ACTION TIPS

ENERGY SAVING TIPS – in the home

Install a programmable thermostat to manage your heating and cooling systems efficiently and cost effectively.
Switch appliances off at the wall when not in use, i.e. lights, television, and computer.
Turn the temperature on your geyser thermostat down to 60 degrees Celsius.
Take short showers instead of baths and use low-flow showerheads for additional energy savings.
Wash full loads of dishes and clothes.
Unless you’re dealing with oily stains, the warm or cold water setting on your washing machine will generally do a good job of cleaning your clothes. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a load’s energy use by up to 50%.
Air dry clothes.
Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
Check to see that windows and doors are closed when heating or cooling your home. Also check for proper sealing of windows to avoid air leaks coming indoors when trying to heat or cool the inside of your home.
Close room doors to separate the heated from unheated areas of your home, and to minimise the area you are heating. There is no need to spend money heating rooms that nobody is in.
Turn the lights off when leaving a room.
Switching to energy-efficient lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills.
Reduce your pool pump operating hours.

WATER SAVING TIPS

Check toilet, faucets and pipes for leaks. A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste litres of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of litres. Leaks can easily be detected by adding a little food colouring to the water in your tank.
Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators.
Take shorter showers.
Don’t leave the water running while brushing your teeth.
When washing dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running for rinsing.
Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge – store drinking water in a safe drinking bottle.
Water your garden only when needed and ideally early in the morning or early evening.
Use a bucket of water rather than a running hosepipe to wash your car. Taking your car to a car wash that recycles water saves water.
Turn off the tap while washing your hands.
Install a rain water tank.Rainwater harvesting is a great way to keep your plants hydrated without turning on the hose or sprinkler.
Flush with less. Older toilets use a lot of water. You can reduce your usage by sinking a litre jug of water in the toilet tank. Do NOT use a brick, because it will break down and the sediment can damage your tank.

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR WASTE – Tips to reduce, re-use and recycle

Shop with an eye for packaging, and try to buy only products with zero, or minimal or recyclable packaging.
Use rechargeable batteries.
Choose to have your accounts and bank statements sent to you online, instead of by post.
Have your printer ink cartridges refilled instead of purchasing new ones.
Repair an item instead of replacing it, or if you no longer want it, give it to a person who does.
Avoid buying disposable items i.e. paper plates and cups.
Use both sides of paper – this saves money on buying paper and on storage and postage.
Wash and re-use glass and plastic containers.
Re-use strong plastic carrier bags instead of buying them, or use cloth bags for groceries.
Purchase recycled or environmentally-friendly products when possible.
Recycle as much of your refuse as possible.
Electronic waste (e-waste) can also be recycled.
Make compost from vegetable matter (e.g. potato peels) and garden waste (e.g. leaves/grass cuttings). Compost improves the soil structure and provides extra nutrients for garden plants.

GREEN TRANSPORT IDEAS

Ride your bike – try to ride your bike as much as possible. An added bonus is you’ll benefit from the extra exercise.
Take public transport when possible. Look into monthly tickets to save further money and time.
Consider car-pooling. Car-pooling is a great way to share costs of fuel and parking and to break the monotony of your daily commute.
Try not to use the air conditioning in your car. Bundle up with extra layers in winter and enjoy fresh air by opening windows in summer. You save fuel and therefore lower your carbon emissions (and footprint).

Don’t keep your engine running while stationary – if it’s safe to do so, switch it off.
Combine journeys – do several chores at once, or give someone a lift. Think of the car as a bit of a luxury, so that you’ll take maximum advantage of each trip.
Walk for short trips – it’s good for you and it’s free! The average walking pace is six kilometres per hour and if you walk you don’t need to find a parking for your car when you arrive at your destination.
Plan ahead. Bundle a number of small errands into one trip to save time and fuel. Consider if a phone call, email or letter would suffice.
Telecommute – Depending on the type of work you do, approach your business and see if they are interested in setting up a telecommuting policy. If work allows, you could work from home and keep reduce your carbon footprint.

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