What We Can Do
PART I: What we can do
Positive Outcomes – for you and the environment
While it is the responsibility of the Government to make the large structural changes, every person also has a responsibility to make a difference. The future is not set, we can all ???
By being part of the solution you will creative and receive a range of positive outcomes:-
- By reducing overall usage of electricity you will decrease your Greenhouse Gas emissions and save money.
- Reducing your hot water usage will save you money, decrease your Greenhouse Gas emissions and reduce the strain on water supplies.
Have a Goal
Throughout history, people have accomplished what many have said would be impossible.
The Stop Global Warming campaign goal, is for the majority of Australian homes to be carbon neutral by 2020.
Many people will doubt this is possible. However, if we all listened to the doubters all the time, we would probably be still living in caves!
In 12 years much can be achieved. Most homes could get at least 50% toward becoming carbon neutral within 1 year, just by making simple and easy changes.
The decisions we make today will the affect the next generation.
What kind of future do we want them to have?
What kind of future do we want them to have?
Become Carbon Neutral
Being carbon neutral means that your lifestyle does not contribute to the overall level of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere.
The easiest way to achieve this is to look at your lifestyle and make a few adjustments. The way forward is to reduce emissions, which will save money.
For many homes savings of up to 15% can be achieved by reducing waste and usage, as well as becoming more efficient.
If the savings are put towards switching to renewable energy and carbon offsets, moving to a carbon neutral way of life need not cost the earth.
Carbon Offset
Some things that we do cause carbon dioxide to be made and there is nothing we can do about it. An example of this is travelling by aeroplane. To make up for this, we can buy a carbon offset.
For example, to carbon offset a flight between Sydney and Melbourne, you could pay a company $8 to plant trees which will absorb the carbon dioxide your flight made.
This means that your travel has become carbon neutral.
How to become Carbon Neutral: The 5 point plan
This is a simple way of looking at the way we live. By applying the following strategies we can all make a big difference.
| Example | |
| Don't Waste: | Turn lights off, if you're not using them |
| Become Efficient: | Get energy saving light globes or appliances |
| Reduce Usage: | Have a shorter shower |
| Switch: | Change to Renewable Energy |
| Offset: | Get a carbon offset to for things you can’t avoid |
Combine these strategies and you will find it easy to be carbon neutral.
One step at a time
Most people have busy lives, so trying to make all these adjustments may seem a little daunting.
Try using the Carbon Neutral Planner and take it one step at a time. Focus on the areas which you can implement soon.
For example, switching to Green Energy is something that will make a big difference quickly.
PART II: What we can do in the home
There are many areas in the home where energy savings can be made.
Bathroom
Don't Waste:
- Try not to use small amounts of hot water if you can avoid it.
Become Efficient:
- Install a 3 star rated water-efficient showerhead.
Reduce Usage:
- Think about taking shorter showers, a shower timer maybe helpful.
Switch:
- Consider a solar powered water heating system. There are government cash-back rebates in many areas.
- For electric water heaters, switch to green energy.
Offset:
- If you have a gas hot water service, use an offset to become carbon neutral.
Water Saver:
- If you are living in an area with water restrictions, think about putting a bucket in the corner of your shower. This can be emptied onto your garden, but be sure to do it soon after, as bacteria can build up.
- If you haven’t already got one, consider a dual-flush toilet.
Kitchen
Many appliances are used in kitchens and there are a number of ways to save energy and water.
Don't Waste:
- Put the dishwasher on when it has a full load.
Become Efficient:
- Where possible use a shorter cycle with your dishwasher.
- Putting lids on pots when cooking and turning the heat down can save considerably.
- If you have an electric cook-top, boiling water in an electric kettle first is better.
- Your fridge should have good air circulation at the back.
- When purchasing appliances look for the ‘Energy Star rating’ and try to buy items with a high rating. Water efficient appliances use less hot water, which means less energy for heating.
- Fan-forced ovens are more energy efficient than standard ovens.
Reduce Usage:
- Try using cold water to rinse dishes. Using a plug in the sink and then turning the water off after awhile will also save water.
Switch:
- For the electric appliances, think about switching to green energy.
Offset:
- Emissions from a gas cooking can be offset.
Links:
DID YOU KNOW?
Buying a fridge with an extra energy star on its rating:
Reduces emissions by more than 100 kilos a year
Saves you $200 in running costs over its life.
Water Heating
Don't Waste:
- Is your water heater turned up too high? Think about the size of your water heater and how
much hot water you use. If there is one or two people in the house/apartment and you have a large
water heater, having it up on a high heat is probably wasting a lot of energy.
Regardless of the size of your household, try turning the heat down a quarter, if you don’t notice the difference, try turning it a down again, until you find the right level. - If you are going away, think about turning your water heater off, or at least right down.
Become Efficient:
- When purchasing a water heater, look for the energy label and pick the one that is most efficient. Also, try and match your requirements to your water heater
- Some older hot water heaters don’t have much insulation. For these, you can buy an insulation wrap that goes on the outside
Reduce Usage:
- As already mentioned, look at having shorter showers and washing with cold water.
Switch:
- Solar hot water heaters will significantly reduce your emissions and save you money over the life of the system. This could be part of a longer-term carbon neutral plan.
Offset:
- Gas and electric hot water systems cause greenhouse gasses to be made, these can be cancelled out with a carbon offset.
Lighting
Don't Waste:
- Don’t leave lights on in rooms you are not using.
- Outdoor lights are great for entrances or entertaining, think about using them only when necessary.
Become Efficient:
- Replace standard globes with compact fluorescent lamps. There is now a wide range of handy plug-in or screw-in lamps, which work with most light fittings, stand and desk lamps. Since their introduction, the price of compact fluorescent lamps have come down considerably.
- Avoid putting in halogen lamps, as they use about as much energy as standard lights, which increases your energy use (bills) and emissions.
- For outdoor lighting, LED lights are very efficient.
Reduce Usage:
- Use natural light where possible.
- Dimmers can also create some savings.
Switch:
- Switching to green energy will mean your lighting is emission free.
Offset:
- A carbon offset is the alternative to switching to green energy.
DID YOU KNOW?
A standard compact fluorescent lamp saves about 750 kgs of greenhouse gas and $45 over its lifetime.
Computers and Entertainment
Don't Waste:
- If you’re not using it, turn it off.
- Don’t leave PC’s or laptops running overnight. Many computer parts will last longer if they are used less.
- Screensavers don’t save energy. If leaving a PC for a short period, say for lunch, turn the screen off.
- It’s possible to adjust the power settings on your PC to turn the screen off automatically
after a period of time.
In Windows™ click Start, Settings, Control Panel, then double-click Power Options. Under the ‘Power Schemes’ tab, there is an option called ‘Turn off monitor’. Using the drop-down box, set the time you want Windows™ to wait before turning off the screen. Try 5, 10 or 15 minutes .
If you’re not sure about changing the settings on your computer, ask a friend or family member. If at work, ask you Systems Administrator, or your supervisor. - Many appliances use a lot of energy when in stand-by mode, as often as you can, turn them off at the point.
- Mobile re-chargers use energy when left plugged in. So when not in use, simply take them out of the point.
Become Efficient:
- Computer LCD screens use about 50% less energy than a standard CRT monitor.
Reduce Usage:
- Encouraging the kids to watch less TV, use less electronic games and going outside to play, will reduce usage/emissions and promote healthy living.
Switch:
- Switching to green energy will mean your computer and entertainment is emission free.
Offset:
- A carbon offset is the alternative to switching to green energy.
The Laundry
Don't Waste:
- Don’t use more than the recommended amount of washing powder, many create greenhouse gases during manufacture.
Become Efficient:
- Think about what is being washed and how dirty it is. Many items can be washed effectively with cold water.
- Hang clothes out to dry naturally either on an outside line, or an inside clothes horse. Drying a load in a dryer creates more than 3 kilos of greenhouse gasses. (cool it p.13).
- When purchasing appliances look for the ‘Energy Star rating’ and try to buy items with a high rating. Water efficient appliances use less hot water, which means less energy for heating.
Reduce Usage:
- Try to put a wash on, only when you have a full load.
Switch:
- Try cold water detergents. Have a look at detergents made from natural products, they use less greenhouse gasses to make.
Offset:
- A carbon offset is the alternative to switching to green energy.
Links:
Heating & Cooling
Don't Waste:
- Close doors and central heating points to rooms not being used.
- When heating or cooling make sure external doors and windows are closed.
Become Efficient:
- Insulation makes a big difference in the cost of heating/cooling your home. The roof should be the biggest priority, followed by walls and floors.
- Gaps under doors, around windows and skylights, let heat out during winter and allow heat in during summer.
- Clean filters of heating and cooling equipment. To clean the filter of most air conditioners is fairly straightforward (be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions).
- Rugs on timber floors will help insulation.
- Use external or internal blinds as appropriate.
- When purchasing air conditioners look for the ‘Energy Star rating’ and try to buy items with a high rating.
Reduce Usage:
- Try turning down the heating a little (1 or 2 degrees) in winter and adjust the air-con thermostat slightly higher in summer.
- Open windows and doors to take advantage of changing temperatures, instead of relying on heating/cooling.
Switch:
- The use of air-conditioners, evaporative coolers and electric heaters can have their impact on Global Warming reduced to zero, by switching to green energy.
Offset:
- The impact of gas heaters can reduced with a carbon offset.
Shopping, Recycling and the Garden
Don't Waste:
- Many councils have recycling options. Try to recycle much as possible. Rubbish which goes into landfill creates tonnes of greenhouse gasses. When paper is recycled, it means that fewer trees need to be cut down. This is important, because trees take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and therefore reduces the impacts of Global Warming.
- Compost lawn clippings, leaves and food scraps (not meat), or use a worm farm. When composting, make sure it has plenty of fresh air. It will also need to be turned. This avoids the compost creating a greenhouse gas called methane.
Become Efficient:
- ‘SAY NO’ to plastic bags when shopping. ‘Green’ shopping bags are great for groceries and there are a range of fashionable cloth bags for other shopping.
- Where possible, buy items made locally. A lot of energy is used to transport products interstate or overseas.
- Buying in bulk not only means less packaging, but will save you money. Examples of items are; tea, coffee, rice, dried pasta, olive oil, cereal.
Reduce Usage:
- Try to buy items with as less packaging as possible. A lot of packaging is made from paper and cardboard products.
- Think about buying less red meat. In comparison to other food, there is more energy used it the raising, shipping and selling livestock, than most other foods. Also, there is also a large amount of greenhouse gasses, methane and nitrous oxide in the manure. One extra fish or vegetarian meal a week is something to consider.
- For swimming pools, see if you can reduce the amount of time the filter is used, as it uses a lot of energy.
Switch:
- If you have a lawn and use a petrol mower, think about buying an electric mower. They are quiet and if you have switched to green energy, there is no impact on global warming.
Think about your level of consumption:
- Try to repair household items rather than throwing them away.
- Think about donating unwanted items to charity or selling them online.
Carbon Sinks:
- When you plant a tree, it acts like a sink, because it absorbs carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. If you can, plant a tree, taking into account the amount of space you have, fences and structures.
- If you don’t have enough space for a tree, then think about some shrubs, every bit counts.
PART III: Transport
Don't Waste:
- Air-conditioning contributes to fuel consumption, so where appropriate, use less.
Become Efficient:
- If you have two cars and one is larger, use the smaller one as much as possible.
- To reduce the amount of fuel you use and save money; ensure your tyres are at the recommended pressure and the car is tuned up. Driving smoothly can also make a difference.
- For travelling to work, think about car pooling with a friend, or neighbour.
Reduce Usage:
- Where possible, reduce the amount of car travel that you do.
- Rather than making additional separate trips, try to do more than one thing for in a single trip.
Switch:
- Take public transport where possible.
- Look at switching your car to run on LPG gas. Government incentives are available and LPG is less than half the cost of petrol. This will reduce your emissions greatly and save a lot of money (if you are spending $50 per week on petrol, then that means at least a saving of $1300 per year).
- Next time you buy a car, consider a hybrid car. If we want car companies to provide us with cars that contribute less to Global Warming, we need to support them.
- If not a hybrid, think about the size of the car you really need. Look at the fuel-efficiency of the car before you buy.
Offset:
- Buying a carbon offset for a car is easy and doesn’t cost much for a year.
Links:
Hybrid Vehicles
Electric Vehicles
PART IV: Your opinion counts
Find out :
- Learn about global warming and keep up-to-date with news and events. Keeping up with new innovations will help you to reduce your own emissions.
Communicate with friends and family:
- Discuss global warming with your friends and family. While it is important to talk about the seriousness of the issue, think about focussing on practical things that you can do to make a difference.
- If you agree with the Stop Global Warming goal of ‘most Australian homes becoming Carbon Neutral by 2020’, talk about it with family members. This will help making your home carbon neutral into a team effort.
- Also let your friends know about your goal. Your friends and extended family could be a source of ideas and mutual support.
Communicate with government:
- Some local governments have decided to become carbon neutral by 2020 (the city of Melbourne was the inspiration for this goal). Find out if your local council has a carbon neutral goal. If they don’t, ask them why not.
- State and Federal government can do more than most to stop global warming. If you think global warming is a serious issue and you want serious action, let them know.
Your vote counts:
- If you think global warming is a serious issue, think about it when it comes to voting in local, state and federal elections.
Get involved:
- There are many local action groups. You can involved by signing petitions, writing letters, sending emails and many other options.
Start your own local action group:
- This could be a group of friends, family, neighbours, or people from your local area. Your goal could be to help each other become carbon neutral, pressure your local council into taking action, or a variety of other positive steps.
Links:
The Future of the planet is up to us.
“We are the Weathermakers”
“We are the Weathermakers”
- Scientist and Australian of the Year, Tim Flannery
