SALA Homes Newsletter February / March 2008
Welcome to the first SALA newsletter of 2008!
The first of many changes is a variation of role for Scott Elsom, the founder of SALA Homes. Scott will be concentrating on innovations in sustainable, affordable housing. Each newsletter will feature news on Scott's findings – and some of these will also find their way into SALA homes. The first column will focus on Scott's recent visit to Cuba to investigate how sustainabile living has become a way of life in this country. Also on the move is Alison, our erstwhile Administration Officer. Alison is taking on the role of Sales Manager with SALA which means that she now has the challenge of supporting out growing numbers of Sales Agents and Spotters aroudn the country. Alison's move means that we have a new Office Administrator, Julie Richardson, who is manning the phones, providing the first point of contact and is organising the rest of us. The growing demand for sustainable affordable housing has pushed us out of our offices in Highgate Hill. We're now happily settling into our new offices at Woolloongabba near Stones Corner. You would have received an email from us giving our new address as 67 Derelle Street. We've since discovered that our address is actually 67 Maynard Street. Now, I know this news may be unnerving to those of you who are thinking you might ask us to build your house and you would prefer we built it on the correct street, but I assure you we are usually much more accurate than this! In fact, it is mystifying to us as to why this building would have an address of Maynard Street when it is clearly on Derelle Street, but the inner workings of Brisbane City Council are more than we can fathom. In any case, please update our address as follows: Suite 8 / 67 Maynard St (cnr Derelle St) WOOLLOONGABBA QLD 4102 The new office has more space and a huge 200 sq. metre warehouse. You can find us from this map. We are looking forward to a great year in 2008 and are excited about the prospects it holds. We look forward to your continued support as we work to change the way people view housing in Australia, while promoting the need for responsible planet dwelling. Job Opportunities /New Business Sales Representative - Habitat Hardware Coinciding with the relocation of the SALA Homes office to Woolloongabba, the SALA Group has started a new business venture - Habitat Hardware. Habitat Hardware will build on the expertise that SALA Homes has developed over the past 7 years to provide trade customers and renovators with a range of cost effective, more sustainable hardware and building products. In keeping with the principals on which the SALA Group was founded, Habitat Hardware will specialise in the supply of products that are:
Habitat Hardware is seeking expressions of interest for a Sales Representative position, which will initially specialise in the sale of solar hot water and photovoltaic systems to trade and retail customers throughout Australia. The location and remuneration package for this position is flexible and will be determined by negotiation with the successful applicant. For more information regarding this opportunity please call Kevin on 07 3305 0063. Estimator – SALA Homes SALA Homes is looking for a great Estimator to work in our operations area. The right person will be energetic, clever, computer literate and have experience in estimating within the building industry. We are currently revamping our operations area and would like the right estimator on board as soon as possible so they can help shape the area in which they will work. If you are interested in sustainable, affordable housing, have a love of our world and have estimating experience, please call Bruce on 3391 8569. A working knowledge of Databuild would be extremely useful.
Sustainable Cuba
Around the House If you have an idea for living more sustainably, for using or re-using stuff around the home, send it to bel@salahomes.com.au and we may give it a run. This month's tip comes from Jerry who, in response to the “fast facts on the evils of polystyrene” in the last newsletter, notes that if we end up with this horrid product in our backyards that we can at least put it to good use.
Not making excuses for this material - just making use of a disposable product. At $2 each from a fruit shop you'll get at least four years working life from them.
Ever wondered how big your “footprint” is? Take a look at www.myfootprint.org and prepare to be shocked.
Friends of SALA SALA has connections with a great many people and businesses who have the same philosophical approach to the planet and we are pleased to give them a wrap here. This month Belinda has had a chat to Steve Williams from the Natural Painting People. After eight years of working as a painter, Steve Williams decided i Opting to get out and work in a healthier industry, Steve spent the next 10 years doing community work and helping others set up their businesses. So it's not too surprising that eventually his two careers would merge into one. A conversation about “green paint” soon led Steve to realise there was a major gap in the paint market that was looking to be filled. So two years ago Steve set up the Natural Painting People who are now leading the way in non-toxic eco-friendly painting in South East Queensland. They are a team of painters and decorators who have consciously decided to use zero volatile organic compound paint. From houses, units and shops to aged care homes, community centres and motels, the Natural Painting People provide a high quality painting service. They even re-use the paint ‘sludge', by using a paint reclaimer. Steve and his team make decorative “Buddhas” out of the paint sludge, which they then give to their clients as a keepsake. But the ideas didn't stop there. Steve saw yet another gap in the market and he and his wife Georgia decided to open “The Green paint Shop” in West End in October last year. The shop sells a range of premium quality brands of non toxic paints. They firmly believe that it makes good economic sense to buy good quality non toxic paints, which will outlast the cheaper brands and yet still have the same size footprint. For further information go to Natural Painting People or the Green Paint Shop.
And don't forget the blogs of our customers... The Varley-Connell tribe have moved into their place in Tarragindi although their blog hasn't been updated due to lack of Internet access. They will be back on-line and telling all as of 1st March. Read about it here.
Queensland Museum's Climate Change Downunder talks A number of webcasts from last year's climate change talk series are now available on the Queensland Museum's web site. If you are interested in listening to some of these excellent presentations go to the Queensland Museum website.
Upcoming Events SALA Homes regularly attends industry and community events around the country. For a list of events being attended by SALA Homes take some time to look at the events page.
Did you know...? …forests become copy paper. Records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and reported in the Age Online – January 20, 2008 show that most of the trees logged in Victoria 's native forests last year ended up as pulp. Much of it is exported to Japan to become photocopying paper. More than 85% of the 1.59 million cubic metres of the state's native forest logged last financial year - the equivalent of 4745 Melbourne Cricket Grounds - was turned into woodchips, sawdust and waste. Despite claims the industry is based on providing sawlogs for the state's building needs, this type of wood accounted for only 11.9% of the amount logged. Makes you think twice about the amount of paper we use and the importance of buying recycled doesn't it?! Read the full article here.
Staff profiles: Bruce Connell joined SALA in September last year as General Manager. He came to the company as a customer and started building a SALA Home in July. Find out more about Bruce here.
The SALA homes Pty Ltd newsletter is a bi-monthly newsletter aimed at keeping SALA's clients and friends up-to-date with company happenings. If there is a new section you would like to see in our newsletter or you have some information that may be of interest to us then please email the Editor – Belinda Chilton at bel@salahomes.com.au. The next edition will be issued on 11th April, 2008. Click here to read previous newsletters.
© 2008. All Rights Reserved. |
t was time to call it a day. His health was suffering, his wife was unwell and the statistics showed it was all due to his daily dance with “oil based paints”.
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