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Climate friendly living checklist for your household

Encourage discussion, decisions and results together in your household to keep the following achievable and fun.

To start with, try calculating your carbon footprint at these websites.

www.smallfootprint.com.au — Pacific Palms organisation
www.acfonline.org.au/greenhome — Australian Conservation Foundation
www.greenhouse.gov.au — Australian Greenhouse Office

Daily habits to change

Try assigning a household member to be in charge of each habit below and tick them off each week:

• Turn off all standby lights on electrical appliances after use or at the end of each day.
• Recycle plastic packaged items 1, 2 and 5 (and refuse items with other numbers), and all glass, paper and cardboard.
• Keep showers, baths and other water use to a minimum, for example, 4 minute showers.
• Make a conscious effort to use the car less, and walk, ride, car pool or take public transport.
• Recycle organic scraps (from fruit and vegetables) for worm farm, compost or bury it in the garden.
• Use a shopping list and bring your own bags to local markets and shops.
  
• Check your shopping is as environmentally friendly as possible. Where did it come from, how was it produced and how much energy was consumed?

Try to think of some more daily habits you could change after you finish reading this guide.

Small changes to make and tick off list

• Watch An Inconvenient Truth.
• Switch to 100 per cent accredited green power so renewable energy like solar and wind is used. Visit www.greenpower.gov.au or www.countryenergy.com.au/green, or ring 132 356.
• Change all regular light bulbs to compact fluorescent globes.
• Change regular shower head and taps to triple-A rated to save energy and water. Forster Tuncurry town water comes from the Bootawa Dam in Tinonee. Visit www.midcoastwater.com.au for water saving tips.
• Write to a politician about your views on climate change.
• Join or support a local group or event that cares for the environment or the community.
• Set up a compost system or start to grow your own food in your garden or in pots.

Try to think of some more changes you could make after you finish reading this guide.

Bigger changes to really make a sustainable difference to your lifestyle

• Install a solar hot water system.
• Install a water tank.
• Install a grey water system.
• Install solar panels.
• Purchase a hybrid or highly fuel-efficient or smaller car.
• Insulate the ceiling in your home and put awnings and curtains in place.
• Establish a water-tolerant native garden with suitable fruit trees and a vegetable garden.

Try to think of some more big changes you could make after you finish reading this guide.

Print your own checklist

A printable version of this checklist is available to download below, with spaces to add your own ideas. Stick it on your refrigerator and see how many changes your family can tick off.

The checklist is a PDF file. To view or print the checklist you will need the Adobe PDF Reader software. If you don't already have Adobe Reader installed, it's available for download free of charge from Adobe.com.

  Download printable version of the checklist (PDF, 133Kb)

  Download Adobe Reader software from Adobe.com. (Size varies, depending on your operating system. This link opens a new window.)

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