No, not microscopic robots, he hastens to add, just energy efficiency in the home and good, old-fashioned frugality.
For 10 years Mr Doeg and his partner Carolyn Crowe have been slowly adapting their Northcote home to make it more water and energy efficient.
Yes, they have a water tank, solar panels and some of the more expensive gadgets on the market. But they insist inexpensive changes can claw back the costs of living in a world where electricity and water costs are set to rise.
Old-fashioned "snakes" stop draughts under the door, and the couple use a bucket of water to wash the dishes and then throw it on the verdant vegie garden, "just like nana used to", Mr Doeg said.
Their water-saving showerhead was free from the local council and inserts for their low-flow taps cost only $4 a pop. The triangle of shade cloth that covers their veranda and blocks out the summer sun cost only a few dollars a metre, and it costs them nothing to turn off the heating units in the rooms they don't use.
"Replacing an old shower head with a water-efficient one will save you about $100 a year in heating all that water, not to mention 25,000 litres of water," Mr Doeg said. "And we haven't had to change our lifestyle at all. It's just not an option to do something about climate change; we don't have a choice."
Headlines this week said that "green costs" were set to soar, the poor are going to feel the pinch and Middle Australia is about to be hit in the hip pocket.
Not necessarily, says Jason Cox, who oversees Sustainability Street, a program that encourages Melburnians to learn about sustainable living — especially waste reduction, recycling, gardening, energy and water use. "Sustainability should not be about rampant green consumerism — consider catching the tram and having short showers before forking out for an electric car or a huge water tank," he said.
Something as simple as a thick pair of curtains can reduce heat loss by 40% and compact fluorescent light bulbs pay for themselves in the long-term.
"Heating is one of the major household uses of energy. What we tend to do is chuck on our central heating and it heats up all those rooms that we don't use," Mr Cox said.
"Everyone is a big fan of blinds now, but the reality is that while they look good, as an insulation material you lose so much heat through windows," he said.
Like other sustainability experts, Alternative Technology Association technical specialist Mick Harris recommends making small changes around the home such as draught-proofing rooms, wearing an extra layer, turning down the thermostat by a couple of degrees and closing heating vents in rooms not in use.
A vast amount of household energy is used for heating, so pull on an extra jumper and turn the thermostat down.
Lined curtains can stop heat loss by up to 40% but blinds are ineffective at trapping heat.
Draught-proof your home with "snakes" at the bottom of doors and foam window strips.
Try plastic membranes that stick to your windows to act like double glazing.
Standby power is like a dripping tap, it leaks energy. Switch appliances off.
Down-lights chew through electricity, pumping out 90% heat and 10% light, and can be a fire hazard. Replace with compact fluorescents.
Low-flow tap inserts cost only a few dollars to reduce water consumption. Also, switch to a three-star shower rose to save 13,000 litres a year.
SOURCE: SUSTAINABILITY STREET, ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION