Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

GreenMe has some handy tips on how you can make sustainability changes around your home that will also help to reduce your energy and water bills.

Basic Sustainability Tips

1. Shade east and west facing walls in summer - North wall should be shaded by eaves.
2. Change incandescent and halogen light globes for LED-based or Compact Fluorescent Light-globes (CFL’s).
3. Change shower heads to low flow water efficient ones, and fit aerators to taps to reduce water flow rates.
4. Turn the air conditioner thermostat to 27°C during summer and to 19°C in winter.
5. Turn storage hot water system thermostats down to 60°C.
6. Switch off devices at the wall or use a power board with a master switch to turn off multiple appliances at once.
7. Use buckets to collect shower water for use in the garden.
8. Compost kitchen scraps to reduce organic waste in landfill.
9. Mulch all garden beds/plants and water only in the mornings using drippers rather than spray fittings.
10. Use washing lines and indoor clothes racks, rather than tumble driers, to dry laundry.
11. Make use of public transport, walk and ride, and minimise car usage.
12. Slightly over-inflate your car tyres (but by no more than 3 to 4 PSI) to maximise fuel efficiency.
13. Use good curtains to block out solar heat and radiation.
14. Install thermal curtains or doors in passageways to reduce heating and cooling requirements.
15. Use fans as the preferred method of keeping cool, with air conditioning as a last resort.
16. Use warm clothing rather than excessive heating in winter to maintain comfort.
17. Use carpets and rugs over hard floors in winter to reduce heat loss, and remove them in summer to keep cool.

Advanced Sustainability Tips

1. Replace inefficient appliances with more efficient ones – and recycle the old ones at a depot (not on council bulk waste disposal collections).
2. Install solar hot water and solar PV systems to harness energy from the sun.
3. Insulate your ceiling with good insulation bats.
4. Install rainwater tanks and plumb them into toilets, etc.
5. Install grey-water recycling systems to use laundry and bathroom grey water in the garden.
6. Replace electric heating with gas heating.
7. Replace electric stove-tops with gas.
8. Choose a fan-forced oven instead of a non-fan-forced one.

For further information about sustainability at home or to book your FREE home sustainability assessment contact GreenMe on 0403 790 150.