REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE—it might be totally daggy but it really does make a difference! Using what we have means we need to produce less. This reduces the amount of fossil fuels we use and decreases the demand on the energy supply system.
Submitted
11/11/2005
By
Tanja
Views
55285
Comments
3
Updated
13/04/2006
What’s involved?
*How do I use less electricity?*
*Reuse old containers, water bottles, cardboard boxes, etc.—that way less needs to be produced!
*Turn off light switches when you’re not in a room. Asking others to do the same will raise awareness. The less electricity we use, the less we need to produce. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption. It’ll also save money on electricity bills!
*Buy fluorescent light bulbs. NECO provides environmentally friendly and energy-saving products for your home—including a pack of light globes and a water-saving shower head for $5, through a government funded scheme! Check it out at http://www.neco.com.au.
*Unplug/turn off appliances at the wall when they’re not in use.
*Think about whether you need all the appliances you own. Less appliances means less opportunity to consume energy!
*Be aware of how much water you use. Heating water uses electricity too!
*Find out more about the products you buy and their ingredients. Where do they come from? How are they produced? Try to support products that require less energy for their production and distribution. Get back to basics. Buy local.
*Ride a bike. It can be much faster and more fun than public transport. It’ll also keep you fit and doesn’t contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. It’s also cheap to maintain!
*If you don’t need to drive much, think about supporting a car-share program. Visit http://www.goget.com.au. Here you can rent a car locally for a few hours, or a few days, and don’t have to pay all the other costs associated with car ownership. Less cars on the road means less need for petrol and oil!
*What about choosing alternatives?*
*Visit http://www.greenpower.com.au/go/suppliers.cgi to find out which energy companies in your state support sustainable sources. You can find out all about their programs and have your questions answered. Even if you’re renting a house, you should be able to choose your energy supplier. Some programs only cost a dollar extra a week! Talk to your parents or flatmates about these options and why you think it’s important to support them!
I want to do this!
