A good example of this is the recent water revolution, where we waited until the supply was too low before we made change. In the past eight months, nearly $40 million dollars of rebates has been paid to Queensland home owners for tanks, washing machines and other items.

While our water behaviour is changing, we are giving little attention to the volumes of waste such reactivity creates.

For example, reams and reams of paper are being churned out each time restriction levels change, educating homeowners and businesses about efficient water programs. People are throwing away perfectly good washing machines to replace them with rebate approved models. Some of these unwanted machines are ending up dumped by the side of our Redlands' roads.

The water might be more efficiently used – but are we learning about good resource management?

As the average family home can be run on – self-sufficient, solar power - governments now, could provide real incentives to encourage solar systems so we avoid a repetition of the water issue across the energy spectrum.

Many countries are moving to renewable energy. Sweden is growing renewable electricity by 60% by 2010 and phasing out its nuclear reactors by 2020. China is targeting 15% for renewable energy sources by 2020; triple its nuclear expectations of 5%.

Australian governments still seem to support moves towards nuclear power for electricity generation.

It causes me great concern that we contemplate this, if I can use a pun, 'reactivity approach', before we have taken the proactive path of maximising gentler and renewable options such as solar.

Next month I will provide a good overview of solar homes but I thought this month I would share why I think that nuclear is not a sustainable option.

1. nuclear is not renewable. Current rates will be used in 50 years and less than that if expansion of production occurs
2. it involves extensive mining and degradation of land both for mining and for disposal of mining waste
3. this process creates millions of litres of liquid 'tailing' waste and an incredible number of tonnes of solid, rock waste that remain hazardous for thousands of years after disposal
4. the mining process alone uses enormous volumes of water, which becomes tailing waste and is not recyclable. While disposing of mining waste into rivers is now largely prohibited, ground water supplies are still able to be contaminated from the enormous volumes of mining wastewater that leaches from uranium disposal areas of liquid and rock wastes located into water catchments
5. the mining process and subsequent waste disposal will contribute significant volumes of greenhouse gases
6. nuclear power is used almost exclusively for electricity generation and provides less than 20 per cent of the world's electricity
7. A doubling of nuclear power by the 2050 would require 1000 new reactors yet only reduce greenhouse emissions by 5%, a rate exceeded by the mining and waste disposal volumes
8. there exists the risk that mining, waste and power operations may leak radioactive materials into our soil, water, air, crops and other food sources
9. while it is internationally recognised that nuclear power will not contribute significantly to the economy, we will end up with significant volumes of nuclear waste from mining nuclear product for sale to other countries
10. it is heavily rumoured Australia will open a nuclear waste disposal site in the Northern Territory using the Adelaide to Darwin train route
11. the mining process violates human rights as it places radioactive materials within key living and water catchments of certain indigenous, mining families and other communities. The current Ranger uranium mine is located within the ecological boundaries of Kakadu World Heritage Park
12. the mining process has a negative effect on communities and industries as workers leave traditional technical positions such as electricians and engineers for more highly paid work in mines. These large amounts of money paid to mining workers are largely related to cover employee safety and risk
13. the nuclear industry has strong links to the weapon industry

 As we now return to rainwater tanks and simpler options of living, it makes sense that electricity generation to homes is provided by a similar natural source.