At home & on the road
Your daily decisions about transport, waste and energy use
are affecting the climate because of the greenhouse gas emissions
they produce. There are many steps you can take to help protect
the environment and economy by reducing these emissions in
your own household.
Energy - actions and activities »
Transport - actions and activities »
Waste - actions and activities »
Energy
New Zealand homes use 35% of our electricity. Around a third
of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels such
as coal and gas which emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
(the other two thirds are generated from renewable sources
such as hydro). To reduce these emissions, we need to think
about conserving energy (using less) and being more energy
efficient (using energy wisely). Making your home more energy-efficient
will also save you money on your power bill.
- Water heating is the single biggest energy consumer in
a home. Insulate your hot water cylinder with a wrap and
insulate the pipes near the cylinder.
- Use the yellow and red Energy Rating label to compare
models when buying whiteware such as fridges, dishwashers
and dryers (the higher the number of stars on the label,
the better the energy efficiency of the model). The additional
cost of an energy efficient model is easily repaid in energy
savings.
- Lighting consumes around 10% of the power in your home.
Replace the lightbulbs in your most frequently used lights
with energy-efficient compact fluorescents (available from
supermarkets or hardware stores).
- Turn off lights, appliances & computers when you're not
using them.
- Make sure you switch off equipment on 'stand-by' (with
display lights and clocks visible) such as televisions,
VCRs, DVDs, stereos & microwaves at the wall.
- Wash clothes in cold water (try to wash full loads) &
hang clothes out to dry instead of using the dryer.
- Close windows, doors and curtains to keep in the heat.
- Use the dishwasher only when you have a full load.
- For more ideas see the EnergyWise
website.
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Transport
Transport is our country's single largest energy consumer
and it's the fastest growing. Within New Zealand, transport
accounts for over 43% of all consumer energy use and it emits
46% of the country's carbon dioxide emissions. There are all
sorts of small things you can do to cut fuel consumption.
- Walk, cycle or use public transport instead of your car
when possible.
- Get your car serviced regularly and keep tyres inflated.
- If your car has a roof rack, remove it when you don't
need it - the air drag from a roof rack means your can use
5% more fuel.
- Air-conditioning can add 10% to your fuel bill - try using
the air vents instead.
- Go easy on the pedal to reduce fuel use - heavy braking
and accelerating uses a lot of fuel.
- Choose a fuel-efficient, low-polluting option when buying
a car.
- Organise or join a walking school bus in your area (phone
09 374 3806 or go to www.eeca.govt.nz
and look under the 'Transport' section).
For more ideas see tips
for driving, maintaining and buying motor vehicles and
being
EnergyWise on the road.
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Waste
Nearly half (45%) of the average rubbish bag could be composted.
That's a huge waste of space in our landfills (in landfills,
garden waste and kitchen scraps break down into methane, a
potent greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change).
- Compost organic material as much as you can (this will
reduce methane emissions from landfills and your garden
will love you for it!).
- Recycle glass, plastic items and tins.
- Buy products with less packaging.
- Take a recyclable shopping bag to the supermarket instead
of using plastic bags each time.
For more ideas see the Reduce
Your Rubbish website or the information sheet for taking
action at home.
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