Magnetite Australia Blogs Author Articles List

Stress and Headaches due to work and long travel time are common problems for most commuters. Not surprisingly, the bad news doesn’t stop there. Research done by a scientist in New York City indicates that being exposed to noise can activate our natural stress hormones which affects our happiness and health.

Have you considered the impact our comfortable lives have on the planet – our Home? How much are we costing the Earth?

To get an idea, in just one year, each Australian, on average, releases enough greenhouse gas into the atmosphere to fill more than 700 balloons! To help maintain our collective home - Earth - The Australian Solar Energy Society has created Sustainable House Day. The initiative is to help Australians live sustainably in a modern world.

10 November 2010
Given the huge demand for fuel and power, energy rates are expected to surge in the near future. To save on energy expenses, there is a significant push towards deploying green methods in building construction. Fitting a secondary glazing panel to an existing window (retrofit double glazing) is one of the easiest methods for curbing energy consumption.

Did you know buildings currently contribute approximately 40% of the world’s energy consumption?

Most buildings standing today will still be in use for decades. Planning a green future for new construction has become an expectation for architects and builders. Now, the challenge is to modify existing buildings to be more energy efficient – remember that existing buildings, or the “built environment” is massive compared to new construction. Bringing the built environment into a green future while managing costs will be the biggest hurdle. There is no more cost-effective solution to this than “green retrofitting” older buildings.

10 November 2010
Anyone who owns a home or rents an apartment comes to the realization that no matter how good the windows are the U-value is not enough to prevent energy loss.

Glass is just not a good insulator, which is why they invented double pane windows. They operate on the theory that a trapped air cavity acts as a great insulator. if you can't keep the heat or cold out, maybe it can be trapped!

10 November 2010
Window coverings provide privacy as well as protection for our possessions inside our homes from the damages that the sun can bring. There are many kinds of curtains and window coverings on the market of today. You can find many options according to your needs and preferences for window coverings in discount stores and specialty shops all around.

As a homeowner and consumer, you make many decisions when it comes to purchasing products for your home. If you’ve already explored buying green products from the grocery store, perhaps now you can consider turning your house into a green home.

Windows create harmony between inside and outside spaces; from the beauty they add to a building facade, the natural light they bring in, to the view they reveal. They are also the weakest part of a building envelope which can account for up to 49% of heat loss and 87% of heat gain. Inefficient glazing can cause discomfort & higher power usage.

Excessive workloads have long caused tension in the workplace. Ironically, modern office designs often compound this tension. One reason is the prevalence of open plan layouts. They increase ambient noise, a major distraction and frustration for staff, which can also affect their health, leading to sickness and lower productivity.