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environment [n.]
1. the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates. 2. [the environment] the natural world, especially
as affected by human activity.
- DERIVATIVES environmental, adjective; environmentally, adverb.
carbon footprint
A carbon footprint is an estimate of how much carbon dioxide is produced to support your lifestyle. Essentials, it measures your impact on the climate based on how much carbon dioxide you produce. Factors that contribute to your carbon footprint include your travel methods and general home energy usage.
ecological footprint
The amount of the Earth’s energy that someone or something uses. I’m trying to reduce my ecological footprint by cycling more and driving less.
International agencies, countries, states and even local government areas can all take major action to assist the planet cope with the result of human action. However, in saying this, there are also many things we, as individuals, can also do. Some are very simple and cost nothing but a little thought before acting [power usage, composting]; some have small costs but potential big effects, especially when combined with the actions of others [Clean Up Days, gardening clubs]; some have reasonable costs but may be subsidised by other groups such as governments [solar hot water]; some decisions may impact on your present lifestyle.
By taking well planned decisions which reduce our impact on the planet, we are all able to contribute to the reduction of not only our own footprint, but the footprint of our community, our nation and the planet as a whole.
This page provides information about ways in which each of us can help to reduce our own environmental/ecological footprint. It contains links to information which will allow us to understand what our present footprint is, what options are available to us and how we can use these to reduce our present footprint. There are calculators, ideas, tips, options, explanations and more. Wherever possible, we have used Australian links so they are directly relevant to Australia.
Related topics such as Climate Change and the Environment can be found on these pages.
The News and Newspapers pages may provide breaking news and events in this area.
Calculators
Footprint Calculator
There is a range of calculators available to assist you in finding your present footprint as well as find the impact of specific activities such as travel. A selection of these is listed below.
- Calculate Your Impact
‘Calculate your personal impact and learn how you can take action to reduce or eliminate your emissions of carbon dioxide. Based in the US. - Calculate Your PC Carbon Emissions
‘Calculate the potential annual savings from power managing your computers’. -
Climate Friendly - Offset Flights
‘Climate Friendly makes it simple to offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by your air travel. Our flight calculator is the most accurate available, reflecting current scientific opinion. Offset your flights in three easy steps’. -
CoolClimate Carbon Footprint Calculator
Use the calculator to measure your carbon footprint. - Ecological Footprint Calculators
‘You can calculate the Ecological Footprint using the following calculators : Personal, School, Retail tenants, Retail centre and Event. In addition to calculating your Ecological Footprint, you can also calculate your greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of your car’. EPA Victoria. - Energy Efficiency Calculator
‘Use the Calculator as a guide to help you work out where you use the most energy at home’. Also has tips, advice and energy rating information. - Food Miles Calculator
‘Food miles are a way of attempting to measure how far food has travelled before it reaches the consumer. It is a good way of looking at the environmental impact of foods and their ingredients. It includes getting foods to you, but also getting waste foods away from you, and to the landfill’. - Footprint Calculator
From the WWF. ‘Worried about your impact on the environment ? The way we use the planet’s resources makes up our ecological footprint. Measuring yours takes less than 5 minutes and could set you on a life-changing journey … ’. - Footprint Calculator - Global Footprint Network
‘How much land area does it take to support your lifestyle ? Take this quiz to find out your Ecological Footprint, discover your biggest areas of resource consumption, and learn what you can do to tread more lightly on the earth’. Global Footprint Network also has a World Footprint page which allows you to find your country’s footprint. - Integral Energy Calculator
‘With this calculator, you can get an idea of how much your home appliances are costing and the carbon dioxide emissions that are produced to power them. We also give you simple, practical tips to help you reduce your electricity usage’. - Perfect Portions
‘The portion planner removes the guesswork by suggesting how much to cook, depending on who’s coming for dinner and ways to measure it. For Christmas and other occasions when you may be serving many types of vegetables in one meal the individual portion sizes may be smaller’. - Saving Electricity
‘The calculator at right will give you a rough idea of how much electricity something uses and how much it costs you’. American site but the options available should still allow you to use it effectively. -
ZeroFootprint Youth Calculators
‘Zerofootprint lets kids calculate their unique footprint profiles and compare them with their classmates or even with students living in other parts of the world’. Other Footprint Calculators can be found here.
Specific Areas
Appliances
This includes areas such as choosing efficient appliances, rating systems, how to use them most effectively, more.
General Information
- Buy Energy-efficient
Appliances
‘When you buy a new appliance or replace an existing one, choosing an energy-efficient model can save you money on your bills and reduce your environmental impact without making a difference to your lifestyle’. Australian Government. A similar source is the Your Home Technical Manual - Appliances. - Energy Ratings
‘Everyone has a role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Choosing an energy efficient appliance is one way to do this while saving money’. Search and compare a range of appliances in different areas plus much more. -
Energy Star®
‘ENERGY STAR is an international standard for energy efficient electronic equipment’. Find information about the system, products using it, other resources, more. For example, you can get Fact Sheets for minimising energy use.
Specific Areas
- Cooking Appliances
South Australian. Information, calculate costs. Part of a larger Home Appliance section. - Green IT
‘In this section we have developed a number of resources to help you understand what green IT is, how you can implement it and why’.
Energy
This includes areas such as electricity, gas, solar energy, more.
General Information
-
Do Your Own Home Energy Audit
‘Take the DIY home energy audit and find out all the ways you can start saving energy. Each section contains questions about how you use energy and should take less than 10 minutes to complete’. - Energy Ratings
‘Everyone has a role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Choosing an energy efficient appliance is one way to do this while saving money’. Search and compare a range of appliances in different areas plus much more. -
Powered By Gas
‘Welcome to LPG Australia’s Powered by Gas Website. Roll your mouse over the images below to find out how you can use LPG energy’
Specific Areas
- Installing a Solar Photovoltaic [PV] System
Choosing one, having it installed, rebates and incentives. - Selecting Efficient Hot Water Services
Provides documents and publications plus information on varyious heating methods.
Food
This includes areas such as growing your own, organic foods, buying patterns, more.
- Australia’s Farmers’ Markets
‘Provides helpful information to farmers seeking opportunities to sell their fresh produce directly to consumers through Australian farmers&$8217; markets - and helps shoppers to locate their nearest farmers’ market’. - Australian Organic
Organic products in Australia. - Food Storage Advice
Fact Sheet on refrigeration of food from the CSIRO. - Seasonal Fruit & Vegetables
Produced by the Sydney Markets. Provides information on fresh products and recipes for using them.
Helping the Community
This includes areas such as efficient offices [including home office]. types of supplies, links with other specific areas.
- Top 10 Free Sustainability Solutions For Business
Links to actions and information that works. - CitySwitch
‘CitySwitch Green Office is a growing national partnership between businesses and local government acting as environmental leaders. The program works with office tenants committed to improving energy efficiency to make a positive impact on climate change’. -
Save Paper and Forests
From the Sustainable Living Guide.
Housing
This includes areas such as house materials, insulation, heating/cooling, renovation, more.
General Information
- Ecospecifier
‘A knowledge base of over 6 000 eco-products, eco-materials, technologies and resources, the leading global source of sustainable development & life-cycle assessed green product information. Categorising products according to rating scheme compliance such as Green Star, ecospecifier helps you reduce the time and costs of implementing Best Practice Green Buildings && Developments’. - From Greenhouse to Green House
‘The threats of climate change and what individual householders can do to reduce them’. UK based. Contains worthwhile ideas and is worth visiting.
Highly Regarded ! - Living Sustainably
Australian government site with significant information that tells you how you can do things around the home to help. - NatHERS
‘NatHERS provides a framework that allows various computer software tools to rate the potential energy efficiency of Australian homes’. - Thinkinsulation.com
‘Find out how insulation works, why it’s the most cost-effective and sustainable energy saving product you can buy and learn about the different options to upgrade your home’s energy rating’. British site, but most information is still relevant. - Your Home
‘Your Home is a suite of consumer and technical guide materials and tools developed to encourage the design, construction or renovation of homes to be comfortable, healthy and more environmentally sustainable’. - Your Home Technical Manual
‘Gives you the information you need to design and build a more comfortable home that is less expensive to run while more environmentally friendly. It is the definitive tool for creating a home that is enjoyable to live in, cost effective and environmentally sensitive. The Technical Manual contains over 60 individual fact sheets full of environmentally sustainable solutions for designing and building your home’. - Your House
Provides information for all areas of the home from bedrooms to outdoors. Queensland Government.
Specific Areas
- Lighting
‘The energy used by household lighting in Australia is increasing as we build larger homes with more lights. Most homes could reduce the amount of energy they use for lighting by 50 percent or more’. Offers a range of options. You can also get a Fact Sheet with Fast Facts on Energy Efficient Lighting here. -
Windows & Glazing
‘A well designed home with careful window placement can enhance your cooling, heating and lighting. Learn more about windows and glazing to get the most out of natural sunlight and reduce your energy bills’. Also has Insulation and other advice for reducing energy usage.
Outdoors
This includes such things as gardens, outdoor living, pools, more.
- Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network
‘Community gardens are places where people come together to grow fresh food, to learn, relax and make new friends. The Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network connects community gardeners around Australia’. Fact sheets, event information, advice, other publications, general information. - CERES
Based in Brunswick Victoria, ‘CERES is a model for a possible future where innovation, sustainability, equity and connectedness are valued. Both as a place and a community, CERES is striving to create a new way of being’. - Composting
Step-by-step advice. Links to other recycling areas. - Diggers Club
‘The Diggers Club is Australia’s largest garden club. We are passionate about preserving the best traditions’. Get plants and grow your own fruit and vegetables. - Sustainable Gardening Australia
Fact Sheets, resources, groups, training & courses, more. - Water - Pools
Queensland Government. In addition to pools it also includes information about rainwater tanks and grey water.
Recycling
This includes reducing waste, specific types of recycling, office waste, more. It includes recycling on an individual basis and also community level recycling. For links about many aspects go to Recycling Information.
Travel
This includes motoring [cars, fuels, sharing] and other options such as flying other long distance travel.
Motoring
- Can My Vehicle Operate on Ethanol Blend Petrol
?
Information from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Australia. - Eco-driving
Tips
‘Here are some of the things you can do to save $$ and reduce our environmental impact when getting from A to B’. - Fuel Types and Advice
‘This page contains information on the different types of fuel and what’s best for your car’. RACV. - Green Vehicle Guide
‘The Green Vehicle Guide helps you by rating new Australian vehicles based on greenhouse and air pollution emissions’. - Reduce and Offset Car
Emissions
Simple, common sense advice on how you can achieve this. - The Car Pool
‘We provide a simple & free travel solution for all whether you are going to work, an event, school or taking off on that one off trip’.
Other Travel
- Air Travel and Climate
Change
Background information plus information on how to travel more sustainably. David Suzuki Foundation. - The Man in Seat Sixty-One
looks at rail as an alternative to flight or other methods. Provides information about rail travel around the world. - Transport
Queensland Government. looks at Public Transport and also flying and car usage.
Water
This covers minimising water usage in all areas of living.
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Make Your Home Green - Renovating your home
‘If you plan on building or renovating your home, energy efficient design can save money on your bills and you can help protect the environment. By working with your building practitioner, you can strategically plan and provide yearly savings without changing the way your home appears’. A second site covering Sustainable Housing can be found here. - resourceSmart - Water
‘Save water around your home and you won’t have to splash out on your water bill. And given the less hot water you use, the less you have to heat up, you’ll also save on your energy bills’. Several articles providing advice. - Using Water Wisely
Advice from the Queensland Government. Includes home and gardening usage.
Other Information
- Change
How Can You Control Climate Change ?. European Commission. ‘Climate change is a global problem, yet each one of us has the power to make a difference. Even small changes in our daily behaviour can help prevent greenhouse gas emissions without affecting our quality of life’. Carbon Calculator, animated films, background resources, news, For Schools, Take Control ! . -
Climate Care
‘Helping you help the climate’. Find about carbon offsets for business and general living. Includes a movie. - Green Guide for Kids
‘This website is an online environmental resource for kids to find ideas, information and inspiration to go green’. - GreenHome
From the Australian Conservation Foundation. Multiple sections relating to both personal and community options. The Guides appear to be quite good. - How to Save The Climate - A Personal How To
Guide
‘A step by step guide to how you can be part of the energy [r]evolution. Full of interesting acts, educational graphics, and practical steps people can take to reduce their climate change pollution’. You can Download a Copy here. - Kids Saving Energy
‘Games, tips and facts just for kids who want to save energy’. US EPA. - Save Energy
Victorian site. While it has some state-specific things, there is a range of other material worth considering, wherever you live. Among these are Fact Sheets, Mythbusters and sections covering Appliances, Staying Warm and Staying Cool. - The Carbon Neutral Company
Shows how we can neutralise global warming in all that we do. Has Personal and Business Calculators to measure carbon emissions. - The CSIRO Home Energy Saving Handbook
‘The CSIRO Home Energy Saving Handbook is a practical guide designed to help Australian households reduce their carbon footprints and take action against climate change’. Note that this is Fee-based but quite reasonable. - What You Can Do
‘Small steps make a big difference on the path to living more sustainably. Here are some things you can start doing right now’. - Your Environment, Your Choice
‘How much do you know about the environment ? Do you want to test your knowledge ? Check out the exciting games below that can teach you more about waste management and the environment’. Designed for high school students.