Sustainability Works

Sustainability Works Action Guide


A Guide to Sustainable Living

What You Can Do

Wind Turbines So you want to know what you can do to live more sustainably!
I have put together a guide to help you reduce your impact on the planet. Even if you are already on the Sustainable Path, I'm sure you will find something else here that you can do.

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GENERATION


Green Power Switch to 100% Certified new renewable power
Solar Hot Water Install solar hot water and cut your power bill
Solar Power Install solar cells and make your own power


CFL Image

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY USE - EFFICIENCY


Shade and insulate your home from temperature extremes
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL's)
Standby Appliances. Switch Off at the wall
(TV, DVD players, Microwave, Computer, Internet Modem,
Pay TV & Digital Set top boxes, Home Stereo & Entertainment systems).
Buy Energy and Water Efficient Appliances
Efficient smarter heating and cooling.
Arrange a home energy audit

Every Drop Water Saver

SUSTAINABLE WATER USE


Water Efficient Appliances
Shower and Tap fittings.
Every Drop Shower Saver A Tap for your shower (see pic).
Stop water leaks
Water harvesting. Rain water tanks.
Water reuse. Grey water & Black water.

SUSTAINABLE FOODS


More Locally Grown Food - reduce the food miles.
More Organic Biodynamic Foods - chemical free and less energy to produce
More Sustainable Meats - such as kangaroo, free range chicken
More veggies and legumes - most meats are resource intensive to produce
Less Processed Foods - consider the embodied energy in manufacture
Less over-fished fish

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT


Cycle. Join a Bike Bus or find a Bike Buddy Cycle to work and the shops.
Walk. It's too easy.
Trains, Buses, Trams. 131500 Usually quicker and cheaper for medium to long journeys.
Car Pool. Join Car Pool Sydney or start your own.
Car Share. Join GoGet or Flexicar
Better Cars Hybrids & Electric Vehicles, Green Vehicle Guide.
Drive Smarter. Avoid Peak Hour. Drive smoother and at slightly lower speeds to use less fuel (and still get there in good time).
Telecommute

SUSTAINABLE GARDENS & BUSHLAND


Plant Local Natives. Contact Council to find out what are suitable local native plants.
Land Care and Bush Regeneration

SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION - Reduce Reuse Recycle


Worm Farming and Composting to reduce emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas.
Recycling near you. Now Council Toxic Waste Pickups also safely dispose of common batteries.
The Watershed

ETHICAL INVESTING


Investigate where your Savings, Super and Investment Funds are being used.

STUDY AND RESEARCH


Institute of Sustainable Futures.

LOCAL RESOURCES

Check out these community resources:

Reverse Garbage
Resource Re-use - Education - Consultancy
Collects excess materials from industries and sells to anyone.
Building 8,142 Addison Road Marrickville NSW

The Bower
Reuse and Repair Centre - Traders of the Lost Artefact
Takes most house hold goods in good reusable condition.
"At our discretion, we accept donations at our retail store, arrange collections from donating premises and 'mine' the local council household clean-ups."
Building 34,142 Addison Road Marrickville NSW

The Watershed Sustainability Resource Centre
Information - Workshops - Merchandise
Composting - Worm Farming - Organic Seeds - Home Detox - Natural Cleaning
218 King Street Newtown NSW

Other Sites
Hawkesbury EarthCare Centre

ramin - eco sydney

Check out the products here:

Todae
"We provide a range of ecologically sustainable products and services that aim to make you feel good about making a positive difference to our environment without jeopardising your lifestyle"
Shop Online or Phone 1300 138 483 or visit 83 Glebe Pt Road Glebe NSW


For more ideas see these guides:

Lobbying and spreading the word

Encouraging Others To Act


Discuss and suggest sustainable options with your friends and colleagues.
Write to your MPs to demand sustainable changes on a larger scale.
  • Renewable Energy Generation. Solar, Wind, Wave, Tidal
  • Stop the use and development of Coal and Uranium.
  • Better Trains and Public Transport infrastructure and integration.
  • More funding for cycle paths.
  • Interstate Fast Trains (its time we caught up with Europe and Japan).
  • Request and manage a Sustainable Workplace Audit
  • Join Earth Hour
More: Wikipedia Action Page > Australia



Join an Environment Action Group

Group Action

Click here to view a list of Environment action groups



Updated Jan 2008