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Facts 'n Fun
Reduce, Re-use, Recycle and … Renew
100 Ways to Save Our Planet
2. Try to buy ‘loose’ items rather than pre-packed.
3. Don’t put chemicals down the drain or in rubbish bin – ring Council for details.
4. Buy products that are sold in recycled packaging. (Symbol)
5. Switch to Green Energy…call Integral Energy:
6. Turn off the heater and air conditioner. Instead, keep the doors and windows closed. Draw curtains and close blinds when it gets dark to conserve heat or on a hot day to keep cool.
7. Turn off the television when it is not in use. Don’t leave it on standby, as this is as resource hungry as having it on. 8. Turn off lights in rooms you are not using.
9. Buy recycled wrapping paper and try to use it sparingly. If you use ribbon instead of sellotape and unwrap carefully, you will be able to use it again.
10. When you are choosing gifts, buy energy saving ones like solar powered ones or wind up toys. If they are battery-operated, use rechargeable batteries.
11. Choose goods which have been less heavily packaged or use recycled or recyclable packaging.
12. Use energy saving lightbulbs. They use a fraction of the electricity and last up to ten times as long as a normal bulb.
13. Recycle everything: bottles, paper, tins, plastics and don’t forget to compost your food scraps.
14. Use the half-flush ALL the time. If your loo doesn’t have one, put a brick in your toilet cistern to conserve water. This can add up to significant water saving over a year for the average household.
15. Don’t run the tap whilst you are cleaning your teeth. You’ll save a lot of water.
16. Recycle Christmas cards.
17. Insulate your loft, pipes and water tank.
18. Donate unwanted books, toys & clothes to charity shops such as St Vincents or a local hospital or school.
19. Replace old water heaters with gas instant hot water systems or better still, install a solar system.
20. Lower the temperature setting on existing heaters. You don’t need water over 50°C
21. Draught proof doors, windows and unsealed openings such as chimneys.
22. Upgrade loft insulation. 200mm of insulation is recommended. Insulate and draught proof suspended wooden floors.
23. Insulate external walls when building a new house.
24. Fit timber framed double glazed windows.
25. Buy AAAA rated appliances e.g. washing machines, fridge freezers etc
26. Buy ‘front loader’ washing machines, they use far less energy, less water and extend wear on clothes.
27. Divert water from showers and washing machines to ‘grey water’ systems…see your plumber.
28. Fit water saving showerheads – they cut our water usage in half!!!!
29. Have 2 minute showers.
30. Collect as much rainwater as possible for use in the garden and construct a garden that requires minimum water with drought resistant species and plenty of organic mulches.
31. Minimise the use of chemicals to clean your home…just use bicarbonate of soda or vinegar (and save a fortune)
32. Choose materials that are natural and from a renewable resource.
33. Use second hand materials where possible.
34. Only use real plantation woods…that means pine. Huon pine, Blackbutt or Ironbark is NOT plantation wood. Once they’re gone, they take eons to regrow.
35. Use materials or products that are reclaimed or recycled.
36. Choose durable products that have a long life span and are low maintenance.
37. Avoid PVC where possible.
38. Source materials from manufacturers with a proven environmental management record who can readily supply environmental and health data.
39. Use hard flooring and avoid carpets that will harbour dust mites, chemicals etc.
40. Use low emission (natural) paints and finishes.
41. Replace tap washers regularly and make sure no taps or showers drip
42. Consider reducing the effect of electromagnetic fields when re-wiring.
43. Promote biodiversity in your garden (plant lots of different plants)
44. Retain existing trees and shrubs wherever you can.
45. Create wild areas using native trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
46. Encourage wildlife by installing bird / bat boxes.
47. Put in a pond to attract wildlife and create a habitat.
48. Buy reusable cotton nappies and use a nappy service if the washing overwhelms you.
49. Make your own fresh babyfood and children’s meals – eliminate packaging waste and save money.
50. Breastfeed your baby for as long as you can – at least six months and ideally one to two years.
51. Teach your child how to grow food – sprouts and herbs on windowsills or carrots, tomatoes or potatoes in the garden.
52. Use public transport wherever possible and/or walk or cycle your child to and from school and shops to reduce car emission pollution, traffic hazards and improve you and your child’s health.
53. Choose wooden toys rather than plying your child with lots of throw-away plastic toys – wooden toys are more durable, can be made from sustainable and non-toxic materials and have a completely different feel when your child plays with them.
54. Reduce pesticide pollution by supporting organic farmers and try to buy foods in season; Coles and Woolworths now stock organic veggies.
55. Think globally. Buy produce with the Fairtrade Mark – it ensures the farmers and workers get a fair deal.
56. Consider animal welfare; purchase free-range eggs and meat (and it tastes better!)
57. Hop on a bus or try a train. It’s safer, less polluting and you don’t have to park.
58. Walk more – one in three car journeys is under 3kms.
59. Cycle more. It’s good for you and the environment.
60. Compare the true costs of running a car, including purchase and HP, insurance, fuel, tax, repairs and servicing. The true financial cost of a journey is not just the cost of the fuel you use.
61. Consider that if you do less than 8,050 kms per year, it may not be worthwhile owning a car at all (unless you live in the Hills District and have no public transport anyhow!!!)
62. Have your groceries and provisions delivered to your home.
63. Consider car sharing…you cut costs, help the environment and enjoy a chat on the way. Go on!
64. Organise a rosta for the school run.
65. Drive gently – careful acceleration uses 60% less fuel than pulling away fast. 80kmph uses 30% less fuel than 110kmph and produces 40% less CO2 emissions.
66. Don’t idle! Only start the engine when you are ready to move off. Turn off the engine when stationary for a minute or more.
67. Convert to LPG – it’s half the price of regular fuel and produces far fewer emissions, and you could get a grant towards the cost of conversion.
68. When you come to buy a new car, consider choosing an eco-friendlier hybrid like the Toyota Prius, the Honda Civic hybrid or the Eco Commodore.
69. Instead of buying something you're not going to use very often, see if you can borrow it from someone you know.
70. Start a compost bin.
71. You can reduce waste by using a computer! Many newspapers and magazines are online now. Instead of buying the paper versions, you can find them on the Internet.
72. Only print out what you need – it saves electricity, paper, the chemicals in ink and money!
73. Put a big sign on your letter box ‘NO JUNK MAIL’. It’s the biggest, saddest waste of our precious resources.
74. Stop mailings and reduce waste by writing to companies/organisations and requesting that they take your name off of their distribution list.
75. Don’t buy daily newspapers – subscribe to online editions.
76. Cut down on the amount of time you have your pool filter on for.
77. Plant a native garden so you don’t need to water it.
78. Put a plastic bucket in your shower to catch the water which is run before it heats – you can use this to water your plants.
79. Install aerating nozzles on your all your taps.
80. Don’t run water till it gets hot…most things don’t need hot water.
81. Wash your hands in cold water….you can do it, you’re tough Aussies!
82. Make sure your fridge and freezers are sealing properly.
83. Don’t keep a beer fridge…keep a few cans in the fridge (will also help control that pesky beer gut!)
84. DON’T LEAVE COMPUTERS ON OVERNIGHT!!!
85. Dry washing outside – tumble dryers use unbelievable amounts of energy
86. Put a solar blanket or cover on the swimming pool to prevent evaporation (they certainly don’t seem to make the water any hotter)
87. Use solar heating for the pool
88. Wash the dog in the bath with the kids (OK, we’re joking here! – but you could throw the left-over bath water over the hound in the backyard)
89. Get to know your neighbours - borrow a cup of sugar till you get to the shops for a big shop.
90. Get to know your neighbours - share a car trip to the shops (then buy in bulk and share)
91. Get to know your neighbours - swop magazines and newspapers after you’ve read them.
92. Save ‘real’ corks off wine bottles and donate to local Girl Guides (cork trees are becoming endangered)
93. Don’t use a blower vac…get out a broom to sweep leaves and get fit in the process.
94. Limit your time on computers (except for reading our website)…read a book instead (then pass it on to someone else to read!)
95. Turn off the shower whilst conditioning your hair.
96. Use microfibre cloths to clean your house…they don’t need chemicals.
97. Take 10 minutes each day to sit in your garden, a park or just close your eyes and think of green fields, a crystal clear stream and feel refreshed….nature does that to you!
98. Write to John Howard and ask him why, apart from the United States, we’re the only country who has not signed the Kyoto Agreement.
99. Contact companies and ask them what they’re doing to reduce waste packaging.
100. Go to the Planet Patrol website: www.planetpatrol.info and download this list, then pass it on to all your friends.
AUSTRALIANS PRODUCE MORE GREENHOUSE GASSES PER PERSON THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
IT’S TIME WE CHANGED THIS – DO YOUR BIT