In a spectacular admission of failed energy policy over the past 6 years, the Federal Coalition Government in Australia announced today a one-off cash payment in the upcoming budget to help people pay their skyrocketing electricity bills. This "energy assistance payment" of $75 for singles and $125 for couples will go to pensioners, veterans, and
There has been a whole lot of hot wind today and also over the past few weeks about the climate change strike by school students supposedly happening tomorrow across Australia. I say "supposedly," because my kids don't know anything about any so-called climate change strike at all. Nothing. Nada. Sweet FA (Fanny Adams). Why is that…?
A proposed Clean Energy Target (CET) could be the answer to Australia's energy woes with a better deal for consumers and business than the current Renewable Energy Target (RET) or Labor's proposed Emissions Intensity Scheme (EIS – "Carbon Tax"). Dr Alan Finkel is Australia's top scientist and even though some have called him
As Labor and Liberal Parties shadow-box between themselves like the worst fake WWE show imagined, Australia's energy woes are growing on steroids with prices for electricity doubling in just the past decade. Australians now pay 4 times more than households in the USA for electricity. The rising cost of energy has reached a point where
Australia and many other countries around the world are currently debating man made pollution, in particular carbon, the effects these pollutants have on our environment and how we can stop or at least quell the amount released into the air in the future. Carbon Debate Before I get into talking solar, I would like to
With the Labor Party's Government insulation scheme failure here in Australia still fresh in everyone's psyche, the solar power industry seems set to be the next simple household energy saving industry to become a complicated mess. Home electricity disconnections on the rise The cost of electricity is soaring and electricity disconnections are at an all
Through SSM, I'm always advocating sharing information between people and organisations freely for the benefit of all; especially, "how-to" information and further to that, "how-to information about anything to do with self sufficiency." Videojug is a video/blog site which specialises in "how-to" and has over 60,000 short videos free to watch about all sorts of
Introduction This article was edited in April 2015 In this post, I want to introduce the readers of SSM to a tennis mate of mine Brett Adams who is the Queensland State Manager of Green and Gold Solar, which is an Australian national solar installation company. Brett has been kind enough to answer a number of
In my last solar article: 20 Solar Questions Answered (when I asked 20 questions from Brett the QLD State Manager of Green and Gold Solar here in Australia), I concluded by stating not to be surprised if in 6 months to read about my own solar installation. Well, I’m pleased to announce that’s exactly what
Whether you're looking to install your own PV system or just interested in solar energy and systems then this article is for you. From start to finish I have detailed my whole solar installation experience including selecting an installer; equipment used; step-by-step installation coverage (with images); and any problems I, or the installation crew came across. So my previous
I like to try and keep Self Sufficient Me global if I can but please entertain me as I talk domestic for most of this post (what's happening here may well happen in your part of the world too – I'd be interested to know if it is…). In Australia, specifically in Queensland, the rising
Modern society has many ways to make us feel economically inadequate. There are pressures arising from numerous sectors demanding more and more slices of our income pie. Most people could be forgiven for thinking the days of fair wages and a reasonable cost of living are over – and they may well be correct (for
Electricity prices are rising alarmingly and Governments around Australia have wound back or abolished generous solar rebate schemes so does that mean you should abolish your plans to get solar power for your home? The short answer is a resounding NO! I’ve had my solar system now for just over 12 months (12 months and
Self Sufficient Me is a blog about self-sustainment by growing our own produce (plant/animal), and self-fulfilment by looking after our health (physical/mental) through exercise and slowing life down a little.
