What’s your ecological footprint?

If you understand what your ecological footprint is, you can then understand the changes you can make to have a more sustainable life.

WWF’s ecological footprint calculator will work out your personal footprint, based on the way you live your life today – such as what you eat, where you live, how you travel, the amount of energy that you use. Knowing your ecological footprint will enable you to make informed choices that will help you to reduce your impact on the planet.

Once you have completed WWF’s ecological footprint calculator, explore the different things you can do to be more sustainable.

Here are a few tips from WWF that will help to get you started:

  1. Top Tips for sustainable shopping
    • Buy local
    • Buy recycled
    • Bring your own bag
    • Choose sustainably sourced wood
    • Say “yes” to sustainable seafood
    • The less packaging the better
    • Choose biodegradable cleaning products
    • Buy energy-efficient appliances
    • Think before you buy
  2. Top tips on travel and transport
    • Take public transport to work.
    • Walk or cycle rather than driving. It’s healthy too!
    • Drive efficiently. Even just correct tyre pressure can save 10% on your fuel consumption! A well-serviced car can save you – and the environment – heaps!
    • Carpooling. Company on the way to the company can knock your travel impact and costs down by 75%.
    • Reduce Air travel. For business – video conferences instead of air travel; for holidays – discover some of the fabulous destinations closer to home.
  3. Water saving habits to get into
    • Cut your showers by two minutes
    • Convert to a water efficient shower head
    • Sweep your driveway instead of hosing
    • Use a water efficient washing machine
    • Use a dual flush toilet
    • Reduce the time you water your garden.
  4. Easy to manage first steps towards energy efficiency
    • Switch off unused lights
    • Switch off appliances on standby

If you know someone who would like to know their ecological footprint and then take action on living a sustainable life and reducing their ecological footprint, why don’t you share this article with them?

 

Source: http://www.wwf.org.au/what_you_can_do/change_the_way_you_live/sustainable_living/

 

Checklist for building a sustainable home

When building your new home, it is important to consider building sustainably. There are several things to think about when building a sustainable home, and things that need to be considered during the design phase when speaking with your builder or architect.

Grand Design Australia identified 6 key areas that can be discussed with your builder or architect to help you build a sustainable home:

  1. Location – What is the position of your home? Discuss privacy, views and your home’s access to the sun.
  2. Floor Plan – Is your floor plan the best fit for the block and is it designed to make the most of your home’s access to sun?
  3. Heating and Cooling – Consider the size of your household and ongoing running costs when making decisions about the type of hot water system to use (Solar often pays for itself with time). Do you have gas or electric? Can good design features reduce your reliance on heating and cooling appliances? What appliances can you use that are energy efficient?
  4. Fittings and Appliances – Does your home make the best use of natural light? What are your lighting requirements? Chart the ongoing running costs of using energy saving globes such as LED. Think about your major energy using appliances in the home – the energy star rating of your fridge, the water star rating of your washing machine and so on.
  5. Colours and Finishes – some flooring is more sustainable than others, some paints and varnishes are less toxic and lower in emissions. You can also choose building materials that are either more natural or lower in emissions.
  6. Outdoor Living – Don’t forget about your garden when building a new sustainable home! The plan of your outdoor area can help to control the amount of sun your home gets in winter and shade in summer, which in turn can affect your energy usage. Installing a rainwater tank and using native plants can help to save water. You might also consider a grey water system so that you can re-use your waste water.

When building a new home, there are other things you need to consider to ensure that your home will comply with the Building Sustainable Index (BASIX). Read our article on What BASIX requirements are there for new homes? to find out what you need to be aware of.

If you know someone who is building a new home, share this article with them – that will thank you for it!

Source: Lifestyle.com.au http://www.lifestyle.com.au/property/sustainability-guide-building-a-new-sustainable-home.aspx

Christmas in July – free hamper with any purchase

The cold winter weather has arrived just in time for Christmas in July. To celebrate, we are offering a special Christmas in July promotion. If you place an order with BioSeptic or Sydney Water Tanks and we receive your deposit by 31st July 2013, you will receive a free Christmas hamper to enjoy now.

To take advantage of this offer, quote XMAS03 when you speak to a member of our sales team.

Call us now on 1300 658 111 or 1800 041 111 to find out more.

Terms and conditions

Special runs until 31/7/13. If order and deposit are received by 31/7/13, customers will receive one hamper. The discount applies to retail prices only. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Energy saving in the colder months

With winter now in full swing, many people are thinking about the best way to keep their families warm while saving money with rising energy costs.  This article will outline a few steps you can take to help save energy during the colder months.

Passive design

Passive design helps you maintain the interior temperature of your home with little mechanical heating and cooling.

You can use passive design ideas when you are planning a new home or when renovating/enhancing your existing home.

Passive design ideas include:

  • insulating the ceiling, walls and floor
  • sealing draughts around doors and windows
  • allowing winter sun to warm the house
  • stopping summer sun from entering the house
  • using natural airflow to help with cross-ventilation

According to Living Greener, half of the energy we use to heat or cool our homes can simply leak out without proper insulation. If you’re thinking of building a home, perhaps consider a few of the above points to help save money in the long run.

Mechanical heating choices

If your home isn’t designed for passive heating, the next best option is to choose appropriate heating for your home.

Your climate, type of heater, how you use it and even its position in the room can make a big difference to your comfort and heating bills.

Central heating can often heat a whole house, whereas space heating heats the one or two rooms that are in use. There are many options in both types – the best type of heating for you will depend on your circumstances.

Gas

  • Gas heaters and efficient reverse-cycle heat pumps are cheaper to run than standard electric heaters and produce one third the amount of greenhouse gases.
  • Ducted central heating systems can use either gas or reverse-cycle heat pumps as the energy source.


Electric

  • Reverse-cycle air conditioners (or heat pumps) are the most energy efficient type of electric heater.
  • Electric portable heaters can be cheap to buy but very expensive to run. Many are not as effective as other methods of heating.
  • Electric in-slab floor heating often has the highest greenhouse gas emissions of any heating system and may be the most expensive to run.

Always ensure that you clean the filters on your chosen heating system at the beginning and end of each season to ensure that it runs smoothly and use timers to make sure that you are only heating your room when you require.

Finally, you can also save money and energy by setting the thermostat to 18-20 degrees Celsius in winter and 25-27 degrees Celsius in summer. Consider adapting these simple tips into your everyday life, it might just make a difference to your wallet this winter.

This article was first published on LivingGreener.gov.au and reposted on www.sydneywatertanks.com.au/archive and www.bioseptic.com.au.

Minimise bathroom, toilet and laundry waste

The bathroom, toilet and laundry are in daily use in most homes, so the choices we make can make a big difference to the amount and type of waste we produce. With a little thought and planning we can reduce our impact on the environment, improve our wellbeing, and save money.

1. Reduce

  • A great first step is to think about shopping habits. We can do more with less. Buy fewer products. Do you buy multiple products when one will do the job? For example, the same cleaner can be used on your mirrors, tiles and shower recess. Many cosmetic, skin and hair care items end up in our waterways, and as landfill. Keep your beauty routine simple.
  • Buy in bulk. It saves you money, and reduces packaging waste.
  • Reduce your use of chemicals by using environmentally friendly products. Check the labels of the products you buy. Are they biodegradable and free from petrochemicals? You can also clean effectively with no chemicals by using bicarbonate of soda or white vinegar applied with water and a soft cloth.
  • Limit the chemicals and waste that you put down your sink and toilet. What goes down our household drains ends up in our waterways and in the ocean, and many chemicals are harmful. For example phosphates can cause algal blooms. BioSeptic system: read about BioSeptic.

2. Re-use

  • Many things can be re-used rather than bought new, which in turn saves you money.
  • Use old items of cotton clothing for soft cleaning cloths.
  • Re-use existing containers and buy refills.
  • Buy toothbrushes and shavers with replaceable heads.
  • Refill your liquid soap containers.

3. Recycle

  • Buy toilet paper made from recycled paper or plantation wood.
  • Recycle paper products like tissue boxes, toilet paper rolls and boxes that package beauty products.
  • Recycle your bathroom and laundry containers. Be careful to check the recycle number on the bottom of plastic containers to ensure that your local council will accept them in your recycle bin.

4. Dispose of hazardous waste correctly

  • Some waste products from the bathroom and laundry can be hazardous and should be disposed of correctly at a hazardous waste centre. Hazardous waste cannot be disposed of in your regular garbage collection. This is because it can leak into the environment and waterways and cause serious health risks.
  • Hazardous waste may include products like drain cleaners or chemical products. Check with your local council or Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You for collection services available in your area.
  • Old medicines can be dangerous to people and can also impact our unique biodiversity. You can return unwanted and out-of-date medicines to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

If you found these suggestions useful, why not share this article?

This article was first published on LivingGreener.gov.au and reposted on www.sydneywatertanks.com.au/archive and www.bioseptic.com.au

 

10 free things you can do to live greener this winter

Yes, the chilly season can bring higher power bills and other expenses, but making a few energy smart choices can make a difference to how much winter will hurt your wallet. You can also feel good because you will be making your home more comfortable as well as helping the environment.

10 free things you can to live greener

Perhaps when you hear the words ‘living greener’ you picture being forced into inconvenient lifestyle changes with high-end price tags attached, but there are many things you can do to reduce your home energy use that are free and will save you money.

Lifestyle changes aren’t always easy because they involve changing our behaviour. Anyone who’s ever tried to change their diet and exercise regime will know it can be hard to change ingrained habits – but it can be done.

The good news is, while it may take a while to bed down new ways of doing things around the home, once you do, they become second nature. See how many of the top ten your household can adopt.

1. Dress for the season

One of the easiest ways to save money in winter is to turn down the heater and put on some warmer clothes. This doesn’t mean dressing for the Antarctic – it means putting on a jumper before you crank up the temperature.

Reaching for a jumper instead of the thermostat is important when you realise that each additional degree adds between 5 and 10 per cent to your energy use. So the savings from pulling on another warm layer can add up to big cash savings this winter.

While you’re at it, dress your bed for the season too by putting on an additional blanket.

2. Shut the door on wasted energy

Trying to heat the whole house can waste a lot of money. Shut the door to areas you aren’t using (like bathrooms and the laundry) and only heat the rooms you’re using.

3. Turn it off

Turn off your heaters before going to bed and when you’re leaving the house – it’s cheaper and it’s safer too.

House fires are more common in winter, so why not consider doing a quick online fire safety audit to reduce your risks.

4. Let the sun shine in

Solar panels may not be suitable for every home and budget but you could still be using the free power from the sun. Open your curtains when the sun is shining on them and close the curtains when the sun moves away. Using the sun’s energy will help boost the temperature for free.

5. Don’t use the shower to warm up

Hot water accounts for a large chunk of your power bill – about one quarter of the average bill – so try to avoid the temptation of using the shower to get warm.

Staying in the shower uses up to 20 times as much energy as getting out and standing under two heat lamps instead. Even a few extra minutes in the shower will add to your power bill.

6. Rug up

During winter’s coldest months, many of us chill out indoors watching TV, playing our gaming consoles or cooking a hearty meal. Staying in has an energy price tag – adding to our home energy bills.

There are heaps of ways to have fun ‘unplugged’ – break out the board games and don’t forget to turn off your entertainment gadgets when you’re not using them.

To reduce the overall energy you use while watching TV, use a blanket before turning up the heat.

7. Be active and become a ‘swapper’

Swapping car trips for walking or cycling is a great way to save money and keep fit during the winter months. Join in and become a swapper family.

It makes good sense to walk instead of using your car for short journeys. Cars cost a lot of money to run, especially when you’re paying for petrol, maintenance and the upfront cost of buying a car (or a second car).

People powered transport is good for the environment, good for your health and good for your wallet too!

8. Use a solar clothes dryer

Clothes dryers are very convenient – but remember you are paying for this convenience. Rather than automatically putting your clothes into the dryer, use free energy from the sun and the wind to dry your clothes whenever you can.

You can put clothes racks out in the sun and fresh air on verandahs or dry clothes indoors on a rack when the heater is already on.

9. Turn off gadgets and appliances

Did you know that home entertainment systems and electronic gadgets are quietly adding to your power bills? Up to 10 per cent of the electricity used in your home is used on gadgets that are plugged in on standby. TVs, DVD and video players, game consoles, mobile phone chargers, microwave ovens, MP3 docks and stereos are some of the biggest culprits. You may not realise that your phone charger is still using energy even when your phone is not plugged in.

Check that you’re using appliances efficiently and turn off unused appliances at the wall. Unplugging these gadgets can save you quite a bit of money on your energy bill all year round.

10. Waste not, Want not

Worldwide, 30 per cent of our food goes to waste. In New South Wales that means the average family throws out more than $1,000 in wasted food every year.
As well as costing you money, this food ends up in our garbage bins and in our tips where it produces methane – a harmful greenhouse gas that’s 21 times stronger than the emissions from your car.

Much of the food waste in our kitchens comes from poor planning or from buying too much food so use shopping lists and check your pantry and fridge regularly to ensure you use up what’s there.

Why not share this article with someone who you think would like to live greener this winter.

This article was first published on LivingGreener.gov.au and reposted on www.sydneywatertanks.com.au/archive and www.bioseptic.com.au