Look for a System that Suits Your Home

Many solar panel buyers assume that all photovoltaic systems are alike. This assumption is incorrect. Several different configurations exist. A home with unobstructed roof space that gets a lot of sunlight might call for a roof-mounted system. These systems can be attached with pole mounts or ballasted footing mounts. A home that has ample roof space but inconsistent sunlight might benefit from a system with solar trackers. Trackers rotate panels to follow the sun as it moves through the sky. While trackers tend to increase costs, they can be well worth the expense in some cases. Homes without good roof space can still achieve energy efficiency with ground-mounted systems. Before purchasing any solar panels, buyers should have a clear idea of the system that best suits their needs.

Look for the Best Panels You Can Afford

It is tempting to buy the cheapest panels on the market, but doing so can be a bad idea. The cheapest panels might be based on outdated solar technology. Buying older panels can sometimes make sense, but buyers should know what they are getting into. Cheap but modern panels often have poor materials and inferior construction. Such panels will not last as long as quality panels. They can also be more prone to weather damage. Additionally, they tend to work less efficiently. Inefficient solar panels translate to less energy production. Buyers should resist the urge to jump at the lowest price without first considering quality.

Look for Incentives to Decrease Initial Costs

To encourage green initiatives, there are rebates and incentives on solar panel purchases. There's no saying what the government will do with the subsidy and feed in tariff in the future, but for now it makes installing solar a whole lot more affordable. Buyers should seize every opportunity that applies to them, so take it while it's there for the taking.

Look for a Reputable Supplier

Solar panel buyers should take time to carefully choose a supplier. Understandably, many buyers are eager to get their systems installed as soon as possible, but a little due diligence goes a long way. As in any profitable field, dishonest companies sometimes try to cut corners or unjustly raise their prices. Choosing the wrong company can ruin an investment. Smart buyers always verify that the company they are dealing with is reputable. Buyers can check national and local company rankings as well as looking into what past customers have said.

Look for Free Estimates and Consultations

Many solar panel supply and installation companies are happy to offer free estimates and consultations to potential clients. Smart buyers will take advantage of these opportunities because they understand the benefit of interacting with a company's representatives before they agree to anything. If they get a bad feeling, they can simply walk away.

Contributed by David at Solar Panel Free Quotes, where you can get three free quotes from local solar panel installation professionals.

One of the many things that you will have to decide on when you are about to start keeping bees is what kind of beehive design you want. There are three major types of beehives to choose from, but you will have to decide which design works for you. There is the movable frame hive, top bar hive, and fixed come hive. There are also variations of each of these types of hives.

The fixed comb hive is the oldest type of beehive design. Within this design, the combs cannot be removed without destroying the hive itself. All of the original hives that were kept in ancient times were fixed comb hives. Unfortunately, this hive is not the best for keeping bees. Fixed comb hives are no longer used commonly and are illegal in some places.

Top bar hives are commonly found in Africa. These hives were originally used in Vietnam and Greece. Once the honey combs are removed from the hive, they are not replaced, making them less efficient than the movable frame hive, but superior to the fixed comb hive. The initial cost of owning a top bar hive is relatively low and they are easy to work with. There are a few well known types of top bar hives such as the Kenyan Top Bar Hive, the Tanzanian Top Bar Hive, and the Vertical Top Bar Hive.

The most commonly used beehive design in modern times is the movable frame hive. This type was developed as a way to preserve the hives when it was time to extract the honey. Lorenzo Langstroth is credited with perfecting the movable comb hives. After this, many beekeepers began creating their own version of these hives. Within this design, the frames are movable and it is opened at the top. Langstroth hives are the most common in the United States. England, France, Germany, and Scotland have found ways to create their own versions of the Langstroth movable hive, changing different aspects of the hive design to match the characteristics of the bees in their respective areas.

To build your own beehive, see these beehive plans.

The chemicals use for non-organic vegetable cultivation are not the kind of thing you want to be feeding your family. But what's are the options? Organically grown vegetables are expensive, and you never really know if they are truly organically certified. And isn't growing organic vegetables time consuming? Not according to Jonothan White, Environmental Scientist, Horticulturalist and author of Food for Wealth.

Jonathon's guide to growing organic vegetables will show you how to build and maintain a high yield veggie patch with as little as 8 hours maintenance per year.

Enough dreaming, before you can taste your own succulent home grown honey or even keep your own bees, you need to build your own beehive.

Beekeeping is literally as old as the Egyptians with records of domestic beekeeping going back to around 2500 BC. Beehive design has come a long way since then too with the invention of the moveable comb hive in the 18th century.

Beehive design has continued to improve with innovations continuing in the 20th century. You can even download the best beehive plans and build your own hive.

Designed and built by professional beekeepers, these DIY beehive plans will have you keeping your own honey bees in no time.

Sustainable building is a method of reducing the total resource and energy usage of a structure as much as possible. This means considering the impact of everything involved, not just tacking some solar panels onto an existing building. This doesn't necessarily mean new construction: Many of these techniques can be applied to existing homes.

A sustainable home will have the following:

Materials that are recycled, locally sourced, use little energy to produce, or a combination of the three.

Passive technologies that reduce the need for resources like electricity and water.

Active technologies that help replace unsustainable resources.

Interior design which maximized the use of space, making smaller homes more livable. A smaller home has a smaller footprint.

Remember: Using sustainable building techniques is about making the home uncomfortable, it's about keeping it comfortable while using fewer resources.

What can I do to make a home sustainable?

Southern exposure - If you are looking for a place to put a house, having the front face the south will lower the building's exposure to heat. Awning-shaded windows will block the sun in the summer, but allow it to heat the house when it passes lower in the sky during the winter.

Cool roof - Everyone knows that lighter colors reflect more light and heat, yet few consider that by choosing a lighter colored roof they can decrease their air conditioning usage.

Insulation - In older homes, insulation was only placed between wall beams. Fully sealing the wall interiors will greatly increase the effectiveness of insulation. Argon-filled double pane windows also increase insulation, and some companies can even rebuild old wooden frames to use this glass.

Thermal mass - This catch-all term covers any large mass that takes a while to heat or cool. Underground homes and earthships use large quantities as dirt as an insulator, while clay tiles can absorb sunlight through open windows to be released during the night.

Scavenged hardware - Repurposed wood may be trendy, but it can be difficult to track down for a specific project. It is now common practice to remove light fixtures, knobs, and other pieces from older houses that are being torn down. Reusing these doesn't require the energy needed to make new pieces, and it gives the house a unique look.

Lighting - Compact fluorescents may be standard soon, but LEDs use about half the electricity of CFLs and has an extremely long lifespan.

Rain collection - “Gray” water may not be fit for drinking, but it’s great for watering plants. This can be as simple as having gutters drain into a barrel.

For even more information on how to make your home sustainable, why not request a home sustainability assessment?

They will give you specific advice on inexpensive adjustments you can utilize, making your home more comfortable, saving you money, and improving the environment. A helpful, qualified expert can give you information about the most advanced and affordable environmental enhancements your home can use, like photovoltaic panels and hot water heaters that are solar powered. They are knowledgeable regarding energy, cooling, heating, and water use.

Personal Habits do Effect the Environment

Most of us do not realize the daily habits we have that significantly effect the environment. Individuals in their homes consume one third of all the energy used in Australia. Now, people do not have to give up all the comforts of life in order to live for the earth's ecosystem. Still, just the water used in normal toilets is phenomenal. One third of the water used in the country goes down the toilet. Another thing that happens every day is that each person disposes about 1.8 kilos of waste and garbage. Households yearly dispose of at least 39 kilos of plastic products. Then, think about the landfills where garbage just sits for an average of thirty years without decomposing.

The shocking truth is that about 84% of the items thrown away at home are recyclable. For instance, seventeen trees are saved for every ton of paper recycled. Next, recycling aluminium cans uses about 90% less energy than to manufacture new ones.

Benefits for You

A brief visit by the certified expert can show you easy, effective and affordable ways to better your life and make your home more snug and energy efficient. Working for green living by enhancing the home's effect on the environment helps you do three things: do something to better your environment, save yourself money and add to your home's worth and value.

For more information, visit Green Homes Sustainability Assessments.

For the new homeowner, figuring out where to turn for services in installing a solar water heater for the property can be a potentially daunting prospect. An individual is faced with such questions as, 'How legitimate is this company I am looking at?' or 'How can I be sure that the job will be done right?'. The answer to these two questions is actually quite simple. Allow 'FindSolar.com.au' to help you find the best professional solar hot water heater installer for your situation.

FindSolar has taken care of the most difficult aspects of locating a good company for the job by personally undertaking a reviewal process on all local businesses that specify services in solar water heater installation. On the customer's end, this eliminates the issue of having to look up, research, review and even price search on various companies. The easy-to-use directory format on the FindSolar home page makes locating local solar hot water installers far more convenient and less time consuming for the user while bringing the best results to your fingertips in the blink of an eye.

Simply explore the directory list that is provided to the user on FindSolar's home page. Along with a small description of a company's services, the information provided on a business profile will include a telephone number, physical address and visual map location. Another great advantage that places FindSolar at the top of its field is the easily accessible search bar option. The search bar is located on the top right corner of the site's home page. If one does not immediately see what they are looking for on the home page, they must simply key in their preferred location to bring up the desired results. If a user desires additional help in their search, there is also a FindSolar contact form available to them for use.

Photo by Seattle.Mushroamer

The easiest part to the project is – surprisingly perhaps – installing the solar collector and ensuring that it functions correctly. The solar collector is usually a large tub that is painted black on the outside, in order to easily absorb heat and therefore heat the water that it contains. It should also include insulation inside, which will prevent the heat from escaping once it has been trapped.

As well as this simple design, it is also possible to purchase a flat collector, which is more expensive but will work far more efficiently. The difference between the two is that instead of a tub of water, the flat design has pipes going through it that are filled with water. This allows a far greater amount of water to be exposed to the heat and therefore to heat up far more quickly.

Deciding on the placement of the collector is probably the most vital decision that a person can make, as it must be positioned perfectly to extract the maximum amount of use from it. As the collector needs to be privy to as much solar energy as possible, it is best to place it on a part of the roof that constantly receives sunlight throughout the day, with the most normal place for this being south facing.

This placement of the collector needs to be balanced with the distance that it is from the boiler though, as the water will lose heat as it travels through the plumbing system. This means that the closer it is to the boiler, the hotter the water will be when it reaches it. Working out the optimum place can be a somewhat laborious process, but it is essential that the right balance is found.

Once the catcher has been placed, the only step left is to connect it to the plumbing system, which is probably the most difficult part of the job. Plenty of time should be allowed for this as there are many different pipes and joints that will need to be played with. If in doubt an experienced plumber will be able to easily sort this issue out for the homeowner.

After the pipes are connected, the system is ready. Any person with this system in their home will be amazed at how well it functions, as well as being equally amazed regarding the amount of money it can save.

The app contains 214 entries for various categories of produce, including categories beyond fruits and vegetables such as herbs, mushrooms, nuts, and salad leaves. Information includes local growing season, import season and the growing seasons for other areas of the world, a picture of the produce, and a short blurb of background information that can be used to search for more in depth information if the user desires more.

When planning the produce shopping, users can utilize search tools and browsing options to locate the freshest options to put on the table. Consumers seeking fresh local food can provide a boost to the local economy and improve their own daily health and living with consumption of the fresher and healthier local options. To make finding the fresh picks even easier, a map tool provides graphical information about the location of farmers' markets in the user's vicinity. Creators of the app have gathered this local information in Australia and the United States through information gathered from the Australian Farmers Market Association, Local Food Advisor, Qype, and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Other changes with the latest version of Seasons include localized Spanish language options, support for Retina display, and new entries for 43 products. To locate the newest version of this iPhone app, simply search in the "Lifestyle" category or search directly for "Seasons." For users wishing to reconnect with nature, support the local agricultural centers, stimulate the local economy, eat fresh produce, or simply know where produce originates before it hits the table, this app can satisfy all of those cravings.

Seasonal iPhone App.

Since the plants and fish have a symbiotic relationship, this process happens over and over. Although this method of raising fish dates as far back as the height of the Aztec civilization, when it was used as a form of agriculture, aquaponics as we know it today is still in its early stages. Gaining popularity in urban areas, it’s a new way to “go green.”

The benefits of aquaponics are numerous. It’s excellent for creating food at home. Not only do you save money by raising the fish yourself, but this method also only needs 10%–20% of the water than what’s needed for most other growing methods.

If you’re environmentally-responsible, then there’s the bonus that water is always being reused and recycled. It’s a good way to grow fish for people that don’t have a lot of land, such as city folk. Because aquaponics doesn’t require cropland, these systems are relatively easy to maintain. You don’t have to do much cleaning and the ongoing garden expenses are low.

Other advantages are the decrease in diseases that typically trouble aquacultural systems and the organic fertilization of plants. Microbes and insects change fish feces into humus, which becomes soil. This soil, of course, can then be used to grow organic vegetables. The resulting food is natural and healthy. You get to reduce your carbon footprint, and you won’t need to drive as often to get food if you’re growing it at home. With this sustainable process, aquaponics doesn’t need as many resources as traditional farming after the initial cost of equipment.

So, how do you find and use an aquaponics system? There are a number of sites that sell kits online and guides. We recommend you check out the Aquaponics 4 You guide.

You can also call your local gardening supplies store to see if they sell aquaponics supplies, and ask the clerk for advice. For beginners, it’s been recommended that you set up a medium-fill grow bed in your backyard. Be sure to research how much space you’ll need before making any purchases, as the kits have a range of materials and sizes.

Find out more about the Aquaponics 4 You guide.

Growing enough produce in a small area to feed a family is challenging. Small space gardening, or high density gardening is becoming more and more popular due to the diminishing size of the Australian back yard and increased prices.

There are many techniques you might consider to get the most our of a small garden. Here are just a few:

Companion Planting

Combine vegetables and herbs that offer advantages to one another as they grow. Companion planting offers natural pest control, aids in soil balance and uses space-saving principles.

Inter-Cropping

Planting vegetables that share space well. A popular vegetable combination using this principle is radishes and carrots. Purdue University Extension suggests mixing the seeds together to plant. Radishes grow quickly enough to harvest in three to five weeks, making room for the carrots to mature after your radishes are harvested.

Vertical Gardening

Vertical gardening takes full advantage of space above the ground. Vine type vegetables such as tomatoes, beans, peas, cucumber, squash and pumpkin are all good vertical gardening options. Wall mounted planters can expand the vegetable varieties you can grow including shallow-rooted, non-vine types such as lettuce, spinach, radishes and onions.

Raised Bed and Container Gardening

Use raised beds or container gardens not only to utilize deck and patio space, but to expand your growing season as well. Because the soil warms faster, it offers earlier planting and frost protection. These principles also prevent soil compaction and offer better soil drainage than in ground gardens.

For more information on how you can increase the amount of produce you grow:

Find more visit High Density Gardening

Maintenance, performed routinely and responsibly, are not just important factors in increasing the life span of your motor. It is also an important factor of protecting our surrounding and the world we live in. "Fuel efficiency" is a buzz word that is making its rounds among the auto industry in recent years but many forget about the emissions from other common motorized items we own. Boats, lawn mowers, snow blowers and even planes can make a large impact on our world if we don't also regulate their exhaust.

Keeping your outboard motor in optimal running shape will keep it running at optimal proficiency. This will keep harmful emissions to a minimum.

The first good way of doing this is to ensure that you are using the right size and type of equipment for your boat. The right size propeller will do large parts in lowering the amount of fuel you need to use. Modular and adjustable prop types could ensure that you are using the minimum amount of fuel necessary.

Another item that can help is a fuel flow meter. Just like cars are sometimes equipped with instruments that inform the operator the amount of mileage they are getting per gallon, these boat instruments can do much of the same thing.

Oil recycling can help as well. While some may argue that recycled oil is not as efficient as fresh petroleum products the opposite case can be made. While bringing more and more fossil fuel refining into play we are doing more harm than re-using the products we already have.

Avoiding excessive speed can also be of assistance when it comes to fuel consumption regulation. Many boaters often go at speeds that are excessive to the need. This uses fuel that is not typically necessary when less could be used to go the same distance. While speed is sometimes needed, unnecessary speed just "for the thrill" is never good for the environment and, more often than not, unsafe.

Many regulating organizations were behind the power curve but in 2006 the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States began to control some aspect of outboard motors as well. This policy mandated a seventy-five percent in reduction of emissions

People should be allowed to own any piece of equipment that allows them to enjoy themselves, find relaxation and reap the bounty of a hard earned pay check. However, safe and responsible handling both for their bodies and the environment, should be a responsibility for all. Maintaining an environmentally friendly outboard is a way that boaters can do their part.

If it's time to upgrade your motor to a leaner, greener, more modern model, then check out the rage of outboard motors for sale over at BoatsPlus.com.au. For an even greener solution, you might want to consider an electric outboard motor.

You don't need to be a builder, anybody can make solar panels. It's really quite easy to make solar panels once you know a few industry secrets. Plus, a guide that breaks the steps down into an easy to follow format - walking you through the process step-by-step.

Earth 4 Energy has created a very handy guide to building your own solar panels, making diy solar electricity possible.

Even with the existing solar rebate, buying a decent electric solar panel system is out of reach for most households. Basic systems still cost $3000 or more.

This guide will show you how to build solar panels for under $200 - bringing solar electricity within your reach.

The solar panel builders guide gives you the following content:

• An introduction to solar energy
• How to build solar panels
• Solar panel calculator - find out how many will your household need
• How to install and mount solar panels
• Electric wiring plans
• Video tutorials
• Bonus: how to build a wind turbine

So if you've ever wanted to go solar, without the expense, go and take a look at the Make Your Own Solar Panels Guide.

Green Home Sustainability Pty Ltd provides 4 basic services to the home owner:

1 . Home Sustainability Assessments which potentially give home owners access to information to implement changes recommended in the home sustainability assessment report.

2 . House holders can have specific Home Sustainability Assessments tailored to their needs and refit programs with relevant rebates project managed for their convenience.

3 . Services are available in Firstrate5, Building Thermal Rating at the plan design stage.

4 . A referral service to reputable, honest and professional service and product suppliers of sustainability products.

Home owners can now access free home sustainability assessments to find out how to save energy and water around the house and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The free assessments are funded by the Australian Government’s Green Homes Program, which makes recommendations for improvements that will help save money.

To receive a free home sustainability assessment check out green home sustainability for a free home sustainability assessment for you.

There are lots of changes that can be made in your garden to help save water such as planting natives, using water crystals or even letting your lawn go brown in summer. All of these things are important but the simple act of changing the WAY you water can see you using as much as 60% less water.

By applying water to your plants or lawn underground – at the root zone – water loss though evaporation and run-off is eliminated. Even when compared to a water efficient sprinkler, or surface drip irrigation system, applying water underground is far more efficient.

Systems designed for use on the surface (such as drip irrigation) have been used underground, but with mixed results because they are not designed for this kind of use. Problems with blockage from roots and uneven wetting are common.

Subsurface Textile Irrigation, however, is design specifically for use underground and ensures a wide, uniform wetting pattern, minimal water losses through drainage and protection from root blockages without the use of harsh herbicides.

Water travels evenly along the length of an STI system and is distributed evenly to plants, whereas subsurface drip irrigation which tends to result in a series of disconnected circles of wet soil. Because water is delivered uniformly to the root zone plants are stronger and healthier.

Subsurface Textile Irrigation is used around Australia and throughout the world to irrigate crops, parks and public gardens and is a great solution for Australian backyards. In cities with harsh water restrictions, like Adelaide, STI is a popular solution for keeping a happy healthy yard, while complying with restrictions.

STI is also used extensively to keep sports fields green and ready for play – even when water is scarce. On many fields, like Eaton Hills State School in Queensland, recycled water is used as it can be safely applied at any time using the KISSS Subsurface Textile Irrigation system – even while the field is being played on.

The system is relatively simple to install – even in an existing lawn – and can be fully automated and paired with soil sensors (to turn off our system during rain periods) to provide maximum water savings while nurturing a healthy garden.

Subsurface Textile Irrigation is approved under even the harshest water restrictions – although it’s recommended you check with your local water authority as rules are subject to change.

For more information on Subsurface Textile Irrigation visit www.iwtech.com.au

The best known definition of sustainability or sustainable development is the definition by the World Commission on Environment and Development. This suggests that sustainability is defined as: … forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Environmental sustainability refers to the environmental actions or impacts of what we do. In moving towards sustainability, we are attempting to reduce our ‘ecological footprint’ or to ‘tread more lightly’ on the earth. This equates to reducing the amount of resources we use (and buy), the waste we produce and the emissions we produce.

Home sustainability assessments are a great opportunity to engage the general public in the broad principles of sustainability and to encourage them to adopt these principles in their daily lives. A trained assessor visits a household and undertakes an assessment on energy and water use, the type and amount of waste generated and recycling and gardening practices. During the assessment, the assessor will look around the home and ask questions to evaluate the current consumption of the household and recommend simple and cost effective changes to the lifestyle of the individual/family.

Home sustainability audits and assessments vary according to the needs of the householder, the cost they are willing to pay and the knowledge and expertise of the assessor. Some audits or assessments for example cover only one particular area such as energy or water. The level of consultation, time spent at the home and detail of advice given also varies and therefore the cost applicable.

Why use Home Sustainability Assessors?

Increasing numbers of households are now seeking a service that identifies how they can best reduce their energy and water use and develop sustainable living practices. This may be as simple as improving lighting and water use in the home, to changing the way they use appliances, to installing solar panels and rainwater tanks.

Accredited Home Sustainability Assessors will provide households with the confidence that they will receive accurate, effective and impartial advice when they engage a trained service provider.

The typical Home Sustainability Assessment can look at General Household information and details of the home. Energy usage-heating and cooling and appliances. Aspects of “Green Living” – Waste, transport, lighting and insulation. Water usage in and outside the home and gardening activities. A summary of the assessment is given in a report with recommendations of actions in an order of priority.

Victorian's can request for a FREE Home Sustainability Assessment by contacting Roger Moulton from Green Home Sustainability.

This easy to follow organic vegetable gardening guide with show you how to grow your own organic vegetables.

Jonathan White, Environmental Scientist and Horticulturalist wrote Food4Wealth to help people grow their own organic fruit and vegetables. This book will show you how to:

• Set up a garden that produces many times more than a traditional vegetable garden
• Grow food that you can harvest every single day of the year, no matter where you live
• Grow vegetables and fruit ORGANICALLY
• Grow food in any soil, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
• Grow more food than you need and sell the excess
• Create a garden that regenerates all by itself, year after year

The Food4Wealth Organic Gardening Method

The Food4Wealth guide will help you build a natural habitat that is made up of edible plants - you can create one more easily than you realize. This method of organic gardening is far easier than creating a traditional vegetable garden. No digging, and you won't have to barrow heavy loads.

Once this organic ecosystem is set up you will be able to harvest fresh organic vegetables and fruit every single day. It will literally save you thousands of dollars per year.

Jonathon's guide give you simple instructions on how to quickly and cheaply setup your own sustainable organic garden full of edible fruit and vegetables.

Find Out More About the Food4Wealth Organic Gardening System

Having moved into a new house recently I was shocked and dismayed to realize I had no where to store my tools, lawn mower and all the other crap I've managed to accumulate over the years. Not to mention having a retreat away from the misus - after all, every Aussie boy needs a shed.

That when I came across Ryan Henderson DIY Shed building guide with 12,000 shed plans to choose from. Ryan has been building wooden outdoor sheds for over 20 years and will teach you the basics of how to build a shed in minutes, not days.

This shed building guide put together by Ryan shows you exactly how to start building wooden sheds and woodwork projects easily, so that you're fully up and running, creating remarkable outdoor garden sheds and woodwork projects within days from now.

Even I was able to follow this guide and I barely know one end of a hammer from the other. As it says on the box, this guild can help you:

• No matter whether you're a beginner or a seasoned woodworker.
• No matter whether you're building your first shed or your 100th project.
• No matter if you do not have the DIY skills, knowledge or aptitude for building
• No matter how many instructional books or blueprints you've bought...

Building a Shed Shouldn't be too much like hard work

... and Ryan makes it a breeze. His shed plans spoil you for choice, and with so many plans to choose from you can pick one that matches you level of DIY skill. I was able to knock up a great little shed in a day with only 1 trip to Bunnings instead of the usual 4 that most other projects require!

Click Here to Find Out More

A little reading can be a dangerous thing. After a little research I've found that a greenhouse will help you grow vegetables almost all year round. Now I want to build my own glasshouse so I can grow vegetables in winter and enjoy organic produce all year.

During the colder months, glasshouses keep in moisture and heat, allowing you to grow vegetables during winter (unless you're in a really cold area).

Glasshouses can be cheap to build. All you need is a basic frame and a transparent covering. Glass can be expensive, however there are cheap alternatives to glass that can make glasshouses an affordable addition to the garden.

If you're need plans, I found a cheap guide to building a green house that's only US$29.95 and available for download at the following link:

Build a Greenhouse - Plans

Many people may be considering adding another rain water tank for fire fighting purposes or perhaps even replacing one damaged by fire last summer. Before you buy a rainwater tanks, consider the effects fire may have before making your purchase.

The simple facts are that plastics melts and concrete can crack under extreme heat. So to prevent fire damage to rainwater tanks try to have them installed underground or at least in a protected spot under the house. The longer your tanks last the longer they can hold water to help protect your home from fire.

For more info, check with your your local rainwater tank supplier.