Top Household Tips

The carbon footprint of the average Queensland household exceeds 13.77 tonnes of CO₂ each year*.

By reducing the amount of energy you use, you will cut your carbon emissions and personally contribute to the climate change solution.

1. Replace five regular incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). You will save around around 450 kg of CO₂ each year and around $70 a year on your electricity bill.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. Wash your clothes in cold water using cold water detergents. Ninety percent of the energy used by washing machines is in water heating.
   
   
4. Hang one load of washing on the line each week rather than putting it in the dryer. You will save 120kg of CO₂ a year and save around $20 from your electricity bill.
   
   
5. Turn off TVs, DVD players, stereos, game consoles and other equipment at the wall. Appliances in standby mode continue to use electricity. A mobile phone charger will be responsible for 35 to 70 kg of CO₂ if left plugged in when not charging.
   
   
6. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables in season from your local farmers market. Greenhouse gases are emitted when energy is used to raise livestock and grow plants, and when foods are transported, processed and packaged. The places where food is sold also use energy for lighting and airconditioning.
   
   
7. 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.
   
   
8. Set your airconditioner between 24 and 28 degrees. Also clean the filter—a clogged filter can use 5% more energy than a clean one.
   
   
9. Reduce your pool pump running time by just one hour. You could save more than $80 a year and half a tonne in greenhouse gas emissions. Consult with you pool supplier for advise on optimal running time for your pool pump.
   
   
10. Become energy efficient in your home with a ClimateSmart Home Service. For $50, a qualified electrician will visit your home, conduct a water and energy audit, provide energy advice and install a wireless energy monitor. Visit www.climatesmarthome.com to register.
    
    
11. Substitute car journeys for public transport, cycling, walking or car pooling when you can. Transport is one of Queensland’s biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
    
    
12. Reduce your air travel. Australians fly, on average, 1100 kms per year creating 400 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Consider avoiding air travel by doing business over the phone, internet, post, courier or video-conferencing. Or, if you decide to fly, take direct flights, rather than ones with frequent stopovers and purchase carbon offsets.

* Source: Towards Q2, Queensland Government www.towardq2.qld.gov.au