More and more Australians are coming to terms with the importance of being environmentally friendly and ensuring the safety of future generations, on top of the already strong global pressure to act on climate change.
Here are a few of Smart Energy’s easy and straightforward tips on becoming more eco friendly.
“By making simple changes around the home, we can all contribute to making the environment cleaner and greener – not only does it benefit our planet, but it can benefit our wallets too,” says Smart Energy chief operating officer and co-founder, Jasper Boyschau.
-Change basic behaviors: cooling down and cutting your shower times, turn lights off when you leave a room, run your dishwasher, washing machine or dryer only with a full load and wash your clothing on a cold setting rather than warm or hot. These free and simple things can go a long way in saving you money and further impacts on our already delicate environment.
-Go solar: in sunny Australia, the average five kilowatt system can bring a saving of $1000 during the warmer months and up to $2000 per year as a whole by using solar power. A 6.6 kilowatt solar system produces approximately 10,600 kilowatt-hours per year, which totals a saving of around 10.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions yearly.
-Implement energy efficient lighting: replacing your traditional incandescent lights with energy efficient light bulbs or fixtures to have a positive impact on the environment and your finances. Halogen incandescents, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) typically use 25 – 80 per cent less energy than traditional incandescents and can last up to 25 times longer. The federal government has said that replacing your home’s five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with energy star-rated models can save you around $75 per year.
-Consume less: purchase smaller amounts of food and consumables to prevent wastage if you don’t use it, or keep your hands in your pockets when walking past new clothing or goods. The environment is harmed by fast fashion and cheap goods that end up in landfills – if you must get some new clothes or other items, consider buying from an op shop so as to reduce landfill and prolong the lives of items – make space by cleaning out your home and donating goods to second hand stores.
-Avoid disposables: always go for the eco-friendly alternative! Whether it’s plastic cutlery, plastic or paper plates or straws, plastic wrapping, coffee cups, nappies or napkins, there are a variety of sustainable options to reduce your environmental impact.
-Switch to a carbon neutral energy plan: while you might be comfortable with your pre-existing energy plan, you can reduce your carbon footprint by changing to a carbon neutral energy provider. Online comparison tools will make it easy to decide, and at no additional cost, carbon neutral energy plans are a great way to be more eco-friendly.
When Aussies make the decision to be more conscious and eco-friendly in their daily lives, they are taking steps towards living a sustainable lifestyle and ensuring a safe and healthy future for generations to come.
For more information visit www.smartenergy.co/au.
Originally published on www.realestateview.com.au.
