Our Greenprints blog collects ideas on how to reduce our ecological footprint. Do you want to share your tips? Simply click on the category you want to post (Energy, Food, Garden, Home, Office or Transport) and post your tip.

The average Australian house produces 14 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year. Recycling, borrowing or small home improvements can lessen this impact.

Posted By: oaatf
Posted On: November 13, 2008

This November 23rd -29th is Zero Footprint Week. An initiative of the One at a Time Foundation, Zero Footprint Week is an umbrella awareness week that invites individuals, families and businesses to take simple steps to reduce their ecological footprint, save money, and help to halt climate change.

Here are three progressive tips from Zero Footprint Week, the World Wildlife Fund Australia (www.wwf.org.au) and the Australian Conservation Foundation (www.acfonline.org) to help reduce your ecological footprint at home.

1. The First Step: Reduce, Reuse or Recycle
Those three R’s you learned in primary school can really make a difference when it comes to your ecological footprint.   Reducing, reusing or recycling household goods is a cheaper alternative to throwing them out.  For more information on the benefits of recycling please visit the Visy Recycling Project at http://www.visyrecyclingmovement.com.au/about.php.

Benefit: Australians still throw away 54% of their waste.  Recycling just 20% more can reduce your carbon footprint and your waste utility rates.

2. The Next Step: Borrow, Swap or Buy Second Hand
Garages, closets and attics are all filled with the items that were purchased, used and never needed again.  Instead of buying something you might never use again, give a friend a call to see if you can borrow or swap for what you need.  If you still can’t find what you need, try buying second hand instead of brand new.

Benefit: Imagine how much money you might have saved from borrowing or bartering DVDs, power tools or yard equipment from your friends instead of buying them.

3. The Next Step: Insulate Your Home
Drafty doors and windows are not just a nuisance, they are costly.  Ensuring your home’s design and insulation is as efficient as possible by sealing gaps in roofs, doors and windows can greatly reduce both your energy consumption and environmental footprint.

Benefit: Sealing up gaps in and cracks in your home during the summer reduces the need for air conditioning and can save you up to 15% on your monthly cooling bill.

To find your environmental footprint and more tips on how you can best improve it, please visit the EPA Victoria’s footprint calculator at http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ecologicalfootprint/globalFootprint/index.asp.