Energy at home

Fit compact fluorescent light bulbs - they pay for themselves in a year, last up to 10 times longer than conventional bulbs and save more than 66 per cent in lighting costs during their lifetime.
Fit draft excluders to drafty windows and doors.
Shut doors so you only heat or cool the rooms you are using.
Turn off appliances at the wall when you're not using them - standby uses five per cent of household energy.

In winter, turn down heating and put on a jumper instead.
Install solar hot water - it will give you free, and carbon-free, hot water and pay for itself in a few years.
Don't drive to work - take the train, catch a bus, walk, cycle or carpool with a colleague or neighbour.
Holiday closer to home - Australia has some of the world's best restaurants, resorts, beaches and natural scenery.

Combine local errands in one trip. Car engines are least efficient while warming up and in urban traffic, so short trips are relatively more polluting.
Plant a tree in your garden to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Waste at home

Compost food scraps to turn them into fertiliser for your garden instead of sending them to landfill.
Use your recycling bin.
Visit www.recyclingnearyou.com.au - a great site that tells you how and where to recycle just about anything.
Contact your local council to find out what recycling services they offer for larger electronic and electrical products.
Buy second-hand.

Opt for products with minimal packaging where possible.
Choose concentrated products or refillable containers.
When you’re buying fruit and vegetables, pop them straight into your trolley rather than plastic bags.
Give unwanted clothes, household items, furniture or appliances to family or friends, or donate them to charities.
Use washed takeaway containers to store frozen food.

Fit a water-saving showerhead - from around $20, it can more than halve the hot water you use.
Fit water-saving tap filters and put in the plug when you wash hands or rinse dishes.
Use a small bucket or container to catch the initial cold water from your shower or taps, then use it on your plants.
Make your garden water-wise by mulching (which reduces evaporation) and planting native plants and drought-resistant lawns.
Wait until your dishwasher and washing machines are full before running them.
Use a pool cover.

Water your plants early in the morning or late in the evening.
Don’t leave the tap running while you brush your teeth.
Install a rainwater tank.
Collect greywater from your washing machine, dishwasher, sinks, showers and bathtubs and use it on the garden.