General Sustainability Tips
Control the temperature of your home with less electricity:
- Insulate your home to keep the heat in during winter, and out during summer.
- Shade windows from the sun, and consider installing blinds or curtains to keep the house cool.
- Set your air conditioning to run 1ºC warmer in summer and 1ºC cooler in winter. You won't notice the difference, but will save money, energy, and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 14%.
- Install energy efficient air-conditioning – use less power for the same effect.
Save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using your electrical appliances wisely:
- Wash with cold water and only when the washing machine is full.
- Use your clothes dryer only when absolutely necessary.
- Run your dishwasher only with a full load.
- Switch off your television, DVD and computer when not in use.
- Switch off appliances at the wall.
- Fit low wattage globes and remember to turn off lights when leaving the room.
- Even better: Install energy efficient lightbulbs. CFLs last longer, use 75% less energy (saving you lots of money), and they reduce air and mercury pollution.
Use less non-renewable energy:
- Add insulation to your water heater, and hot water system outlet pipe.
- Avoid using only small amounts of hot water at a time.
- Consider solar water heating when building or renovating.
- Use cold water in your washing machine whenever you can.
- If possible, choose a utility company focused on renewable ('green') energy.
Use less water:
- Install a Triple A-rated water efficient shower rose or flow control washer.
- Take shorter showers.
- Install a timer on your solar hot water heater booster.
- Fix leaking hot water taps to reduce your hot water bill and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
- Switch to low flow or dual flush toilets.
- Find out if creating a greywater/waste water system would work for you.
See the Australian Federal Government Department of the Environment for more sustainability tips.
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