It was all over the news in January. A specialist team of remote area firefighters from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) carried out a series of deft operations and successfully saved the prehistoric Wollemi Pines from the bushfires.
“Wollemi National Park is the only place in the world where these trees are found in the wild and, with less than 200 left, we knew we needed to do everything we could to save them,” Environment Minister, Matt Kean said.
What you may not know is that the team who carried out this complex rescue mission had been trialling locally-made fire action bags and belts, custom made for Australian conditions by the Summit Gear sewing factory in Katoomba.
The specialist firefighting team’s achievements while trialling the gear could be said to be a testament to the quality and usability of these products.
Summit Gear owner Robert Inshaw is proud of his years of experience supplying firefighting bags and harnesses for the Blue Mountains NPWS and RFS.
“Australian fire fighting conditions are often more remote than American conditions, and require helicopter drops and winching” explained Mr Inshaw.
This means that local firefighters were often asking him to modify the American products they received. This summer, Inshaw suggested that they trial his locally-made custom gear instead.
Jake Kearney, from the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, who has ordered a Summit Gear Modular Harness to trial for specialist firefighters, commented on his custom kit.
“Thanks for making and delivering the modular harness so quickly. The workmanship is second to none and I look forward to many years on the fire ground with it.”
Inshaw hopes that this proof of product quality combined with the lower carbon footprint of local production will be enough to keep his custom fire products selling.
Speaking of lowering carbon footprints, Summit Gear has achieved a Gold rating with Low Carbon Living-Blue Mountains.
Inshaw had a 52 panel, 15kW solar system installed in July 2017 for his shop and factory.
“When you think about it, our energy usage is primarily during the day when the sun is out so it makes good environmental and economic sense”, says Inshaw of his investment.
The panels have reduced Summit Gear’s winter bill by 50%, and his summer bill by 75%,
He has also switched all regularly-used lighting with LED bulbs and switched to energy providers Powershop, a company that offsets emissions at no extra cost and only funds renewable energy projects.
Inshaw would like to see his business become carbon neutral, continue to reinvest locally and discourage a disposable economy in favour of a sustainable one. “I love the fact that Summit Gear supports local families with employment opportunities, we are committed to our loyal customer base in retail and with the Emergency Services hope to harness this local support to better compete with other companies who manufacture offshore”.
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I cycled through Northern Italy in my early 20s, and I can still feel the gentle warmth of that late summer summer light. Nothing I’ve read or watched has ever captured that feeling again. It’s one reason I’d like to take my family overseas - although the carbon footprint or flight, for humans, is currently prohibitive.
Visiting Varuna Writers’ House on a mid winter’s day, just before their first independent writers festival, took me straight back to the sunlit road-side vegetable shop in Genova, where I bought tomatoes for lunch. There were no plastic bags, no machine checkouts, and no ‘fast service’. Against my general rushy nature, which seems to be the Australian way of late, excuse the pun, I had to wait patiently in line, and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of that small shop, while each customer was attentively served and the vegetables packed with care and humour.
Following extensive work to lower their carbon usage, Varuna Writers House now has that lovely feeling of dry, just right, sunlit warmth that you can enjoy sitting in winter sun. Varuna's writers certainly won’t be overheating or turning to ice in some tucked away back room. Knowing Varuna’s sedentary creatives are now enclosed in a pocket of warmth makes even me feel more relaxed.
Following their first Low Carbon Living carbon audit in 2017, Vera Costello, also a member of Blue Mountains Slow Food and Citta Slow movements, successfully applied for a $19,000.00 Green Energy Grant to implement the LCL recommendations. The grant process included workshops to develop a business plan around implementing an energy reduction strategy.
Varuna was closed in April 2018 to undertake the work. This included insulating the ceiling throughout with Jason York’s high quality Earthwool Insulation - glasswool without dyes or preservatives, and made from recycled materials where possible.
Raised as a builders apprentice in America’s North Atlantic Winter, Jason learned what thermal efficiency truly involves, and is amazed at the amount of energy wasted in Australian homes due to poor ceiling, wall or floor insulation, or proper sealing, partitioning, curtains, pelmets and/or double glazing...‘a well insulated home can reduce energy consumption by up to 40% or more...on average upwards of 50% or more of home energy consumption comes from heating & cooling’ - Jason York.
The job was bigger than expected. Very patchy fibreglass insulation was removed and the whole top floor ceiling insulated. The walls are sealed and did not need insulating. Some old fibro found in the process was tested and had no asbestos. Previously the office and garden studio had no insulation, and the increased comfort of those areas is the most pronounced. All the hot water pipes have also been insulated to minimise energy waste.
The ancient gas boiler that kept a large tank of water heated to supply the hydronic central heating system, has been replaced with a more efficient instant gas water heater to supply the hydronic heating system and hot water for general use. The temperatures of all rooms, where the hydronic heaters could previously only be turned on or off, can now be set at a target temperature from the central reception and living area at a comfortable 21-25 degrees. Each room has its own thermostat for personalised comfort, ensuring energy isn’t wasted in unused spaces.
The optimal heating recommendation the World Health Organisation is 18 degrees for healthy adults. However, a study published by Australia’s Building and Environment journal showed that: ‘boosting the office temperature a little higher than 22 degrees can save energy and (also) keep office workers comfortable without sacrificing their cognitive performance.’
In 2008 four big pine trees and dozens of ageing pines we sure taken out to let the sun shine in to Varuna’s gardens and Northern facing main building for passive solar heating. A community grant received 11 years ago was used to install a rainwater 10,0000 litre water tank with three quarters use for toilets and the garden. All Varuna’s lighting has been switched to LED as part of the Heritage grant, which is guaranteed to save 50% on energy bills.
Vera Costello has filled the small store room, where the gas boiler once was, with the electric heaters and fans previously used to keep guest writers from overheating or freezing. The log fire is put on for ambience when guests arrive, but along with all the electric heaters, is no longer necessary.
Varuna House has saved 9.1 tCO2-e and $3784 annually following these more recent changes (just enough for a short European Holiday!). Initial bills indicate a 22% reduction in Varuna's carbon footprint.
With her persistence starting to pay off, Vera seems to radiate a glow of satisfaction and warmth as she sits in the sunlight of the main living area’s North facing 1940s bay windows on the mid-winters day that I visit.
Vera is waiting patiently to see if Yorks insulation will also reduce the discomfort of Katoomba’s occasional sweltering summer days.
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Built in 1902, Kurrara Historic Guest House is the original house of the Coomonderry Estate, nestled on a quiet corner between Katoomba and Leura and surrounded by stunning cold-climate gardens.
Current owners, Evalyn and Bob recently completed significant refurbishment that includes a woodlined yoga studio out the back
The studio is filled with natural light and warmed by insolation from the Eastern and Western wall length windows. Thoroughly insulated roof, walls and floor reduce the costs of heating and cooling by energy efficient reverse cycle air conditioning that are only needed on really cold or hot days. A beautiful ceiling bay window sky light has been built from floor-boards recylced from some of the original building.
Bob is meticulous about installing and maintaining high efficiency LED lighting throughout, and most of the water fixtures are efficient. A large water tank has been installed to keep the leafy surrounds lush and inviting.
All Food waste is used for two large worm farms, and Evalyn and Bob carefully clean and recycle all the single use food packaging used by guests. Paper, cardboard and soft plastics are also recycled.
Evelyn has created and styled the charming, comfortable rooms with hand made curtains, pelmets and soft furnishings to help to insulate the living spaces. The communal areas are filled with old worldly comfort and character. Located close to town, on the local bus routes, and close to cliff top walks, Kurrara Historic Guest House is an ideal place for guests coming by public transport or on foot.
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At a time when so many independent food sellers have been taken over by large corporations, Sally Bromley continues to stand strong as the owner and manager of Leura Health Foods.
One of the original hipsters, Bromley established her health food shop long before Kombucha became available at your local festival or gluten free bread and soy milk could be requested at any suburban café.
With a vast array of both vegetarian and vegan food and household products available, Leura Health Foods provides everything you need to maintain a healthy vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.
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