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We live in one of the most biodiverse regions in Australia and to ensure the same environment and opportunities are available for future generations, we can each take small steps today for a more sustainable tomorrow.

See the resources below for opportunities to reduce your household's impact whilst making it more economical to run.

Resources

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Saving Energy

Saving energy is not only good for your bank balance, it can reduce your household's carbon footprint. Find out about energy efficiency and renewable energy options for homes and body corporates.

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Reducing Waste

Helpful tips to reduce, reuse, recycle and responsibly dispose of the things we use.

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Backyard Biodiversity

Information to support our local environment with landscaping, pest control and responsible pet ownership.

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Low Carbon Travel

Tips for efficient vehicle use, public transport and active travel to reduce green house gas emissions.

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Saving Water

Ways to conserve water in the home and garden (as well as the electricity used to treat and pump water across our region).

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Food and Shopping

Tips to make your dollar count, reduce waste, environmental impacts and support local businesses.

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Tropical Building Design

Resources for renovating and designing in our tropical climate, while keeping the local environment, character and community in mind.

  • Your Energy Savings-  save on energy, water, waste and transport with information from the Australian Government, available in a range of languages.
  • Renters Guide to Sustainable Living- a handy checklist by the Alternative Technology Association for those who don't own their home.
Last updated: 07 February 2018

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Are you considering solar or a battery system in your home? Take advantage of the Queensland Government's interest free loans & find out about other rebates at: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-of-living-support/concessions/energy-concessions/solar-battery-rebate
Congratulations to Fiona, our winner of the Great Northern Clean Up photo comp. Thanks to Passions of Paradise for the prize!
A great day out at Sustainable House Day yesterday. People had a chance to see community gardens, student accommodation, communal eco-living and sustainable homes to learn more about sustainable housing. Thanks to Dixon Homes Cairns, Kuranda eCohousing, MiHaven Student Living, James Cook University, Matt Greenwood Constructions, Balay Vandyke Designs, JCU Community of Gardeners, UniLodge John Grey Hall, Petersen St Power Station and Stratford Community Gardens for opening your properties for the day.
Saturday's Great Northern Cleanup site at Caravonica was a great success. Thanks to the community for helping clean-up the area north of the Barron River and Caravonica Waters and Zozo Cafe for hosting the site and offering $2 coffees to volunteers.
Interested in learning more about permaculture, growing your own food, composting or community gardens? Visit Stratford Community Garden www.sustainablehouseday.com/house-profile-view/?house_id=47160 for Sustainable House Day Cairns on Sunday 16 September 10am-4pm.
Don't forget Sustainable House Day Cairns next weekend. Check out the MiHaven Student Living Project www.sustainablehouseday.com/house-profile-view/?house_id=47157 and talk to the builders MiHaven about communal living with shared facilities, energy efficiency features and a bikeshare facility. Open Sunday 16 September 10am-2pm.
Check out this Gordonvale property www.sustainablehouseday.com/house-profile-view/?house_id=47101 opening for Sustainable House Day Cairns on 16th September and talk to the Designers Balay Vandyke Designs for some ideas on how you can design a sustainable home. Visit www.sustainablehouseday.com to see the full list of properties.
Great to see Peace Lutheran College promoting Saturday's Kamerunga Great Northern Cleanup site from 7-11am. https://www.facebook.com/events/1991783354186535/. Why not join this site or another clean-up this weekend? For a list of sites see https://www.facebook.com/pg/ECOeventsCairns/events/?ref=page_internal
Interested in visiting JCUs new student accommodation? Find out how students can live more sustainably as part of the university community Sustainable House Day Cairns open from 10am-12pm on 16th September. Visit https://sustainablehouseday.com/house-profile-view/?house_id=46960 for this and more houses.
We have some great properties registered for Sustainable House Day Cairns this year. Check out this property at https://sustainablehouseday.com/house-profile-view/?house_id=45687. Visit this house to find out about battery solar for your home. More sustainable homes to come.
Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers that attended today’s Great Northern Clean Up events held at Mooroobool and Smithfield. All three events that were held this weekend have been a huge victory, successfully cleaning up or beautiful neighbourhoods, saving litter from entering our waterways and putting a stop to litter endangering our local wildlife. We are hosting another THIRTEEN Clean Up events throughout the duration of September! Please head to the events tab for more information. We look forward to seeing you there 🌏
🎬🎞️📽️ Re-think Waste Short Film Comp!🎬🎞️📽️ Cairns Regional Council is calling all Cairns primary and secondary student film makers to showcase new ways to reduce waste, entries close 20 September. Find out more: https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/water-waste-roads/water/water-and-waste-education/short-film-competition
Congratulations to Tammy Berry who has won the Plastic Free July Photo Comp with a massive 254 votes! Tammy took out the top prize with her photograph of her dad who uses his Stockman's Quart-Pot in place of disposable cups. Thanks to everyone for entering! You can continue your waste reduction journey with more tips & tricks on their website: www.plasticfreejuly.org/living-plastic-free A massive thanks to Thala Beach Nature Reserve & Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas for providing this year's prize.
Do you know of a public spot that deserves a good clean up? 🚮We'd like to identify the best spots to tackle when we undertake the Great Northern Clean Up. 🚮Let us know your suggestions! Read more about the Great Northern Clean Up on their website: https://www.cleanup.org.au/the-great-northern-clean-up, or ours: http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/community-environment/sustainability/community/clean-ups
Plastic Free July Photo Compitition Show us how you #choosetoreuse in Plastic Free July and you could win a stay at Thala Beach nature Reserve & Breakfast with the Birds at Nature Habitat. Make sure you re-share, the post with the most votes wins! https://www.facebook.com/ECOeventsCairns/app/36495350702/
Plastic Free July​: Week 3 ☕☕☕ Do you have a takeaway coffee each day? That's 365 times this year you could #choosetoreuse! Simply dine in or B.Y.O cup - your local café may even offer a discount! Show us how you're turning the tide on the 1 billion single-use coffee cups used each year in Australia and you could even win a stay Thala Beach Nature Reserve​. Enter at: https://woobox.com/xwvcvf
Plastic Free July: Week 3 ☕☕☕ Do you have a takeaway coffee each day? That's 365 times this year you could #choosetoreuse! Simply dine in or B.Y.O cup - your local café may even offer a discount! Show us how you're turning the tide on the 1 billion single-use coffee cups used each year in Australia and you could even win a stay Thala Beach Nature Reserve. Enter at: https://woobox.com/xwvcvf
Plastic Free July: Week 2 Next time you order, make sure to hold the straw. You could even ask your local cafe to join the The Last Straw on the Great Barrier Reef and make the switch, with alternatives available only on request. In the words of the Straw No More Project, straws really, do suck.