Energy saving systems

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1 Courier Mail Wednesday 28/2/2007 Page: 25 Section: Supplements Region: Brisbane Circulation: 224,690 Type: Capital City Daily Size: sq.cms. Published: MTWTFS- Brief: SMARTWATER I"iTlfllllllffllilli il!1''i1[[!li!!1f1]llll!;;`'""iiiii ;j'illf!lll,.ill` Energy saving systems CONSERVE your pool water, insulate your house and save money doing it with a variety of energy-saving systems. QIS specialises in energy conservation with Solarwise water-saving, insulation and solar heating systems. Pool owners can invest in a Solarwise pool blanket which, spread across the surface of the pool, can trap up to 97 per cent of water. The blanket also reduces pool chemical evaporation and keeps leaves and debris out of the water. The flexible but strong blanket acts like a doona, preserving water warmth by trapping in 90 per cent of the heat. Pool blankets are lightweight and durable and can be custom-made for each pool with sewn edges and hinged folds. Standard-size blanket rollers can handle all size covers and are easy to roll and unroll. Solarwise also has the Smart WaterMark Approval with rebates of up to $200 available through state government and Brisbane City Council. To save up to 80 per cent on electricity bills, homeowners can use solar hot water systems for heating hot water. These systems reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 3.5 tonnes per year. Hot water heat pumps use vapour compression and have a similar system to airconditioners and refrigerators. Heat pumps reduce energy costs by 70 per cent, compared with standard electric hot water systems. Using a solar power system, homeowners will find their unused power goes back into the power grid, reversing the power metre or giving them a credit. QIS also has a range of insulation products including glasswool, polyester, cellulose fibre and sound insulation products. Insulation is compulsory in new homes to increase airconditioner efficiency and cut energy costs. For more information visit QIS/Solarwise at stall 122. Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) licensed copy Ref:

2 Smart Watermark into new phase An opportunity for water efficient products and services New Release: Monday, 11 December 2006 The national accreditation symbol for products and services which save water outdoors is moving into a new phase following an injection of funding by the Australian Government s Australian Water Fund. Mr. Malcolm Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with responsibility for water policy, launched the Smart Approved WaterMark campaign to industry and business leaders today and endorsed the importance of the Mark in helping consumers make informed choices when it comes to products which could save water around the home. The Smart WaterMark is the only national scheme where products or services are assessed by an independent panel of experts, so any business would be smart to sport the symbol if their product can contribute to saving water outdoors. There is no doubt that people will be looking for the WaterMark to give them assurance that they are using a product that makes a difference, Mr. Turnbull said. At Centennial Park in Sydney, Mr Turnbull launched the new business website for the Smart Watermark and the new marketing campaign to get business onside prior to a major consumer launch in The Smart WaterMark is a major step in helping consumers identify water saving products and services and I was pleased that at a recent meeting of State Environment Ministers that they committed to strengthening their support of the WaterMark by giving preference to Smart WaterMark labelled products when offering rebates, as well as by including the scheme in broader water policy mechanisms Mr. Turnbull said. The Federal Government s Australian Water Fund has provided $1.3 million for the Smart WaterMark which was established by four associations closely involved with water use the Water Services Association of Australia, the Australian Water Association, Nursery & Garden Industry Australia and the Irrigation Association of Australia. Since the Mark was established around 70 companies from different industry sectors have already been awarded the Smart WaterMark for products or services. They range from soil wetting agents and efficient irrigation equipment, to waterless car wash products and swimming pool covers. Mr. Turnbull also released findings of a News Poll by the Smart WaterMark which showed that the water issue is now uppermost in people's minds. 97% - almost everyone - believe the water situation in Australian cities is a serious one and almost half (44%) believe it is extremely serious. What was interesting is that the vast majority of people recognise that technology can play a significant role in helping us to reduce water use at home. 91% think new technologies are a key way to help. 86% believe that rebates for water efficient products or appliances are effective in reducing water use, with a similar percentage believing that education can be more effective. The community is responding to the benefits of water efficient products or practices - nearly 60% said they use trigger hoses and mulches and wetting agents, 41% recycle grey water in some way, 30% use a garden irrigation system, 21% have installed or use rainwater tanks and 13% are using waterless car cleaning products, said Mr. Turnbull. The Smart WaterMark will be much more successful if businesses and organisations get behind it - not only by developing products and services which help save water outdoors, but by showing their confidence in them by applying for and proudly displaying the Mark, concluded Mr. Turnbull. The CEO of Smart Approved WaterMark, Mr. Julian Gray, added that the research confirmed the need for a national mark with which people could identify. 30% of the 700 people interviewed in major capital cities said they recognised the Smart Watermark as a symbol for water saving, and 50% the sister Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards rating scheme for indoor water efficiency. Many companies, organisations and authorities have all developed their versions of water wise logos but it is time now that one national mark, the Smart WaterMark, is promoted strongly as the guarantee that a product or service has been professionally and independently assessed as a water-efficient or saving product, said Mr. Gray. The new business website for Smart Approved WaterMark is and further information can be obtained by calling is a Smart Approved WaterMark program 8 the master plumber january february 2007

3 Jump to page Research shows waterwise campaigns work Recent research shows Australians are responding enthusiastically to waterwise campaigns, with significant percentages of people reporting the adoption of waterwise garden practices. In a News Poll study of 700 people living in capital cities, nearly 60% said they use trigger hoses, mulches and wetting agents. The study also found that 41% of respondents recycle grey water in some way, 30% use a garden irrigation system and 21% have installed or use rainwater tanks. The industry should take some credit for the results as we continue to promote good garden practice through the Wise about Water campaign, said Michael Danelon, NSW Industry Development Officer. It is good to see that 86% of those polled believe education programs are important to change people s water use behaviour. A similar percentage also support rebates for water efficient products or appliances to reduce water consumption, added Michael. Notably, these figures were higher in WA, where water wise campaigns have been running longer. The study also exposed variations between states. In Sydney, for example, 61% feel restrictions are about right and 25% say they should be tighter while in Melbourne, only 40% feel they are about right against 53% who believe they are not restrictive enough. The News Poll study was commissioned by Smart Approved WaterMark, the national symbol for products and services which assist in saving water outdoors. NGIA is one of four associations which established the Mark. Responsible trading of aquatic weeds in the nursery industry Armed with some simple knowledge of aquatic weeds, nursery owners and employees can play a pivotal role in preventing the introduction and spread of these destructive aquatic plants. The National Aquatic Weeds Management Group is working with state governments, the aquarium industry and NGIA on a weed risk assessment of aquatic plants traded in Australia and overseas. Aimed at preventing future introductions into our waterways, the process hopes to identify aquatic plants with high weed risk and then remove these plants from sale. While the outcome for the nursery industry may be fewer aquatic plants for sale, the upside is some assurance that the aquatic plants available do not pose a serious threat to our waterways. Removing from sale any aquatic plant with growth habits that could make it an aquatic weed. More information on aquatic weeds and the nursery industry will be published in the April edition of Nursery Papers. Alternatively, contact Andrew Petroeschevsky, National Aquatic Weeds Coordinator, NSW Department of Primary Industries, via andrew.petroeschevsky@dpi.nsw.gov.au. Garden design insights workshop launched If you d like a better understanding of what is involved in successful landscape design then Garden Design Insights is for you. To give your business a competitive edge these days you need to do far more than just sell plants you need to be able to offer customers a vision of how their garden at home can be transformed. This workshop has been designed to help garden centre operators and staff in giving advice to customers. By the end of the workshop participants will be able to: Identify key principles of garden design Assess client needs and desires for garden design Develop a client brief and perform basic site analysis Understand the different garden themes and styles Develop a planting plan. Garden Design Insights is one of many new training initiatives that are being offered this year. To take part in this workshop (or to find out about upcoming training and recognition opportunities), contact your state or territory Nursery & Garden Industry Association. All nurseries can help with preventing introductions by: Purchasing aquatic plants from reputable wholesalers who utilise purpose built facilities rather than relying on harvests from waterways Learning which aquatic plants are banned from sale in your state/territory and how you can identify them Advising customers of the growth habits of aquatic plants and how to dispose of them correctly Since 2004, over $3 million has been spent on controlling this salvinia infestation in the Hawkesbury river. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Coventry, NSW DPI. February edition of NGIA Clippings written by Anton Pegler, Neville Sloss, Michael Danelon and Andrew Petroeschevsky; compiled and edited by Inga Ting, NGIA Publications & Web Coordinator. NGIA CLIPPINGS FEBRUARY 2007 Issue no.1

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