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

ISSUE 165

Policy and advocacy update • The writing is on the wall for gas in Australia's homes

About Renew

UP FRONT

Where to on climate policy?

Better Renting update

PRODUCTS

Battery technology advancing • Batteries will be a big part of global electrification plans, but we need better batteries. One company is leading the way with multiple advances.

Community eco hub • Nathan Scolaro spends 15 minutes with Stuart Wilson and Michael McGarvie from the Ecological Justice Hub in Brunswick, Melbourne.

Climate ready • After three wet summers in Australia, the forecast has shifted to hot and dry. Jacinta Cleary reports on how to save money, stay comfortable and keep cool at home and in the community this summer.

Preparing for bushfires

Getting ready for heatwaves

Climate-ready gardening • Jacqui Hagen offers some tips for water-wise gardens that will tolerate the hot, dry season ahead.

Replace your boring lawn with a hardy Australian garden that supports local biodiversity.

Say no to plastic weed matting!

Plant suggestions

Residential rainwater tanks are an essential component of climateresilient homes, especially in warmer and drier climates like Australia. Our partners at Kingspan give us five good reasons to invest in one.

How to fall deeply and madly in love with your home • Mara Ripani and Matthew Turner discuss what's involved in creating an effective building envelope for your home.

Recycled hydronic heat • Renew's sustainability researcher Rachel Goldlust gives us a view of and from the Salvage Yard.

How to retrofit recycled hydronic panels

Saywell by name, say well by nature • We spend time with local energy advocate and trailblazing grassroots campaigner, Shirley Saywell.

A case for the wilds • Senior sustainability consultant Rob McCann looks at how biodiversity loss impacts scientific knowledge and innovation.

Communities taking charge • Tom Hawking investigates the importance of community batteries for the energy transition.

EVs on a budget — an affordable electric vehicle buyers guide • We talk a lot about EVs here at Renew, but getting into a new EV can seem like a budget breaker for many. We look at ways to electrify your transport options without spending a fortune.

BYD Dolphin Dynamic

GWM Ora Standard Range

MG4 Excite 51

Battery fire risk

Charging in a nutshell

Petroleum is fast becoming a dirty word • John Hermans explains why.

Bring on the electric ute • Bryce Gaton asks, will 2023 be the Australian ‘Year of the electric light commercial vehicle’?

Electrifying an old timber launch • Dick Clarke explains how he lifted his boat Solstice out of the 1950s and into the 21st century.

Energy matters • Alan Pears brings us the latest news and analysis from the energy sector.

Write to us • We are always pleased to hear from you, whether it's a comment on a Renew article, something you're doing to live more sustainably, or a question you need answering.

SOLAR AND VOLTAGE RISE

On a mission • Nathan Scolaro gets to know Renew member and sustainability book club convenor, Sandy Xu