Hills Eco and Planet Ark

Why worry about the environmental impacts of your home?

The greatest environmental impact we all have is in the running of our homes.

Amongst other environmental impacts, households consume large amounts of energy and water. From the energy we use to heat our water to have a hot shower to the water we use to have a shower, our many daily activities leave a collectively large footprint on the planet.

Our homes are responsible for an average of 10 tonnes of greenhouse gases and use around 400,000 litres of water every year. That’s enough greenhouse gases to fill ten typical 3-bedroom houses and enough water to fill six in-ground swimming pools each year.

We now know for sure that this contributes to global warming and water shortages. By taking some action on this front you not only reduce your impact on the planet but you can also save some of your hard-earned money!

Why does Planet Ark endorse Hills Eco?

Hills Eco is a newly formed division of the trusted Australian company Hills Industries that brought us the iconic Hills clothesline. Their eco products division aims to focus on the 2 main areas of household environmental impact – energy and water consumption.

For the first time Planet Ark has endorsed not only a company’s product, but a whole division! Why?

Planet Ark was formed to work with business to create positive environmental change. Planet Ark has a solutions-based approach to all its partnerships – we are motivated by achieving environmental change on a mass scale for the benefit of all.

Hills Eco is the first time we have seen a major Australian company set up a new division to reduce the environmental impact of our homes and to make them more sustainable.

Hills Eco currently markets high quality rainwater tanks and solar hot water heaters, and, of course, the original solar-powered clothesline – the Hills Hoist.

Hills Solar Hot Water Systems

90% of the energy produced to power Australia’s households is produced by burning coal – a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Next to transport, water heating is the second largest contributor to household greenhouse emissions consumption. The heating of hot water can produce up to 4 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year, per home with an electric hot water system. That’s roughly the amount a typical family sized car puts out in greenhouse emissions yearly.

By choosing a super efficient solar hotwater system with natural gas backing, this can be reduced by up to 90% and you can save up to $400 off your energy bills every year.

A solar hot water system captures the renewable energy of the sun and uses it to heat water. When there is insufficient sun to get the water heated up to the required temperature, a booster heater automatically kicks in thus ensuring you never run out of hot water.

The Hills Solar system uses the latest evacuated tube technology, which is up to 40% more efficient than the common flat plate solar systems thus reducing the need for boosting.

Government rebates are also available for solar hot water.

For more information on the Hills Solar Hot Water Systems go to www.hillssolar.com.au or call Hills on 1300 363 386

Hills Team Poly Urban Rain water tanks

Water is becoming increasingly scarce and most Australian households use hundreds of litres each day. Not only does it take energy to clean and transport water to our homes (which – that’s right – creates greenhouse gases) but every time it rains most of us lose the opportunity to capture a free supply of water.

Rainfall captured in a tank can be used to water gardens, flush toilets and fill washing machines – about 70% of an average households total water usage.