Andy's rantings - The Greeny Flat Experience

August 14, 2015: Ranch Life and Sustainable House Day

Wide open spaces in “Big Sky Country”

Montana is known locally as “Big Sky Country” and with good reason. It’s a land of open spaces, rolling plains, sunshine and lots of blue sky. I lived here on a ranch on the Tongue River east of Billings for many years. It’s a breathtakingly beautiful […]

August 7, 2015: Greetings From Montana

My son Sam (who turns 21 tomorrow) with his new friend, Oscar.

My son, Sam, turns 21 tomorrow! Wow… that is irrefutable proof that I am now, officially, middle-aged (as much as I hate to admit it).

I’ve spent the last week catching up with Sam and the many friends I made in […]

August 8, 2015: Renewable Choice for Oz Voters

Cintia takes in the view of Rio from Pao de Acucar

Rio de Janeiro is a fascinating city. Some say it’s the most beautiful city in the world but I think Sydney still wins that one for me. Mind you we were only in Rio for one day and it was a bit […]

July18, 2015: Whoops, I Spoke Too Soon

Nice Weather for Inuits.

After last week’s Newsletter entitled ‘Nice Weather for Eskimos’ I was gently reminded by one of our Canadian readers that they’re not called Eskimos any more. The correct term for the indigenous people of the far north of North America is Inuit. Thanks for the reminder and I apologise […]

Jul 12, 2015: Nice Weather for Eskimos

The perfect winter weather for a Passive Solar House like the Greeny Flat is when you have clear sunny days and cloudy nights. Sun during the day warms the Thermal Mass of the floor slab which stores the heat and keeps the house warm through the night. When it’s cloudy at night the outdoor air […]

Jul 5, 2015: Solar Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Solar Impulse Flies For Five Days Straight

The Solar Impulse lands in Hawaii (with help from a couple of bicycles) after five days and nights in the air.

As reported in this BBC Article, the Swiss designed “Solar Impulse” zero-fuel plane touched down yesterday in Hawaii after a record-shattering 118 hours of non-stop […]

Jun 28, 2015: Greeny Flat Welcomes Sustainable Lifestyle

Andy explains the Greeny Flat to the Southern Highlands Sustainable Lifestyle Organisation on Sunday

Today we had a very enjoyable visit from the Southern Highlands Sustainable Lifestyle Organisation. It is always a pleasure showing the Greeny Flat to people who are interested and knowledgeable in the field of energy efficient and sustainable building. […]

Jun 21, 2015: Happy Winter Solstice!

Today is a cheerful day for anyone in the Southern Hemisphere who pays attention to the movement of the sun. It marks the point in the year when the sun is lowest in the sky. When you live in a Passive Solar House you tend to notice these things. It’s a happy day because it’s […]

Jun 14, 2015: Test Drive the Greeny Flat

The Greeny Flat is sunny and cosy and may be available for a ‘test drive’ in July and August.

Would you be interested in ‘Test Diving’ the Greeny Flat?

Cintia and I will be away between July 18th and September 1st so we’re thinking about making the Greeny Flat available for people to […]

Jun 7, 2015: Visit to a Local Food Forest

Judith and Paul Collins, owners and creators of ‘The Keep’ in Buxton, NSW.

Yesterday Cintia and I had the immense pleasure of joining a group of about twenty people on a guided tour of ‘The Keep’ in Buxton, NSW. Buxton is a tiny village between Hilltop and Thirlmere in the Southern Highlands (not […]

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