Sustainable Homes
Skip Links
Text Smaller
Text Bigger

Top 15 Actions

There are many simple, free and often inexpensive actions that you can take at home to reduce your energy and water usage, waste generation, create a more sustainable garden and increase biodiversity. Check state rebates and federal rebates available for these actions.

Energy

  • Travel Green: by minimising car trips. Walk, cycle and catch public transport, especially for short trips. Service your car regularly and check tyre pressure. Reduce your flights and always offset your flights.
  • Switch your electricity to Green Power: reduce greenhouse gas emissions with electricity made from accredited and new renewable sources (wind, solar, mini hydro and biomass). Visit the Green Power website for more details.
  • Heat and cool your house efficiently: only heat the rooms you are using to 18-21°C in winter and 24-27°C in summer. Use insulation, block drafts and cover windows.
  • Switch to solar and use less hot water: switching to a solar hot water service (gas boosted) is most efficient, have shorter showers (4 mins and under) and wash your clothes in cold water.

Water

  • Change your showerhead and have shorter showers: use AAA showerheads and have shorter showers (4 mins and under).
  • Install a rain water tank: ensure to get it connected to your toilet for flushing.
  • Garden sustainably: mulch your garden and water wisely. Select plants that prosper with low water, especially natives. Get a FREE copy of the Sustainable Gardening Booklet. Darebin Banyule
  • Green cleaning: protect our creeks and waterways by ensuring that no nasty chemicals, detergents, soil or organic matter enters storm water drains.

Waste

  • Grow your own food, compost food and garden waste or use a worm farm: reduce your waste and help your garden. For more information visit Darebin's information site Compost, Mulch and Worm Farms
  • Shop smart and reduce your waste: only buy what you need, choose products that are environmentally sound and made to last. Avoid disposables and excess packaging.

Biodiversity and Other Actions

  • Habitat for native animals: provide a home for native birds and animals by planting indigenous (locally native) plants in your garden.
  • Be a responsible pet owner : keep your cat indoors and protect native animals. Only let dogs off the lead in ‘off-lead’ areas and always pick up dog waste. Visit Responsible Pet Ownership or your council website for more details. Banyule Darebin
  • Keep our air clean: minimise car use and avoid the use of open fires. If using wood heaters only burn dry, untreated plantation wood and avoid smouldering.
  • Get involved: with a local environmental community groups.

Subscribe to...

  • Sustainability News - Darebin Council’s free environmental newsletter for residents. Ph: (03) 8470 8405.
  • GreenWrap - Banyule Council’s free environmental newsletter for residents. Ph: (03) 9457 9828.

For Further Information

For further information, please Contact Us.

Powered by