Eco Living
Reduce Your Ecological Footprint With These Lifestyle Hacks
What will you be doing to help the planet this World Environment Day? Here are some ideas to help you go green
It’s World Environment Day (WED) this Friday, June 5, and what better way to celebrate than by adopting a greener lifestyle so you can reduce your ecological footprint and help protect the environment for future generations? An initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), WED was launched in 1972 to raise awareness about climate change and encourage people around the world to do their bit, no matter how big or small, to reduce their negative impact on the planet. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume With Care.’ It aims to shine a spotlight on the importance of adopting more sustainable lifestyles as, according to the UNEP, we are consuming natural resources at such a high rate (we currently use the resources of 1.5 planets) that we’ll need the equivalent of three planets to sustain our way of living by 2050 if the global population rises to the expected number of 9.6 billion and our consumption levels stays the same.
If you want to clean up your act and help the planet by adopting a more sustainable lifestyle, here are a few eco-friendly activities and household practices you can do and implement on WED to kick-start your green-living journey.
Read more about green living
If you want to clean up your act and help the planet by adopting a more sustainable lifestyle, here are a few eco-friendly activities and household practices you can do and implement on WED to kick-start your green-living journey.
Read more about green living
Replace your light bulbs
Reduce your carbon footprint (and save money on electricity bills) by replacing your lighting with high-performing energy-efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light-emitting diode (LEDs) lights. Compared to halogen incandescent lights (which are approximately 30 per cent more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, which have been phased out in Australia), CFLs and LED lights deliver more savings in terms of energy usage, and are approximately 80 to 85 per cent more efficient than incandescent globes respectively.
They last longer than halogens, too. While halogen lights have an estimated lifespan of 1,000 to 5,000 hours, CFLs (like the ones pictured here) can last between 8,000 to 15,000 hours and LEDs can run for 25,000 to 50,000 hours (depending on the globe), which makes them greener, more cost-effective lighting options for your home.
To reduce your energy consumption and bills even more, be mindful to switch off your lights when they’re not in use. You might also like to consider installing dimmer switches, timers or motion sensors, which will also help you cut down on unnecessary energy usage and improve the life of the lamps.
Plumen 001 screw fit light bulb by Hulger and Samuel Wilkinson: Plumen
Reduce your carbon footprint (and save money on electricity bills) by replacing your lighting with high-performing energy-efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light-emitting diode (LEDs) lights. Compared to halogen incandescent lights (which are approximately 30 per cent more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, which have been phased out in Australia), CFLs and LED lights deliver more savings in terms of energy usage, and are approximately 80 to 85 per cent more efficient than incandescent globes respectively.
They last longer than halogens, too. While halogen lights have an estimated lifespan of 1,000 to 5,000 hours, CFLs (like the ones pictured here) can last between 8,000 to 15,000 hours and LEDs can run for 25,000 to 50,000 hours (depending on the globe), which makes them greener, more cost-effective lighting options for your home.
To reduce your energy consumption and bills even more, be mindful to switch off your lights when they’re not in use. You might also like to consider installing dimmer switches, timers or motion sensors, which will also help you cut down on unnecessary energy usage and improve the life of the lamps.
Plumen 001 screw fit light bulb by Hulger and Samuel Wilkinson: Plumen
Get your recycling system in order
Up your sustainability game at home on WED by implementing a strict recycling system. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 94 per cent of Australian households have access to a kerbside recycling service; however, a study by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has found that only 52 per cent of our waste is recycled annually, which means there’s still plenty of room for improvement when it comes to our recycling practices.
The first step is to know what items can’t be recycled, as putting the wrong things in your recycling bin can cause problems during the recycling process. For example, if you put non-recyclable items such as biscuit packets, broken glassware or Pringles tubes (three items that more than 50 per cent of Australians incorrectly think are recyclable, according to a survey conducted by Planet Ark) into your recycling bin, they can damage recycling equipment; contaminate other materials and make them unfit for recycling; or they simply may not be able to be broken down and used again.
Recycling bags: Future and Found
Up your sustainability game at home on WED by implementing a strict recycling system. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 94 per cent of Australian households have access to a kerbside recycling service; however, a study by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has found that only 52 per cent of our waste is recycled annually, which means there’s still plenty of room for improvement when it comes to our recycling practices.
The first step is to know what items can’t be recycled, as putting the wrong things in your recycling bin can cause problems during the recycling process. For example, if you put non-recyclable items such as biscuit packets, broken glassware or Pringles tubes (three items that more than 50 per cent of Australians incorrectly think are recyclable, according to a survey conducted by Planet Ark) into your recycling bin, they can damage recycling equipment; contaminate other materials and make them unfit for recycling; or they simply may not be able to be broken down and used again.
Recycling bags: Future and Found
Likewise, be in the know about what items you can recycle (for example, did you know that aerosol cans are recyclable?), rather than tossing them in the bin – and sending waste unnecessarily to landfill – if you’re unsure.
It’s also handy to read up on what the different symbols found on packaging mean, as doing so will allow you to easily identify items that can and cannot be recycled. Packaging that’s stamped with a mobius loop (the triangular symbol made up of three arrows that appear to be chasing each other) indicates that an item can go in your recycling bin.
The next step is to resist cutting corners when you’re in a rush (or having one of those days when you just can’t be bothered) and tempted to dump everything straight into your general waste bin, rather than sorting recyclable and non-recyclable items out carefully; rinsing out recyclable food containers; and removing lids from bottles and jars, which can’t be recycled. After all, according to Planet Ark, recycling one aluminium can will save enough energy to power a TV for three hours, so taking the time to prep your recycling properly is worth the effort, don’t you think?
Don’t forget to educate your household, too, so everyone is aware of the recycling system that’s in place and can help reduce your home’s ecological footprint.
It’s also handy to read up on what the different symbols found on packaging mean, as doing so will allow you to easily identify items that can and cannot be recycled. Packaging that’s stamped with a mobius loop (the triangular symbol made up of three arrows that appear to be chasing each other) indicates that an item can go in your recycling bin.
The next step is to resist cutting corners when you’re in a rush (or having one of those days when you just can’t be bothered) and tempted to dump everything straight into your general waste bin, rather than sorting recyclable and non-recyclable items out carefully; rinsing out recyclable food containers; and removing lids from bottles and jars, which can’t be recycled. After all, according to Planet Ark, recycling one aluminium can will save enough energy to power a TV for three hours, so taking the time to prep your recycling properly is worth the effort, don’t you think?
Don’t forget to educate your household, too, so everyone is aware of the recycling system that’s in place and can help reduce your home’s ecological footprint.
Stock up on reusable shopping bags
If you haven’t gotten on board the reusable shopping bag bandwagon, it’s time you did. According to the Department of the Environment, 3.9 billion plastic bags (which can take between 15 and 1,000 years to break down) were used by Australians in 2007, with tens of millions of these bags ending up in landfill or littering parks, streets and waterways, and harming our ecosystem. While I’m sure this number has significantly dropped since then as more and more people have started using reusable bags, last year, plastic (including shopping bags and other items like drink bottles and food containers) was the most common waste item collected during Clean Up Australia Day, which shows that there’s still more work to be done.
If you’re keen on making the switch and ditching plastic bags in favour of reusable ones, consider purchasing a few green bags at the register during your next grocery run. If you’d prefer a more fashionable design that reflects your personality and style (like the one pictured here), shop around at homewares or fashion stores (some retailers even package their goods in reusable bags for customers), or call upon your sewing skills and whip up a few bags yourself. Remember to pop some bags in your car so they’re always on hand for those last-minute shopping trips.
If you haven’t gotten on board the reusable shopping bag bandwagon, it’s time you did. According to the Department of the Environment, 3.9 billion plastic bags (which can take between 15 and 1,000 years to break down) were used by Australians in 2007, with tens of millions of these bags ending up in landfill or littering parks, streets and waterways, and harming our ecosystem. While I’m sure this number has significantly dropped since then as more and more people have started using reusable bags, last year, plastic (including shopping bags and other items like drink bottles and food containers) was the most common waste item collected during Clean Up Australia Day, which shows that there’s still more work to be done.
If you’re keen on making the switch and ditching plastic bags in favour of reusable ones, consider purchasing a few green bags at the register during your next grocery run. If you’d prefer a more fashionable design that reflects your personality and style (like the one pictured here), shop around at homewares or fashion stores (some retailers even package their goods in reusable bags for customers), or call upon your sewing skills and whip up a few bags yourself. Remember to pop some bags in your car so they’re always on hand for those last-minute shopping trips.
Carpool with your mates
Be more environmentally responsible, save money on petrol and keep yourself entertained while on the road by organising a carpooling schedule with your family, friends, neighbours or workmates. Taking cars off the road by carpooling will also help ease traffic congestion. Plus, some major cities have T2 or T3 lanes for cars carrying more than two or three people, which are generally less busy than ordinary, mixed-use lanes so you’ll arrive at your destination quicker, too.
Be more environmentally responsible, save money on petrol and keep yourself entertained while on the road by organising a carpooling schedule with your family, friends, neighbours or workmates. Taking cars off the road by carpooling will also help ease traffic congestion. Plus, some major cities have T2 or T3 lanes for cars carrying more than two or three people, which are generally less busy than ordinary, mixed-use lanes so you’ll arrive at your destination quicker, too.
If you don’t have anyone to carpool with, another alternative is to walk or cycle to work (or part of the way, for example, to your nearest train station or bus stop, and then commute the rest of the way), which will also help reduce your carbon footprint and get your blood pumping, too.
Be waterwise in the bathroom
Do you leave your taps running while you shave or brush your teeth? While it may not seem like very much water is running down your drain, you can actually waste around 16 litres per minute (depending on your tapware) by allowing your water to continually flow. This WED, set yourself the challenge of being waterwise in the bathroom (and kitchen, too!), and remember to turn off your taps to reduce your water consumption when it’s not needed. Taking shorter showers will also help you reduce your energy and water usage, as will replacing your showerhead and tapware with water-efficient models.
More: 11 Ways to Save Water (and a Little Money While You’re at It) at Home
Do you leave your taps running while you shave or brush your teeth? While it may not seem like very much water is running down your drain, you can actually waste around 16 litres per minute (depending on your tapware) by allowing your water to continually flow. This WED, set yourself the challenge of being waterwise in the bathroom (and kitchen, too!), and remember to turn off your taps to reduce your water consumption when it’s not needed. Taking shorter showers will also help you reduce your energy and water usage, as will replacing your showerhead and tapware with water-efficient models.
More: 11 Ways to Save Water (and a Little Money While You’re at It) at Home
Wash your clothes using cold water
An easy way to drastically reduce your energy usage is to wash your laundry in cold water, rather than hot water. According to Your Energy Savings, a website run by the Department of Industry and Science, which offers tips on how to reduce your impact on the environment and save money, washing your clothes using hot water will guzzle approximately 10 times more energy than a cold wash. If you’re worried that your clothes won’t be as fresh and clean after washing them in cold water, use a laundry detergent specifically formulated for cold washes for optimum cleaning results.
Another way to be energy savvy when doing your laundry is to only wash your clothes when you have enough for a full load, rather than doing several smaller ones. If you have to do a smaller load, remember to adjust the water level to suit the amount of clothes in the wash, so you don’t waste water. You might also like to select a quicker, water-saving wash cycle, too.
An easy way to drastically reduce your energy usage is to wash your laundry in cold water, rather than hot water. According to Your Energy Savings, a website run by the Department of Industry and Science, which offers tips on how to reduce your impact on the environment and save money, washing your clothes using hot water will guzzle approximately 10 times more energy than a cold wash. If you’re worried that your clothes won’t be as fresh and clean after washing them in cold water, use a laundry detergent specifically formulated for cold washes for optimum cleaning results.
Another way to be energy savvy when doing your laundry is to only wash your clothes when you have enough for a full load, rather than doing several smaller ones. If you have to do a smaller load, remember to adjust the water level to suit the amount of clothes in the wash, so you don’t waste water. You might also like to select a quicker, water-saving wash cycle, too.
Once your load is finished, avoid the temptation to throw your clothes in the dryer (which release more than 3 kilograms of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere with every use, according to Your Energy Savings) and hang them outdoors to dry instead. Consider buying a clothes airer or install a retractable washing line (like the one above) in an undercover outdoor area, too, so you have somewhere to hang your clothes when it’s cold and rainy outside.
Go paperless
Making the switch to receiving online bills and other official correspondence, such as bank and superannuation statements or insurance renewal forms, is a simple way to make your life a whole lot greener with very little effort on your part. Adopting this easy, eco-friendly practice will help you curb your paper use and conserve natural resources (such as water, energy and trees, which are essential to paper production). Going paperless will also contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, which are produced when paper starts decomposing in landfill (it creates methane) and also during the paper production process. Another benefit of switching to online billing is that it will eliminate clutter in your home.
If you’re not a fan of junk mail, consider sticking a ‘No Junk Mail’ sticker on your letterbox, as this will also help you cut down your paper usage and waste.
More: How to Give Paper the Flick for Good
Making the switch to receiving online bills and other official correspondence, such as bank and superannuation statements or insurance renewal forms, is a simple way to make your life a whole lot greener with very little effort on your part. Adopting this easy, eco-friendly practice will help you curb your paper use and conserve natural resources (such as water, energy and trees, which are essential to paper production). Going paperless will also contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, which are produced when paper starts decomposing in landfill (it creates methane) and also during the paper production process. Another benefit of switching to online billing is that it will eliminate clutter in your home.
If you’re not a fan of junk mail, consider sticking a ‘No Junk Mail’ sticker on your letterbox, as this will also help you cut down your paper usage and waste.
More: How to Give Paper the Flick for Good
Switch off your appliances
According to Your Energy Savings, leaving your appliances and electronics – such as your TV(s), computer, printer and gaming consoles – on standby mode when not in use accounts for approximately 10 per cent of your household electricity usage. A simple solution to this energy-guzzling problem is to flick your gadgets off at the switch once you’re finished using them. While this may mean that your devices take a little longer to power up, the environment (and your bank balance) will thank you in the long run.
TELL US
How will you go green on World Environment Day? Share your energy and water-saving tips in the Comments.
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According to Your Energy Savings, leaving your appliances and electronics – such as your TV(s), computer, printer and gaming consoles – on standby mode when not in use accounts for approximately 10 per cent of your household electricity usage. A simple solution to this energy-guzzling problem is to flick your gadgets off at the switch once you’re finished using them. While this may mean that your devices take a little longer to power up, the environment (and your bank balance) will thank you in the long run.
TELL US
How will you go green on World Environment Day? Share your energy and water-saving tips in the Comments.
MORE
Eco-Enhancing Additions for Every Budget
11 Tricks to Save Energy … and Money
Greening Your Home: 10 Ways to Create an Eco-Friendly Workspace
A great way you can help create a cleaner, healthier environment and protect the earth’s natural resources on WED – and have fun at the same time – is to plan a neighbourhood clean-up party. Walk the streets and nearby parks with your neighbours while you chat, have a laugh and pick up rubbish that litters the ground, blocks drains and pollutes waterways as you go. Obviously, the hard work should come first, but once you’ve done your bit for the planet, then it’s time to relax, kick up your feet and celebrate a job well done by holding a street party or a backyard barbecue to thank everyone who pitched in to help.