This is V. Cool!

I LOVE learning about sustainable solutions, I find it so interesting how people can redesign products we have been using for years to reduce their carbon footprint. How amazing are some humans!! Anywho, this week we’ll be taking a little look at a company making shapes in the building industry!

👀 Let’s Set The Scene

The Australian construction industry significantly impacts the environment through both carbon emissions and waste production. Annually, the industry is responsible for approximately 30 to 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from the materials used, contributing about 10% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions. This encompasses the embodied carbon from manufacturing, transporting, and constructing with materials like concrete, steel, and bricks, which are particularly challenging to decarbonize. In terms of waste, the construction and demolition sector in Australia generates a substantial amount of waste each year, with reports indicating around 20.4 million tonnes of waste in 2018-2019, making up 44% of the nation's total waste output. ​ (The Urban Developer)​​ (World Economic Forum)​

🎊 One Amazing Solution - Durra Panel

Durra Panel is an incredible sustainable alternative to plasterboard. Manufactured from compressed wheat and rice straw, which is a natural and annually renewable resource. This agricultural waste by-product would otherwise be destroyed by burning following harvest, releasing its stored carbon back into the atmosphere and contributing to carbon emissions. Instead, Durra Panel purchases this straw from Australian farmers and suppliers to give it another life as an energy-efficient and sustainable wall and ceiling panel. We love companies contributing to a circular economy!

Around 9km of Durra Panel was used to create the partition walls in the Media Centre during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Once the Olympics had finished, the panels were taken down, shredded in a mulcher, and then used as compost throughout gardens across Sydney. Because they are 100% biodegradable, Durra Panels don’t end up in landfills at the end of their lifespan, and can instead be used as compost or recycled and used again.

Sustainable Living Tips

This week let’s dive into ways we can be more sustainably minded at home!

💡 Use Energy-Efficient Appliances and Lighting: Switch to energy-efficient appliances like those rated by ENERGY STAR, and use LED bulbs instead of incandescent ones. These changes can reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills​.

🌞 Solar Panels: Installing solar panels on your roof can provide a significant portion of your home’s electricity needs from a renewable source. Which means cheaper electricity yay! Solar power systems can be grid-tied, off-grid, or hybrid, depending on your location and energy needs.

💦 Add Greywater Systems: These systems recycle water from sinks, showers, and laundry for use in irrigation and toilet flushing, reducing the demand for fresh water and lowering water bills​

👩🏼‍⚖️ The White House has released a national strategy to combat food waste

🎊 The EU’s nature restoration law was formally approved

🐝 Birds and Bees in California will now have more protection from harmful pesticides.