in Mosman Park
I had the most delightful eco-shopping experience the other day in Mosman Park in four very different shops. All four shops are environmentally friendly, all are run by passionate people, and all are within about 50 metres of each other in strip of Stirling Highway that More >
The Not-So-Humble Australian Home
May 11th
The Not-So-Humble Australian Home
I am often asked, “How can I make the house I’m building more environmentally friendly?” My first answer, which admittedly is not very popular, is, “Trim your house plan by at least 50 square metres.”
Australians live in the biggest houses in the world. Yes, even bigger More >
More Energy for Clean Energy
Mar 30th
More Energy for Clean Energy
I was lucky enough to spend part of last week at the Energising South East Asia Conference, Australia’s largest sustainable energy expo, organised by the Sustainable Energy Association here in Perth. It was great event, with stellar keynote addresses by Professor Peter Newman of Curtin University and More >
Carbon: A Taxing Topic
Mar 16th
Carbon: A Taxing Topic
I’ve had almost three weeks to digest Julia Gillard’s announcement that we will put a price on carbon in July 2012. After all that time, all I know for sure is that Greg Combet (Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) must be sick of talking about More >
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Feb 15th
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Sadly, on the 24th of February, One Green Step will conduct its last home sustainability assessment under the Green Loans program. In December, the federal government announced that it was canceling both the existing Green Loans program and the planned $130 million Green Start More >
Free Range Partridge? Organic Pear Tree?
Nov 30th
Free Range Partridge? Organic Pear Tree?
Yes, it’s that time of year. Despite the fact I still believe 40-degree Christmases are deeply flawed, it is imminent. Twenty-four shopping days left, thanks to the retailers’ decision to open on Sundays between now and Christmas. And I can’t help myself … I More >
Laundry Lowdown, Part 2: Washing Machines
Oct 11th
Laundry Lowdown, Part 2: Washing Machines
As much as I complain about laundry (and I definitely complain, just ask Mr One Green Step), it’s not that hard to actually do.
In Victorian times, washing was difficult, physical labour. Underwear and protective garments like smocks and aprons were washed fairly frequently, but More >
Lipstick Hippy? Golden Ruler? Ideas?
Oct 3rd
Lipstick Hippy? Golder Ruler? Ideas?
A good friend of ours came round the other day for dinner, and after a conversation about One Green Step and what we’re up to, she thought for a minute and then pronounced me a “lipstick hippy.”
Once I stopped laughing, I realised that it wasn’t More >
Laundry Lowdown, Part 1: Detergents
Sep 23rd
Laundry Lowdown, Part 1: Detergents
The automatic washing machine has only been around since the early 1940s. And thank goodness it IS around because I (like most people with kids) do a lot of laundry. The Vatican famously said the washing machine has done more to liberate women than the More >
Please, TAKE A BAG!
Aug 30th
Please, TAKE A BAG!
I have to share a very strange exchange I had while shopping this past weekend.
I was in a store in an upscale shopping area, returning something I had purchased that was defective. After browsing for a while, I decided on an additional item to buy and More >
Revisiting Rubbish
Aug 23rd
Revisiting Rubbish
My obsession with trash continues. And no, I don’t mean 80s music (although I’m keen on that too), I mean actual trash.
Following on from my visit to the Tamala Park landfill, I was recently treated to a tour of the neighbouring Balcatta Recycling Centre. My guide was the charming More >
Trendspotting: Trading Flowers for Food
Aug 12th
Trendspotting: Trading Flowers for Food
I am not a great gardener, as those of you who have seen my yard will attest. And Mr One Green Step is allergic to just about every flower and plant known, so I will preface this posting by saying that it is a bit More >
The Only Thing Better Than A Great Coffee…
Jul 23rd
The Only Thing Better Than A Great Coffee…
…is a great coffee at Greenhouse.
As many of you know, I love nothing more than a good coffee. Without a strong long black to start my day I am a very grumpy person indeed. And I’m quite fussy about my coffee, both More >
Fun with Freecycling
Jun 24th
The generous J
Fun With FreecyclingAs you may recall, in March I said that I would not buy new clothes for myself, or my family, for six months.
It’s nearly the end of June and so far, so good. Oh, I’ve definitely thought about it, and even had to stop myself More >
Book Review: The Sixth Wave
Jun 12th
Book Review: The Sixth Wave
I’ve just finished a great book called The Sixth Wave by James Bradfield Moody and Bianca Nogrady. One of the best things about it is that it’s not out to be a “green” book per se, but is about a future in which markets revolve More >
Five Subi Ovals of Rubbish
May 21st
Five Subi Ovals of Rubbish
Just the other day McBean (our nearly 6-year-old) asked “So where does the rubbish go after the truck takes it away?” Well, I can now answer him with some authority.
On Wednesday I was lucky enough to have a tour of the Tamala Park Waste Disposal More >
What Will It Take for West Australians to Worry About Water?
May 9th
What Will It Take for West Australians to Worry About Water?
For some reason this week I’ve been talking a lot about water with people. Most people are aware of the need to save water, in part due to the Water Corporation’s successful “Save Six” campaign (www.savesix.com.au). And many people More >
More Packaging Costs LESS?
Apr 27th
More Packaging Costs LESS?
Hopefully one of the upsides of a blog is that it legitimizes, or at least allows, the occasional rant. You’ve been warned.
One of my (many) sustainability pet peeves is packaging. Specifically, food packaging. It is so ubiquitous in our shopping experience that most of us don’t More >
