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Starbucks is leading the green charge one bean at a time. Rotate your body 360 degrees just about anywhere in downtown Manhattan and you’re almost guaranteed to spot a Starbucks cafe. They’re everywhere! The Starbucks phenomenon isn’t just limited to the States, either. Starbucks is well and truly a global organisation with over 21,000 stores in 65 countries (including 24 cafes across Australia). That means a lot of milk (over 90 million gallons a year), a stack of cups (well over two billion to be precise), huge energy consumption and the collective pupil dilations of millions around the

New and exciting sustainable technologies are popping up every day – and that’s great! So, what can you expect to be making the headlines in the not too distant future? Join us in taking a glimpse into our mystical eight ball as we shed some light on two of planet earth’s most promising upcoming gizmos. Plug and Play PV system The clever bunch at The Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE) have come up with this one and it’s sure to change the way solar panels are installed going forward. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, the Plug and Play System is

In partnership with Carbon Neutral, Solargain is proud to have contributed to the establishment of 360 native trees and shrubs through the Turn Emissions Into Trees Program. To help drive a reduction in the planet’s carbon emissions, Solargain planted one tree for every 100kW of solar installed across their entire Australian network during 2013-14. So, who are Carbon Neutral? They’re a carbon solutions provider that assists organisations and individuals across Australia to minimise their impact on the environment. Working with organisations of all sizes, they measure, reduce and offset

If you’re wondering how to choose a hot water system for your home, then this blog is for you! Whilst it’s hard to imagine your bathroom, laundry and kitchen without heated water, actually deciding on what type of system to install can be a little tough. So, what are your options? There are three main types of hot water systems available – powered either by Gas, Electricity or Solar. Here are the pros and cons of each to help you choose which is best for you. Gas Hot Water Gas hot water systems are generally cheaper to run than their electric equivalents, and there are two main types of units

It seems to be a trademark of so many films set in the future to include beautifully minimal cityscapes, filled with people dressed in polyester and of course, the inevitable whooshing sound of electric vehicles effortlessly passing by. This classic futuristic scene usually assumes that electricity is the energy of choice, and sourced completely from renewables thank you very much. Whilst some of today’s nations are well on the road to revolutionising the way renewable energy powers their cities and people, others (like our own) are a little behind – nevertheless Australia has plenty of

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) recently released a paper outlining five innovative ideas that could help generate more than 2000 jobs in Victoria. Titled, Quick Clean Energy Jobs For Victoria – the paper explores how a raft of jobs in clean energy sectors like solar power and solar hot water could be added quickly by making a number of simple tweaks to policy. These measures, according to the CEC, are particularly important to Victoria which has felt the impact of decisions by several major Victorian-based manufacturers to exit the Australian market. The CEC paper contends that ‘the state

For the first time ever, customers installing Solargain’s super-efficient hot water systems can now proclaim ‘I got it at Kambo’s!’ We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Kambo’s – one of Western Australia’s most trusted and leading retailers in household consumer appliances. As of October 2014, you’ll now be able to find our cutting-edge range of hot water systems in the Joondalup, Canning Vale and two Malaga (retail and commercial) Kambo’s stores. In many ways, Solargain’s new partnership with Kambo’s is a match made in heaven – with both company’s sharing a similar attitude

James Cameron, it seems, doesn’t do anything by halves. This is reflected not only in his impressive career, but in his personal pursuits as well. From directing the two biggest box office films of all time, to holding the record as the first person to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench – the deepest part of the ocean – on his own, Cameron lives life on a large scale. But back to his role in Hollywood. You’ve probably heard of the two films he’s directed which we touched on earlier; Titanic and Avatar. The original version of the latter not only took an incredible 10 years to create, but

Can you imagine a solar power iPhone capable of sustaining itself purely using the energy from the sun? It’s a concept that’s not as far-fetched as you may think. By the way, when we say solar power iPhone, we don’t mean a regular iPhone with roof panels stuck on the back. Instead, teams of scientists around the world are experiencing breakthroughs in ‘invisible’ solar power technology and Apple is reportedly very interested. The release of the new iPhone 6 has been met with a flood of positive reviews, not to mention pre-order sales which indicate that this may very well become the most

The Australian Government has received the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment (Draft) Report – along with 194 other IPCC member countries. The leading international body for climate change assessment, the IPCC was originally established by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organisation. The Council, which continues to be backed by the UN, is an authoritative voice on the topic of climate change, with thousands of scientists from across the globe contributing to the research and insights it provides. In the draft of its fifth report

The winter freeze has just about come to an end and now that spring is upon us, there’s (almost) no excuse to roll up your sleeves and get busy around your home. Here are 5 ways to blow off the dust of winter and prepare your place for spring and the warmer months! 1. Breathe Easy With Clean Air Now that the weather is heating up, chances are you’ll soon be reaching for the remote of your air-conditioning unit. The only problem is that most units lay dormant all throughout winter, collecting plenty of dust, germs and allergens in the process. Before using your air-con, clean the exterior

(The above photo courtesy of the Daily Telegraph) Innovation in solar power technology seems to be constant, with fantastic new ideas and devices challenging the way we use the sun’s infinite energy in our daily lives. While we’re often hearing about international solar energy breakthroughs, a young Australian has captured attention with new technology that has plenty of potential. Joseph Giorgio, a student at Wollongong University’s Intelligent Polymer Research Institute has been working on a solar panel unlike the ones we’re accustomed to today. Lightweight and paper-thin, the panels are