It was good to read this week that our recycling and waste-reducing efforts are paying off, finally, with new research by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, showing that Australian coastal plastic pollution has decreased by 29% since 2013. CSIRO researcher…
Read moreAuthor: Adam Nobel
Climbing the walls
One of the possible downsides of living in a ‘tiny home’ might be a lack of exercise as it’s only a few steps from kitchen to bedroom. A Portland, Oregon-based company has come up with a unique solution to the…
Read moreCash rate up to .85%
In a surprise move, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided this week to increase the official cash rate by 50 basis points to .85%, in a bid to curb inflation. It follows last month’s rise of .25%, the first…
Read moreColour Awards winners announced
Innovative use of colour to reflect and work with the natural surrounds was a highlight of this year’s Dulux Colour Awards, announced this week. Kart Projects for House K, Melbourne, took out the award for Single Residential Exterior with its…
Read moreLending down
Lending dropped over April, due partly to public holidays in the month, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The figures show that the value of new housing loans fell 6.4% to $31.0 billion…
Read moreRenovating? What not to DIY
Doing your own home renovations might be fun and save money, but there are some jobs that really should be left to the professionals. Most homeowners can change a fuse when the power cuts out, but have you spent years…
Read moreIs winter draining your energy?
In winter, we naturally tend to use more power around the home because it’s cold and gets dark sooner. With costs rising, it is helpful to know which appliances are using energy unnecessarily. A home energy meter can track your…
Read moreChopsticks decor
Asian takeaway usually comes with wooden chopsticks, and while they might seem eco-friendly, the Washington Post recently calculated that around 2 million trees are being cut down each year just to produce the handy implements! Now, Canadian design firm ChopValue…
Read moreReady for higher rates?
Last month, the Reserve Bank raised interest rates for the first time in almost twelve years, and economists are predicting more of the same over the next twelve months. Yet, while this has been anticipated for some time, a recent…
Read moreTwo thirds own their home
Two in three Australians own their home, according to new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week. The bureau’s latest Survey of Income and Housing (SIH), which measures housing occupancy and costs and how these change over…
Read more