5 Tips for sustainable living

This February is the National Sustainability Living Festival, a celebration of all things sustainable.

Here are some simple and actionable tips, that can be implemented to live more sustainable. Together as a society, the pursuit of greater overall sustainability has become more prevalent. People now more than ever, are placing greater emphasis on their impact on the overall environment. 

1 – Considerate waste management 

Most of us are blissfully unaware of what we are disposing of, unable to comprehend the profound impact waste can truly have.

When disposing of rubbish, check if it can be recycled, or even better, re-used in a completely new capacity. Becoming more aware of just what it is you are throwing out, sets a precedent for other areas of sustainability.

2 – Turn it off at the switch 

As technology has progressed, an increasing amount of electrical items have seen their way into the home, thus increasing the consumption of energy. Even on standby, these same items are consuming power – costing you money. Before bed, take the time to go through the house and determine what absolutely needs to be on and what can be left off until you need to use it.

This simple exercise will not only see a huge reduction in your electricity bill but can go a very long way in terms of living sustainable.

Energy management software can do this for you, telling you how much energy is being used at any point in time from your smartphone or desktop computer, helping you to navigate appliances drawing on more power. 

3 – Re-think water usage 

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on planet Earth, meaning water is a precious commodity. Sadly, it seems that it is not always treated as such.

There are ample ways to cut down on water usage, and all of which contribute to overall greater levels of sustainability. Such as:

• timing showers
• turning the tap off while brushing your teeth 

By holding yourself accountable to a specific time-frame, you will become more conscious of the amount of water used when bathing. 

Water usage is a significant factor in determining sustainability, and for you and those around you to become more sustainable, incorporating water management will be quite helpful.  

 4 – Utilise other means of transport than a car

Cars on the road are one of the single greatest contributors to carbon emissions annually. To do your part for greater sustainability, seek out alternative modes of transportation for the work commute, such as:

• Bus
• Train
• Tram
• Bike
• Ride sharing with co-workers

There has also been an influx of sustainable cars that have made its way onto the car market. Electric vehicles can almost entirely be charged by your solar PV system, the ultimate vehicle for sustainability. 

5 – Go solar 

Going solar might just be one of the smartest sustainable and financial decisions you ever make. The system uses the sun, an infinite, renewable source of energy, meaning no fossil fuels are involved. It’s clean, cost-effective and it will have you feeling good.

Solar power is a great tool for sustainability. Renewables are the driver for future progress into sustainable living.

By using any high energy demanding appliances e.g. pool pump during the day when the solar system is generating energy for your home, this ensures that you are not drawing substantial amounts of energy derived from unsustainable resources of energy from the grid.

Celebrate National Sustainable Living Festival this February by adopting these easy behavioural habits in pursuit of a sustainable lifestyle.