Planet Ark Convenient Solutions At Home

Global Warming - what is the problem?

Over the past 100 years human society has grown enormously on a diet of carbon rich fossil fuels such as Coal and Oil. Burning these fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which affects the stability of our climate through global warming.

Whilst this does not mean the end of life on Earth, it could result in a much more inhospitable environment to live on. Some of the effects of climate change caused by global warming include:

• More severe weather events, including droughts, floods and hurricanes such as Hurricane Katrina
  
• Rising sea levels, leading to loss of coastal lands which are home to hundreds of millions of people
• More deaths from the spread of diseases
• Crop failures which means more people competing for fewer food resources
• Huge loss of fellow species which cannot adapt to the fast rate of change

All of these items combined could contribute to a breakdown of law and order in many parts of the globe and the emergence of vast numbers of refugees seeking land, shelter and food.

How do Australians contribute to the problem?

Per person we are the highest greenhouse gas emitter in the world.

Each year, Australians emit more than 550 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. That's an average of 27 tonnes per person (enough gas to fill around 27 typical 3 bedroom houses).

Our households directly generate about 20% of this total through everyday activities such as heating or cooling our houses, heating water, lighting and electrical appliances, and driving our cars; whether it be for business or recreation. Even sending our food waste to be buried in landfills creates greenhouse gases.

This equals about 15 tonnes per household each year, though this varies greatly depending on the size and number of people in the house, and the size and number of cars the family owns.

How do I cut this down and go on a carbon diet?

Like any good diet you need a target. Our recommended strategy is to calculate your carbon output and then set a target of how much carbon 'weight' you want to lose. Go to www.planetark.com/convenientsolutions for a list of carbon calculators.

A good target is 60%, as this is the approximate percentage of our current carbon output that we need to reduce globally to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The three stages we recommend you go through are:

• Reduce - the amount of carbon you put out. An example is replacing incandescent globes with compact fluorescents.
• Replace - fossil fuel based energy with renewable. An example is to replace coal fired electricity (black power) with renewable energy (green power).
• Offset - your carbon. An example is to have trees planted to offset the emissions of items such as car and air travel.

'No brainers' that I can do right now.

Have a great shower with less guilt
Showers are the biggest users of hot water in the home and can account for up to 25% of your entire energy bill. By installing a 3 star rated water-efficient showerhead you can save more than a tonne of greenhouse gas each year if you have an electric hot water service. By spending between $30-$100 for a good quality showerhead you'll save up to $200 in your power and water bills each year. What a bargain! Many excellent showerheads are available at Planet Ark Direct

See the light and save money
Install energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps. They can save up to 80% of your lighting bill and last up to 8 times longer. Replacing 10 lights will cost only around $60 but will save you around $500 in energy bills over their lifetime. A range of energy efficient lights are availabe from Planet Ark Direct and other stores.

Save your dosh by turning it off
Switch off lights and appliances when they're not needed, especially those which have a standby setting. Simple but very effective, this can save you up to 10% of your electricity bill and up to tonne of carbon output. So switch off the appliance to save some energy, switch off at the powerpoint to save even more!

Leave the car behind
Whenever you can switch to low greenhouse impact transport options like your legs, bicycles or public transport. Use phone, email or video conferencing wherever possible.

Go easy on the airconditioning
If you have air conditioning or a heating system, set the thermostat appropriately. Each degree you turn it up in summer and down in winter can save you 10% in energy use. Insulation and curtains go a long way in helping to maintain house temperatures.

Use a solar powered clothes dryer
By drying your clothes on a Hills Hoist you will save money and make your clothes last longer. Remember the lint in your dryer is the result of your clothes being worn away by the drying action. Each load air-dried on the line will save around 3 kgs of greenhouse gas and 40c - and you'll get some exercise thrown in at no charge.

Go Green on your electricity
Switch to a GreenPower product from your local electricity provider. This means that your electricity will be sourced from renewable energy such as wind and solar. Get the maximum percentage of GreenPower you can afford. It is slightly more expensive but if you remember to do the energy saving actions we recommend, you'll need to buy less electricity anyhow! Go to www.greenpowerpricewatch.com.au for the most cost effective options.

Don't waste your waste
Divert garden and food wastes from landfill to composting (either at home or through a Council scheme - if they don't have one, ring them up and ask for one to be set up). You'll save about one kilogram of greenhouse gas for each kilogram of food or garden waste avoided.

Great things to do that take a little planning

Wrap your house in a blanket
Make your home more pleasant to live in and reduce your need for home heating and cooling and by installing insulation & draught-sealing. A well insulated home is up to 10°C warmer in winter and up to 7°C cooler in summer and can save as much as $500 per year in reduced energy costs.

Use the sun to heat your water
When replacing your hot water service, install a solar unit, preferably backed by natural gas. This can save up to 4 tonnes of carbon annually - the equivalent of taking a car off the road - and up to $400 each year! Government rebates are available also. Planet Ark recommends the latest evacuated tube solar hot water system from Hills. Go to www.hillssolar.com.au

Make money from your roof
Thousands of Australian families have already installed solar panels on their roof to generate electricity from the sun. Any excess electricity is sold back to the electricity supplier so you make money when you're on holidays. Solar panels can add significant value to your home (who doesn't want to buy a home with low power bills) and as a bonus, you can get a government cash rebate of up to $8,000. Go to solarshop.com.au for more info.

Halve those petrol bills
When buying your next car select a fuel-efficient one such as a hybrid - and don't get a car that's bigger than you need. All new cars have a sticker that will tell you how efficient they are. Making the right choice can save you up to 20 tonnes of carbon and $10,000 in fuel costs over a 10-year period.

For ratings of the most efficient cars and to find out how efficient you current car is go to www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au

Appliances - go for the stars
Buy energy-efficient appliances. This is very important for appliances that get used often and can last a long time, such as fridges and washing machines. Don't base your choices on cheap price tags, as your power bill savings can more than cover for the extra upfront cost. Go to www.energyrating.gov.au for ratings on all current appliances.

Get you own water supply
As a result of global warming there is an increased likelihood of drought in most of Australia. It is a wise move to take the pressure off our dam supplies and secure your own water supply by putting in rainwater tanks. Government Rebates are widely available. You should also recycle your greywater for your garden. Go to planetark.com/greywater for free guide on how to do this.

For more information or to get help on taking any of these actions call Planet Ark's Convenient Solutions hotline on 1300 763 768 or use the form.