Sustainability at home

Saving energy is not only good for your bank balance, it can reduce your household's carbon footprint.

Reducing the amount of energy you use from non-renewable sources can also limit the carbon footprint of your home and help you save on your household budget.

Ergon has a variety of tools such as home energy calculators and energy saving tips for air conditioning, lighting, hot water, pools and appliances. They also have useful information about connecting battery storage and solar PV.

Check for any Rebates and assistance | energy.gov.au

Solar PV for your Home: Clean Energy Council guides for planning, installing and maintaining solar PV panels on your home, including advice for purchasing, leasing or entering into a power purchase agreement.

Solar for renters: The value of a solar PV system can be shared fairly between landlords and tenants. Use the Queensland Government's Solar for Rentals calculator to estimate payback periods and fair rent increases relevant to savings for tenants.

Clean Energy from the Grid: Support renewable energy generation by subscribing to have between 2.5% - 100% of your electricity purchased from renewable energy generators through the national Green Power program.

Single-use plastics are also the most littered items found in Cairns and present risks to wildlife including entanglement and sickness or death when animals consume the plastics.

They can alter on-shore environments (such as nesting areas or soil composition), as well as underwater environments (affecting coral health).

Plastics never 'go away' but rather break up into smaller pieces that can remain in the environment for hundreds of years.

Single-use plastic items are generally used for minutes, mostly made from non-renewable fossil fuels and often produced in faraway locations. This represents a high amount of energy input for little return to local communities and the environment.

Even after all waste recovery processes, it is estimated that 40% of Cairns’ remnant waste is plastics.

In addition to this, Cairns sends over 38,000 tonnes of waste to landfill each year. We can help change this by:

• Avoiding waste
• Reducing the amount of waste we create
• Reusing or re-purposing items
• Recycling materials
• Responsibly disposing of what we can't reduce, reuse or recycle.

Avoid and reduce waste and go plastic-free

• Reduce single use
• Avoid unnecessary items, like junk mail, or plastic takeaway items when dining out.
• Bring your own cups, straws, cutlery if you will be eating takeaway
• Opt for plastic-free packaging like choosing solid soap over body wash in plastic bottles, choosing boxed laundry powder and toilet paper wrapped in paper not plastic.
• Buy in bulk and refill your bottles.

Reuse and repurpose

• Love the pre-loved: first check online community sale forums or Council's Buy Back Shop for low-cost items that may be in great condition or have some life left, before heading to the shops.

• Home recycling: Make sure you correctly separate waste and recycling into the right bins. There are solutions for green waste, hazardous and electronic items too, like household batteries, mobiles, televisions, computers and old paint.
• Other items: Recycling Near You is a portal of local recycling services and drop-off points for a wide range of other materials. Terracycle also provides recycling for a range of other niche products, like coffee pods or toothbrushes.
• Purchase recycled products: you can support the recycling industry by purchasing products made from high recyclable content, like office paper or toilet paper.
• Use your scraps: what you can't eat, your garden will. Composting can reduce the waste (and odours) in your wheelie bin and provide a free fertiliser for your garden. Download the Guide to Easy Composting factsheet to set one up or consider starting a worm farm.

• Plant Natives: Dense areas of flowering native trees, shrubs, climbers and ground covers, planted at different heights can form a variety of habitats in a relatively small area. While one garden makes a difference, many can form important corridors through urban landscapes and attract wildlife to your home. For more information, download the Gardening with Natives fact sheet.
• Avoid Pesticides and Herbicides: Some chemical applications can harm non-target species such as birds and frogs.  Use organic gardening principles for a garden that nurtures biodiversity, uses less water and is safer for wildlife and the family. Find out how from Organic Gardener.
• Wash the Car on the Grass: Polluted storm water run off from homes can impact aquatic life in local waterways. Washing your car on grass or dirt, instead of sealed driveways can help absorb and neutralise any harmful chemicals.
• Responsibly Manage Garden Waste: Dumping garden waste in the bush or over the fence can harm our local environment and agricultural industry. Because exotic plant species are the biggest source of invasive weeds, all garden waste should be disposed of through home composting or at one of Council’s transfer stations. The best way to control the spread of weeds is to avoid and remove harmful species in the first place, such as those in the
• Control Pests: Control common pests like cane toads or indian myna birds in your garden to maintain your backyard biodiversity fact sheet. Always be on the look out for tramp ants and if you think you have found fire ants, electric ants or yellow crazy ants, report it immediately to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
• Do not Feed Wildlife: When wild animals visit, refrain from feeding them as this creates a dietary imbalance and encourages dependency in areas where they could be vulnerable to predators and vehicles.
• Care for Wildlife: If you spot injured, sick or orphaned wildlife, contact FNQ Wildlife Rescue on 4053 4467 immediately at anytime. It's a good idea to save the number on your phone.
• Caring for cats and wildlife: Many native animals feed at night, making them easy prey for cats. Keeping your cat inside and putting bells on their collar can reduce their ability to sneak up on unsuspecting prey. Regularly worming your cat and training them to only use a kitty litter box is also vital to reduce the risk that a parasite (spirometra) poses to local frog populations.
• Dogs and being wildlife-friendly: When out in nature, keep your dog on a leash (unless in a designated dog off-leash area) and only enter designated Queensland parks and forests. Wildlife should not become accustomed to their scent as it may make them easy prey to roaming wild dogs.

• Cycle: There are hundreds of kilometres of cycle paths to choose from across Cairns, either on the road or the many scenic off-road paths. Head to Council's Cycling and Walking webpage for maps and safety information.
• Bike Maintenance: Head to your local bike shop or community bicycle repair workshop. Try the Cairns Cycling Collective.
• Use public transport, like Sunbus, when you can,

Vehicles

• Use Biofuels: E-10 is a blend of up to 10% ethanol made from crops in Queensland and 90% unleaded petrol. Available at most fuel stations, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Head to the E-10 website to see if your car is compatible.
• Check your Fuel Efficiency: Check out the Australian Government Green Vehicle Guide to compare annual fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions before purchasing a vehicle and consider vehicle maintenance for improved efficiency.
• Electric Vehicles: Despite the upfront costs, electric vehicles (EV's) can be substantially cheaper to run compared equivalent petrol cars. Their range in the region is increasing with a growing fleet of public charge stations and passage to the Gold Coast supported through the Queensland Government EV Superhighway. Charging in a home connected to rooftop solar or GreenPower substantially reduces the carbon footprint of EV's.
• Car Pooling: Can you share a ride with a co-worker, neighbour or family friend on your next trip?
• Planning Your Trip: Combine travel tasks to save on time and fuel. Consider parking further away from your destination and walking the rest to benefit from exercise or free parking.

Despite a high annual rainfall, Cairns has a relatively small catchment area, long dry periods and a growing population. Reducing water use in your household can help conserve this water for local ecosystems, as well as reducing the electricity required to treat and pump water across the region. Three quick tips for conserving water are:

• Use the half-flush on your toilet most of the time
• Shave a minute or two off your regular shower time
• Turn off the tap while you clean your teeth.

You can find more handy conservation tips on Council's water education page.

And the Queensland Government's YourHome website offers a wealth of useful resources, including information on rainwater tanks and a printable home water audit.

What are you supporting when you shop? Sustainable shoppers consider the true costs of their purchases on the environment, community and local economy, as well as the opportunities their purchases can bring.

• Shop local and seasonal: With abundant fruit, vegetables, grains, meat and dairy products grown in our region, there is a great range available at local markets, community cooperatives and grocery stores. Not only will your food stay fresher for longer, you'll be supporting local farmers and your carbon footprint with reduced long distance transport.
• Choose sustainable food options: For meal planning, recipes and tips to reduce food waste head to Food Wise. Nurture ocean health by choosing fish and shell fish caught with sound aquaculture practices listed on the Sustainable Seafood phone app. Consider organic products that haven't travelled great distances to encourage sustainable agricultural practices, without the environmentally harmful pesticides. Consider reducing your meat and dairy intake with a regular Meat Free Monday.
• Shop Ethical by researching your favourite brands using an ethical shopping app or website. Look at the labels to find trusted certifications for products like paper, wood and seafood.
• Picking products with less packaging: This can really reduce the amount of soft plastics from your house going to landfill.
• Avoid micro plastics: Many products such as facial cleansers, cosmetics, toothpaste, detergents and polishes contain microbeads which are harmful to marine life and ingested by corals.
• Bring your bags and containers: Remember your reuseables when you shop.
• Buy recycled: Choose recycled products and help increase demand for this growing industry.
• Beat fast fashion: Around half a million tonnes of textiles goes to landfill each year, with around two thirds made up of synthetic fibres that may never break down. You can:
  • Avoid synthetic fabrics
  • Purchase and donate second-hand items at local charity op shop or boutiques.
  • Hold a clothes swap to keep quality items in your circle of friends.
  • Rent new pieces for those infrequent but special occasions.
  • Keep damaged fabrics for household rags and compost organic materials.

How to design for our tropical climate, while keeping the local environment, character and community in mind - find guides, resources and tips on building for the tropics.

Make sure the next home you buy or renovate is energy efficient and comfortable - head to Your Home - Buy, build, renovate