Renew Magazine

Fact-based and human-interest stories about building climate and energy resilience in your home and community. All the latest in sustainable issues and technology, as well as useful how-tos for reducing your footprint and contributing to a more resilient future.

Renew Magazine

Editorial

Quarterly round-up

PRODUCTS

4,000,000! • Rooftop solar is still steaming ahead in Australia, with another new milestone recently being reached.

Mining going all in on electrification • The mining industry has considerable emissions, much of it from large machines. But now, it is going electric, with charging from renewables as a key step to going net zero.

Monster heat pump • District heating systems are not a thing in Australia, but many colder parts of the world rely on them to keep their residents warm. Making them zero emissions can cut vast amounts of CO2 in one fell swoop.

Renters still missing out on energy efficiency • Renew CEO Helen Oakey reports on the latest in energy efficiency standards for renters

Amplifying women’s leadership in the climate crisis • We speak with CEO of Women’s Environment Leadership Australia, Victoria McKenzie-McHarg about the work the organisation is doing to champion women’s voices in the climate movement.

How much waste do solar panels and wind turbines produce? • Solar and wind produce less waste than coal; but they can reduce waste even further, writes Hannah Ritchie.

The building scientist • Jenny Edwards is renowned for improving the energy efficiency of countless homes across Australia. As director of Lighthouse ArchiScience, she and her team employ scientific methods and a range of technologies to test the energy performance of a home, and then advise on and implement cost-effective retrofit measures so that it functions more sustainably. We sit down with Jenny (aka Jen-ergy Efficiency, aka The Fixit Chick) to learn more about her work and advocacy as a building scientist and communicator.

The third way of organic waste management • Ashley Wearne makes a case for community composting.

Picturing zero • Daniel Simons looks at how film and television are supercharging the renewable energy transition

The future of eating meat • Myke Bartlett looks at the surge of plant-based meats on the market and considers how they’re impacting food systems and agriculture.

The environmental savings of good, clean seed • Jane Hone gets to know some of the sustainable potato-growing practices at Toolangi Research Station in far north Melbourne.

Mythbusting the cost of the energy transition • The best time for Australia to begin transitioning to less carbon-intensive forms of energy production was in the 1970s, when scientists and politicians first began raising the alarm about the impacts of emissions on the climate and human health. The second best time is now, writes Janina Waldmann.

Electrifying high-rise • Charlie Rodrick from Solar Citizens reports on the barriers and action needed to electrify high-rise apartments.

Why can’t we have true low-cost housing? • The cost of housing has risen so rapidly in Australia that many have been priced out of the housing market, with Australia having some of the highest housing costs in the world. But there are some cheaper options we could utilise. Lance Turner investigates.

The future of solar-powered transport is here • John Hermans on charging an EV using solar energy.

Recycled solar hot water system • If your budget doesn’t run to a brand new solar hot water system, you might be able to recycle one, as NSW mid-north coast reader Mark Walker did, although not without issues for the unwary.

The future of hybrid vehicles • Ben Elliston and Peter Campbell weigh in on the efficacy of plug-in hybrid...