You & the Environment
What you can do to help protect our environment
Whether at home or in the office, you can do your bit to help protect your environment. Check your top ten “What can you do” list to see how easy it is.
NABERS is a fun and interactive household energy and water performance rating. You work out your homes rating by inserting information into the calculator. The Nabers website can help you understand how energy and water are used in your home and what action you can take to reduce your consumption. You can also compare your home to other homes nationally. Click here to visit the website.
Fridge Buyback is an energy efficiency program supported by the NSW Government's Climate Change Fund and local councils, including Leichhardt. To participate, your fridge must be at least 10 years old and larger than 250 litres. For more information, please visit the website.
Home
Eco living is easy – here is a list of things you can do at home to make it more environmentally friendly.
-
Keep cats indoors especially at dusk and dawn to prevent them from preying on the scarce native bird and skink populations.
-
Simply turn off lights when you leave the room. Don’t leave appliances and equipment on standby when you are not using them. Turn them off.
-
Take shorter showers and install low flow shower heads. From just $22 Sydney Water will arrange for a plumber to come to your home and install an AAA showerhead, which will save water, energy and money. This service also includes fitting aerators, toilet flush adjustment and repair of leaks. Worth $180 check out Sydney Water.
-
Choose local native plants for your garden which require little or no watering and provide habitat and food for birds and other small animals.
-
Get a compost bin or worm farm and compost all your organic waste.
Order Form - 35 KB
-
Subscribe to Green Power. Purchase energy efficient products such as solar hot water systems, efficient computers and light globes. These products will not only reduce our impact on the environment, they will reduce your energy bill. Ring the Energy Smart Information Line to get advice on a range of heating and cooling technologies, and what is the most efficient in terms of energy use: 1300 138 638.
-
Eat what you buy, waste less food! See ACF's GreenHome Action Plan.
-
Investigate toxic free chemicals for the home and clean less often! Safer Solutions (Total Environment Centre) - 148 KB. Also, see DECC's The Easy Guide to Natural Cleaning.
-
Resolve to not use the car on 10 sunny days this summer. Go out and enjoy yourself.
-
Buy Fair-trade products such as coffee, tea and chocolate. For more information go to Fair Trade products.
Office
Making your office an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly place can reduce air and water pollution, save on bills and reduce staff sickness levels and turnover.
- Buy high recycled content paper. The quality of recycled paper has improved greatly, and those being made now can look just as good and perform just as well as virgin sourced paper.
- Recycle paper. Organise a paper recycling collection throughout the office or business. But first RE-USE printed paper by placing it back into the printer, to use the other side. This will reduce your paper by 50%, saving money and the environment.
- Turn off your computer and monitor at the end of every day.
- Support bushcare volunteers or another charity. Allow staff to volunteer one day a year for the charity of their choice.
- Install water efficient devices for taps, toilets and showerheads.See Sydney Water's Business Tips.
- Subscribe to Green Power for part or all of your energy and install solar power.
- Take a ceramic or china mug to work to avoid the use of disposable cups.
- Install facilities to encourage cycling and walking such as showers, secure parking and lockers. Your staff will be fitter and healthier resulting in less sick days.
- Choosing new efficient heating, air-conditioning, lighting, computers or copiers can save you lots of money quickly and reduce greenhouse emissions. See the Australian Government's 'Energy Star' program website for energy efficient products to purchase.
- Invest in one high tech photocopier and printer that can do double sided printing, scanning and paperless faxes. This will save energy, maintenance and printing costs.
Contact Us
If you want to talk to someone in the environment team to get advice on an environmental initiative in Leichhardt do ring us on 9367 9045 or 9367 9051. We will try to help.