Get involved

Actions you can take today
Sign up for initiatives
For kids

Actions you can take today

By making some of these simple lifestyle changes today, you can start reducing the amount of energy you use and may even save money on your energy and water bills!

Buy GreenPower. It is one of the best ways to make your home carbon neutral and significantly reduce your carbon footprint. Contact your energy retailer to find out how you can buy GreenPower.
Switch to solar power or solar hot water in your home to reduce your electricity costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Wash your clothes in cold water using cold water detergents, and only with full loads.
Hang one load of washing on the line each week rather than putting it in the dryer.
Turn off TVs, DVD players, stereos, game consoles and other equipment at the wall. Appliances in standby mode continue to use electricity.
Buy fresh fruit and vegetables in season from your local farmers market. Buying local seasonal produce means less greenhouse gasses are emitted through transportation and refrigeration.
Set your air conditioner between 24 and 26 degrees. Even better, install a ceiling fan—they use less energy than air-conditioners and aid natural air flow.
Reduce your pool pump running time. Consult your pool supplier for advice on optimal running time for your pool pump and consider connecting your pool pump to tariff 33 to reduce peak energy demand and save with a cheaper energy tariff.
Only run the dishwasher when you have a full load and select an ‘eco’ or short cycle.
Substitute car journeys with public transport, cycling, walking or car pooling when you can.
Purchase items with the least amount of packaging and recycle everything you can, including recyclable plastic, glass, metal and paper products. Reducing your waste will reduce your CO₂ emissions. You can also recycle when out and about.
Buy energy and or water efficient appliances – the ClimateSmart Retail program can help you with making efficient appliance purchases.

Sign up for initiatives

Reverse the effect

Queenslanders can offset their vehicle’s carbon emissions through the Queensland Government’s Reverse the Effect initiative.

You can offset the emissions of a moped, motorbike, hybrid, various sized cars, light commercial vehicle or rigid truck for a period of either 6 or 12 months.

All funds are used to plant trees and create native forests in Queensland that capture carbon from the atmosphere and help reduce the impact of greenhouse gas and provide homes for native animals.

To sign up or to get more information, go to Reverse the Effect.

1 Million Women

The 1 Million Women national campaign aims to stop one million tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere. That’s equivalent to taking 250 000 cars off the road for 12 months.

The campaign’s goal is to unite all Australian women—daughters and mothers, sisters and grandmothers, colleagues and team mates—who are serious about fighting climate change. Every woman who joins the campaign takes a pledge to cut one tonne of carbon dioxide from their daily lives within a year of joining.

The Queensland Government is a sponsor of the campaign.

EzyGreen

EzyGreen is an energy reduction scheme available to Greater Brisbane Region residents (both renters and home owners). It provides residents with access to discounted renewable energy and energy reduction products including GreenPower^TM, solar hot water and solar power systems.

Ezygreen bundles a number of energy saving giveaways and low upfront cost solutions that take advantage of local, state and Federal energy savings initiatives into one easy-to-use program.

EzyGreen is a Brisbane City Council initiative and includes a number of corporate partners.

For kids

You’re never too young to get involved in learning about climate change and helping reduce your carbon footprint.

Download the Captain ClimateSmart Kids Fun Book

The puzzles and games in this A4 sized book (PDF, 699K)* will help you learn all about what you can do to help fight climate change.

10,000 Teens

10,000 Teens is the youth component to the 1 Million Women campaign, to encourage 10,000 girls under the age of 18 to reduce their carbon footprint.

If you are a female teen wanting to save energy, cut waste, stop pollution and unite with other likeminded teens, then sign up today to 10,000 Teens and get involved!

Queensland Youth Environment Council

If you’re aged between 16 and 25 years and are a permanent resident of Queensland, you could get involved in the Queensland Youth Environment Council. Act as a youth leader to raise awareness of environmental matters and inspire others to take action.

* Requires Adobe Reader

Last updated 26 April 2012

For residents