Take Action at Home

Home is the best place to start tackling climate change. Home is where you spend a lot of time … and money on electricity and gas bills!

It is no secret that household energy bills are set to rise sharply in the coming few years. By changing your energy-use habits and investing in energy-smart actions, your household will make a BIG difference to your energy bills and your impact on climate change.

Step 1: Learn more about your Household Energy Use

Start your energy-smart journey and complete this online -
Home Energy Action Tool [aka HEAT]

The HEAT will unearth energy-smart ACTIONS that your household can start to do right away!

Step 2: Learn more about household energy-smart ACTION

This PDF slideshow provides a broad overview of …

• WHY we need to act
• WHAT you can do at home

Step 3: Create your own Home Energy Action Plan [aka HEAP]

How do we humans remember to do stuff?! Well, the research shows that we are far more likely to CHANGE our behaviour when we put it in writing.

Here is a simple Home Energy Action Plan you can print out … fill in … & post somewhere prominantly in your home.

Step 4: Get Started!

We have brought together a wide range of information, web links and fact sheets on nearly every topic imaginable. Click here find out more…

Step 5: Take Action with others

How do we humans stay motivated? Well, the research shows that most of us are more likely to stay motivated about CHANGE when we do activities with other people.

So why not invite other people to tackle climate change with you? Together, we can make an even BIGGER difference!

If you are interested becoming an “Agent of Climate Change”, you can download this great fact sheet from the Australian Psychological Association called …

                  “Climate Change Tip Sheet – what you can do"

For households with more time …

Understanding your Home Energy Bills

Home Energy Bills vary a bit and most energy retailers provide customer specific information on their website. So check out your energy company’s website and learn about how they can support you further.

Understanding your Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Many Greenhouse Calculators exist…here are a few:

• EPA Victoria Greenhouse Calculator
• ABC Planet Slayer – Great for kids!
• Global Warming – Cool It Calculator
• Greenfleet Calculator

A more detailed Home Assessment Tool

Source: Australian Greenhouse Office – Cool Communities Program

This Home Assessment Tool is another excellent way of learning about your energy behaviour, building shell and energy appliances.

Green Home Program – Australian Conservation Foundation

GreenHome helps people help the environment by making simple changes to the way we live. Identify ways that you can green your home and lifestyle, from saving energy and water to cutting down on waste.

The GreenHome Save Energy Page contains:

• Great tips and information
• Energy Consumption Atlas
• Free Climate Change Action Kit

Each time we leave a TV on standby, have a hot shower and switch on the heater, we use energy. The more we use, the more greenhouse pollution we create and the more we change the world’s climate.

Source: Inspired by the
“Manchester is my planet” campaign

Disclaimer

The information and recommendations outlined in this WEBSITE is concerned mainly with providing guidance with respect to how a registered Castlemaine 500 household might be able to reduce energy consumption in their homes.  The information presented in the WEBSITE is derived from various sources and is understood to be correct and appropriate at the time of preparation.  However, the information may not be error free and may not be appropriate for a particular purpose should household circumstances, requirements, priorities or circumstances beyond the control of the Castlemaine 500 Project Team/Third Ecology (climatic patterns, client behaviour and expectations etc) create a different context in which original assumptions and decisions were based.  Householders should ensure that they are satisfied with the particular details and appropriateness of all areas of guidance and with respect to any involving the installation of ‘products’, their installation should comply with current Australian Standards, the Building Code of Australia and local authority requirements.  The Castlemaine 500 Project Team/Third Ecology accepts no liability whatsoever to any person for injury, loss or damage that may arise in connection with any use or reliance on the information.