The climate change debate continues.

[Jerry_Atrick]

You're right, Nev. But, ISTR, especially in the Riverina area of NSW, these long, straight open canals, which suffer water evapouration (and therefore waste). There seems to be a lot of 'em around Australia. The above seems a good idea - more solar and less water evaporation. win/win. And, at least in theory, would reduce the requirement to drain the rivers into the canals. Not saying don't continue with solar farms.

Edited January 28, 2023 by Jerry_Atrick

[kgwilson]

Somewhere way, way back in this thread there are examples from studies done in Australia of cropping and grazing in solar farms. The panels are not 100% cover like the picture shows over the canals and the result was very low loss of productivity from co-cropping/grazing with reduced water loss and shade/shelter provided by the solar panels. Wool growers reported better quality wool and higher yield from fewer sheep. The term agrivoltaics has been coined to describe the practice

 

https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2022/05/31/graziers-in-nsw-agrisolar-trial-report-improved-wool-quality/

 

https://esdnews.com.au/growing-crops-under-solar-panels-agrivoltaics-takes-off/

[Bruce Tuncks]

The ( retired) local polly spent his career to get the Wimmera-Mallee canals changed to pipes. Apparently, 90%b of the water was being lost to seepage and evaporation. Well the job is done and there is more water than before. 

Any reduction of evaposeepage is good.

[facthunter]

Pipes are the best way. Evaporation  rate is high when RH is low and the ambient air moves a bit.. Temp helps too..   What cost for the supports over the drain? Nev

[onetrack]

I'm wondering how they arrange to clean out the canals covered in solar panels, when they need cleaning - which is fairly regularly. They silt up and gather windblown trash.

[Jerry_Atrick]

I imagine some form of robotics as they do in sewerage systems.. but I have no idea without looking it up.

[spacesailor]

I think the Bridges over the Murray river would be similar, to having solar above the water !. Very low slung dredges & hard hats compulsory. LoL

spacesailor

[Jerry_Atrick]

Who would have thought that an Aussie was behind the US Inflation Reduction Act (or partly at least): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-27/saul-griffith-s-plan-to-electrify-australia/102003020

Edited February 27, 2023 by Jerry_Atrick

[Marty_d]

1 hour ago, Jerry_Atrick said:

Who would have thought that an Aussie was behind the US Inflation Reduction Act (or partly at least): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-27/saul-griffith-s-plan-to-electrify-australia/102003020

Read that today.  Looks like he's doing good work to try to electrify his postcode.  Wish we had one like him in every postcode.

 

[facthunter]

The economics of a "District" battery must be pretty compelling. SA has the highest % battery "effect"? It was ridiculed soundly by Sco Mo and Co but the SA liberal Gov't continued with it now with SA state Labor doing the same. That way your excess power can be used usefully and you'll get more than you do now. SOME people are still getting 60+ cents/Kw Hr but my conscience wouldn't let me do that even though I did have the option. I'm very surprised it's still operating.  Nev

[kgwilson]

The 60c a kWh nearly sent the NSW Government broke back in 2010 as the uptake has massive and thousands of Solar installations of only about 1.5 kW were getting cheques in the mail instead of a bill. It was stopped immediately but those who had contracts for I think 5 years kept getting the credits for that time. I installed my system in 2014 & while it is only 2kW I still export half of what I produce but now the feed in tariff is only 5.5 cents a kWh.

[facthunter]

THAT figure was always totally out of proportion to any proper assessment  At the time a small coal power station I knew of was getting 2.6 Cents and that supplied 24/7.. That's about 9 years ago. I think there's some skulduggery going on in this show. and the losers are US.  Nev

[red750]

They're always on and on about going green - get rid of plastics. We were green before plastic bags.

 

 

When I was in high school, my Dad brought home an ex-prisoner and gave him a room in a bungalow attatched to the garage. He taught my siblings and I how to weave baskets like the one below, with a 3-ply wooden base.

 

[spacesailor]

I an Old enough to remenber those pre plasic bags .

Every one totally & enthusiastically welcomed the END of logging for ' shopping bag ' brown paper.

That always dropped your groceries at the most inappropiate time or place , ( just jumping onto bus ) .

And

The New plastic cloth !.

" poplin , rayon, nylon .

All the women Loved their ' Nylons ' .

spacesailor

[spacesailor]

I thought there would be A few returns, on this post ! , what happened ?.

In Germany the Greens are now, complaining about the excessive logging of ' old growth  ' forest ', for the paper-bag industry .

spacesailor

[pmccarthy]

Nylon shirts were a great labour saver for mum. Dad always smelled like he had just completed the Sydney Marathon (though it didn’t exist yet)!

[old man emu]

A wicker basket is great if you have to pop down to the corner "mum forgot" shop at a time when we didn't have the domestic refrigerators and freezers to store perishables. Today we don't do a daily shop, but weekly or fortnightly. Reusable bags that fold to take up less storage space are the go. Ones made of hessian, a strong, plant-based fabric, are about the best. My wife and I picked up a heap from Tesco and ASDA when we holidayed in England (Waitrose was too up-market for us) in 2012 and I used them still. 

 

I really object to paying up to 20 cents for a bag which becomes a hand-held advertising placard as soon as I walk out of the shop.

[Marty_d]

If you do click and collect,  they bring out your groceries on a 2 wheel trolley in plastic tubs, you then pull out the items and put them in your car.  I just pack them loose and reverse up to our front door, but a couple of heavy duty tubs would make it even easier. 

[spacesailor]

O M E

We did that same thing '' picked up a heap from Tesco and ASDA when we holidayed in England (Waitrose was too up-market for us '' .

We get asked a lot '' were did you get that bag '' with dog picture on it .

those green supermarket bags are still Plastic , just thicker  .

spacesailor

[Jerry_Atrick]

2 hours ago, old man emu said:

My wife and I picked up a heap from Tesco and ASDA when we holidayed in England (Waitrose was too up-market for us) in 2012 and I used them still. 

They are great, but they are pretty expensive now; £2 or thereabouts. And of course, ol' Eisntein here always forgets to put them in the car when I go shopping! So, now I have a fine collection of hessians and thick plastics from all the major supermarkets...

 

Yes.. Waitrose is upmarket... Sells the same stuff but for more money. The closest is Wellington, which, IMHO, has worst fresh produce than ASDA (which is noit terribly great).. But, I am off to Waitfrose this morning as it is roast day today, and while their meats are not the cheapest by a long shot, the quality rivals the finest artisan butchers. I will remember to take a bag today!

 

 

[red750]

Woolies are doing away with in-store butchers in many stores, our local one included. Now we have to buy prepacked meat in plastic trays. Our large recycling bin is half filled with these meat trays every week. Worse than plastic bottles, because they are more difficult to crush, or they just spring back. 

[spacesailor]

If prepacked food is a poor seller ! 

Woolies will have to look at a return to a Good butcher .

I was shopping there today & their ' black grapes ' were prepacked at 600 grams .NO SALE.

Bought them loose in Aldi 1.2 kilo, equals two woolies packs , saving $2, something .

spacesailor

 

[Old Koreelah]

Remember the ABC TV series “The Inventors”?

Always some great new home-grown idea that might change the world. The panel always included a range of expertise and this lady was a pocket rocket even then; now she’s changing the way we make steel!

 

https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/in-a-world-desperate-to-go-green-nsw-steel-town-is-providing-a-solution-20230330-p5cwl4.html

 

[onetrack]

The biggest shame of all is that our Newcastle steelworks is owned by an American corporate investment group. Getting rid of used tyres has to be the greatest benefit to the nation in the last 50 years.

Everywhere you look there are dumped tyres. We regularly get imbeciles dumping tyres outside our factory units. They need to increase the fines for tyre dumping.

 

[kgwilson]

i've not done any research but there are apparently plenty of things that can be made from old used tyres. When you buy new tyres there is a disposal fee for the old one. What does that cover? Presumably taking it to a tyre dump. The cost of recycling is quite expensive. Maybe the fee should increase to assist with the cost of recycling.

Edited March 31, 2023 by kgwilson