In the home and office
What you can do at home
For information on sustainability in apartment blocks, see: http://www.greenstrata.com.au/.
- Keep cats indoors especially at dusk and dawn to prevent them from preying on the scarce native bird and skink populations.
- Turn off lights when you leave the room. Don’t leave appliances and equipment on standby when you are not using them. Turn them off.
- Take shorter showers and install low flow shower heads. For lower income households, Sydney Water will arrange for a plumber to come to your home and install an AAA showerhead for just $22, which will save water, energy and money. This service also includes fitting aerators, toilet flush adjustment and repair of leaks. See Sydney Water.
- Choose local native plants for your garden which require little or no watering and provide habitat and food for birds and other small animals.
- Get a compost bin, worm farm or Bokashi Bucket and compost all your organic waste
Compost Bin & Worm Farm & Bokashi Bucket Order Form (45.63kB)
- Subscribe to Green Power. Purchase energy efficient products such as solar hot water systems, efficient computers and light globes. These products will not only reduce our impact on the environment, they will reduce your energy bill. Ring the Energy Smart Information Line to get advice on a range of heating and cooling technologies, and what is the most efficient in terms of energy use: 1300 138 638.
- Eat what you buy, waste less food! See ACF's GreenHome Action Plan.
- Investigate toxic free chemicals for the home and clean less often! Safer Solutions (Total Environment Centre (148 kB). Also, see DECC's The Easy Guide to Natural Cleaning.
- Resolve to not use the car on 10 sunny days this summer. Go out and enjoy yourself.
- Your food choices can have a big impact on the environment. Check out Council's Sustainable Shopping Guide - Food edition on-line at www.sustainableleichhardt.com.au or download a copy Sustainable Shopping Guide - Food Edition 1 (4.73MB) for local businesses and community groups that provide alternatative sustainable food options, including Fair-trade products.
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Green your swimming pool.
What you can do in the office
- Buy high recycled content paper. The quality of recycled paper has improved greatly, and those being made now can look just as good and perform just as well as virgin-sourced paper.
- Re-use printed paper by placing it back into the printer, to use the other side. This will reduce your paper by 50%, saving money and the environment. Once you've re-used your paper, remember to Recycle paper.
- Turn off your computer and monitor at the end of every day.
- Support bushcare volunteers or another charity. Allow staff to volunteer one day a year for the charity of their choice.
- Install water efficient devices for taps, toilets and showerheads. See Sydney Water's Business Tips.
- Subscribe to Green Power for part or all of your energy and install solar power.
- Take a ceramic or china mug to work to avoid the use of disposable cups.
- Install facilities to encourage cycling and walking such as showers, secure parking and lockers. Your staff will be fitter and healthier resulting in fewer sick days.
- Choosing new and efficient heating, air-conditioning, lighting, computers or copiers can save you lots of money quickly and reduce greenhouse emissions. See the Australian Government's 'Energy Star' program website for energy efficient products to purchase.
- Invest in one high tech photocopier and printer that can do double sided printing, scanning and paperless faxes. This will save energy, maintenance and printing costs.
Contact Us
If you want to talk to someone in the environment team to get advice on an environmental initiative in Leichhardt, contact us on 9367 9381.