Energy Efficient Living

Sustainability at Home

According to the Australian Greenhouse Office, households produce almost one-fifth of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions through everyday activities within the home. The conservation of environmental biodiversity is also directly related to how we live, interact and consume resources.

Our actions, and the way we manage our households, have a direct impact on production of greenhouse gases and the future of the environment.

GreenPower

GreenPower is renewable energy sourced from the sun, the wind, water and waste that is purchased by your energy company on your behalf. You don’t need any special equipment.

GreenPower is widely available and is just as reliable as traditional electricity generated from burning coal.

Switching on to GreenPower means you will:

• Help reduce Australia’s greenhouse pollution and environmental impact;
• Drive demand for renewable energy and the growth of the renewable energy industry (i.e. building more generators).

It only takes a phone call and as little as $1 per week for you to switch to GreenPower – there is no need to change your current electricity supplier unless you choose.

Buying Appliances

When purchasing electronic equipment such as TV’s, VCR’s, DVD’s etc, look to the items with the ENERGY STAR logo. ENERGY STAR is an international standard for energy efficient electronic equipment and products displaying the logo reduce the amount of energy consumed by a product by either automatically switching to ‘sleep’ mode when it’s not being used and/or reducing the amount of power used when in ‘standby’ mode. ENERGY STAR compliant home electronics products have their energy saving features already activated when you buy them. If your TV, VCR or DVD complies with the ENERGY STAR standard, it will consume around 75% less energy in standby mode than standard products do. Because products like these spend more than 60% of their time on standby, this can add up to a significant reduction in energy use, saving you money as well as minimising harm to the environment. Although appliances with a higher star rating may cost a little more up front, it will cost less to run. For more information check out www.energyrating.gov.au

When purchasing equipment such as dishwashers and washing machines, make sure you look out for the Water Efficiency Labels (WELS). This label gives a star rating based on it’s water efficiency and the water consumption per wash. The more stars, the more efficient the appliance. For more information or to search for registered water efficient products, check out the WELS website www.waterrating.gov.au.

The following are simple things that can be done in the home to conserve resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money on energy and water bills.

Laundry

• Use cold water for machine washing;
• Wash a full load rather than a partial load ;
• Use biodegradable detergent;
• Clean lint filter after each use.

Public Transport

Using public transport can reduce energy use and cut your greenhouse gas emissions. Visit the transinfo website for public transport options or call them on 131230.

Living Rooms

• Minimise heat loss through windows by installing window coverings, such as curtains with pelmets;
• Keep heated / cooled volumes to a minimum by closing off rooms not in use;
• Do not overheat or overcool when using air conditioning – set the thermostat at a reasonable level;
• Switch televisions, VCRs and stereos off when not in use – these appliances use substantial amounts of energy even when left in the ‘standby’ mode; and
• Switch off the VDU screen to your computer when not in use. Laptop computers are generally more efficient than

Lighting

• Turn off unnecessary lights;
• Use dimmer controls, where possible, to prolong lamp life and use less energy;
• Use desk, or standard, lamps where a light source is most needed; and
• Regularly dust bulbs. Dusty bulbs burn at a higher temperature which means they are less efficient, wear more quickly and can be hazardous to the occupant’s health.

Kitchen

• Use energy efficient cooking practices where possible. Use lids on pots when boiling & simmering etc;
• Use a plugged sink to rinse dishes and clean vegetables, rather than rinsing each item separately under a running tap;
• Wait until you have a full load to run the wash cycle on your dishwasher;
• Ensure that the refrigerator door seal is tight fitting and maintained. Leave the door open for as little time as possible; and
• Regularly clean the rangehood filter. This improves efficiency of the extraction fan using less power.

Bathroom

• Do not leave the tap running when brushing teeth or shaving;
• Choose the toilet’s half flush option as much as possible;
• Limit showers to 4 minutes;
• Do not leave taps dripping and promptly repair leaking taps;
• Place a little food dye in the cistern of your toilet from time to time and check for small continuous leaks down the back of the pan;
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Waste

• Separate your waste into recyclable collections;
• Buy products with less packaging or packaging that is recyclable;
• Don’t put oils, fats or harmful chemicals down the sinks;
• Use a strainer in kitchen sinks; and
• Choose detergents with no, or little, phosphorous, to minimize nutrient loads in waterways.

Other Resources

Please find listed below, some other useful websites:

www.environment.gov.au

http://www.citysmart.com.au

www.livingthing.net.au

www.ehp.qld.gov.au/sustainability/