Associated Actions

Environment

By reducing our energy use we directly reduce our contribution to climate change and start to shift our thinking towards "how we can support nature" rather than blithely assuming nature will provide all.

Wellbeing

Greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting climate change will lead to the southern expansion of current tropical disease zones resulting in the spread of Malaria, Ross River Fever, etc. Climate change leads to an increase in the incidence of sever weather (storms, droughts) and will cause the sea level to rise anywhere from 1 - 25 meters over the coming decades and centuries.

Embrace Energy Efficiency

The cost of energy is rising, the effect of pollution increasing. Yet with just a couple of hours effort we can cut our household energy use by over a quarter and rapidly repay this investment within a year or two with the savings on our energy bill. The energy efficiency of the technology available to us is improving, and when combined with our common sense, can create large reductions in energy use.

How to do it now!

Six easy-to-do actions will save tonnes of CO2 going into the atmosphere and save you a lot of money…

  1. Install insulation in ceiling, floor and walls - The heating and cooling requirements of your house are reduced dramatically if the house is well insulated. By installing high r-value insulation bats, foil and other products you can better maintain a constant temperature in your home and reduce your heating/cooling bills.
  2. Install compact fluorescent globes - Compact fluorescent globes use approx one fifth the energy of incandescent globes (generating only one-fifth as much greenhouse gas as ordinary globes), produce the same amount of light and can last up to 10 times longer. While compact fluorescent globes cost a little more, you’ll make up the cost and more through their longer lifespan and reductions to your energy bill. They are available wherever conventional light globes are sold.
  3. Shift to double-pane windows - Although it can be expensive, double-pane windows will create big savings on your energy bill especially during the cold and hot months of the year. In addition to double panes, energy efficient features to look for on windows include tinted glass coatings, low-emissivity (low-e) coatings, and multiple layers of glazing.
  4. Block the summer heat - Install blinds and sun shades or plant deciduous trees to prevent the summer heat from over-heating your house.
  5. Circulate air - Install ceiling fans for cooling in summer and circulating rising heat in winter, and decommission your air-conditioner.
  6. Rug up in winter - Turn your heating thermostat down a couple of degrees (say to 20°C) and wear a jumper in winter. Every degree over 22°C adds about 10% to your heating bill!
  7. Let nature work for you - Use your clothes line rather than the clothes dryer.

Free Home Energy Assessments are now available for residents living in Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick.

For more tips on energy efficiency visit these useful sites:

For information on the range of government rebates, programs and schemes that are available for undertaking energy efficiencies, check out these actions which are supported by government programs, rebates and schemes:

Install Solar Hot Water - State and Commonwealth rebates are available from $1600 for the installation of solar hot water systems across Australia.

Generate your own Electricity - With the early closure of the Solar Homes and Communities Plan and the immediate introduction of Solar Credits Scheme (subject to it passing in parliament) the Commonwealth Government has ceased providing rebates, but has re-jigged the rules on Renewable Energy Certificates to allow small scale renewable energy systems to receive 5 times the number of RECs for the first 1.5kW of system capacity.

Harvest and Use your Rainwater - Rebates ranging from 300 - $1500 are available across Australia for rainwater tanks connected to toilets and washing machines.

Install Energy Efficient Appliances and Fixtures - Some Australian States (ACT, NSW, SA, WA, NT) offer rebates for water efficient Washing Machines and installing dual flush toilets.

Use Water Efficiently - Some Australian States (NSW, VIC, WA) offer rebates for water efficient showerheads and installing water efficiency measures in your home.

Water Efficient Gardening - Some Australian States (ACT, WA) offer rebates for water efficiency advice and products for your garden.

Why this action is important?

Science is telling us that we need to live more sustainably – more in tune with nature. In order for humans to establish a sustainable civilisation we must mimic and aspire to the efficiencies found in nature. This action is intended to engage people to understand the effect of their behaviour in terms of their long term returns (financial, environmental and intergenerational). Through our actions, we will better understand that living sustainably does not mean living in a cold, dark place, but merely making a few simple changes to our daily lives.