Top Tips for Acting Sustainably in Your Home

Did you know that “going green” could actually save you money? According to new research commissioned by Lipton, makers of the first Rainforest Alliance Certified™ tea to hit the supermarket shelves in Australia, nearly two thirds (63%) of Australians believe acting sustainably will actually cost them more. But the reality is “going green” can actually save you money whilst having a positive effect on the world we live in.

Research commissioned by Lipton and presented in the 2009 Sustainable Australia? report found almost two thirds (62%) of Australians rate sustainability as one of the most important issues facing the nation today and half (51%) of all Australians say they are more concerned about sustainability in 2009 compared to last year. However, Australians are grappling with what sustainability means and how they can take action.

To assist Australians, Katie Patrick, Director of Green Pages has worked with Lipton to develop a series of top tips to make better, more sustainable choices in the home which can save you money.

“Acting sustainably in the home doesn’t need to be expensive or time consuming,” says Katie Patrick. “My mission is to help Australians realise they can help the world we live in by making simple, everyday sustainable choices and in particular looking for certified products.”

1. Seal the cracks
Cracks under doors and windows can allow significant cold draughts to enter the home. Using a simple and inexpensive seal under the side of any door or window will stop unwanted draughts from sucking away the heat in your home and reduce your electricity bills.

2. Throw out the “blower” heater and opt for hydronic heaters
Little “blower” heaters chew energy like there’s no climate friendly tomorrow! Opting for a heating device which relies on conductive heat allows heat to disperse around the room. The best option is a wall mounted conductive heater or hydronic heating which is laid permanently in the floor.

3. Look for the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal
Choose certified food and beverage products such as Lipton Quality Black Tea sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms. Every cup of Lipton Quality Black carrying the Rainforest Alliance green frog seal is a sip towards a better life for tea farmers, their families and the environment.

4. Go native in the garden
Australia is home to some of the most exotic and interesting plant species in the world. Try planting Australian native grass, waratahs, banksia, kangaroo paw, wattles, reeds, native orchids and succulents. These use minimal water and can provide habitats for local birds and beetles.

5. Power your shower
The best showers are short and sweet. An average 10 minute shower using an old shower head will use 250 litres of water, whilst a four minute power shower with an innovative AAA rated shower head will use only 36 litres. That’s an 85 per cent water saving.

6. Reach for the stars
Look for a good energy star rating (over four stars is best), when purchasing appliances such as fridges, washing machines and dishwashers. The star rating can help you to make an informed decision about which product will use the least energy.

7. Go fluoro
Most of the electricity used by normal light bulbs actually heats up the light bulb rather than provide light. Installing a compact fluorescent light bulb is 90 per cent more efficient than normal bulbs and lasts for up to five years.

8. Water the garden in the evening
Water stored in the soil is evaporated throughout the day. To avoid this evaporation, water the garden only in the evenings so the water has the opportunity to percolate through the soil and be absorbed by the roots of the plants.

9. Refuse plastic bags
Remember to take a re-usable bag when you shop and say no to plastic bags. Australians still use around five billion plastic bags at supermarkets every year. This contributes to landfill and can be harmful to birds and sea life.

10. Slow the water flow
Installing low flow tap fittings will cut down water flow in household taps by 50 per cent. They are easy to install and cost less than $5 each.

For more ideas on acting sustainably in the home visit www.thegreenpages.com.au

Lipton tea sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms is available in 11 Australian market leading products, including Lipton Quality Black teabags, Lipton Yellow Label teabags, Lipton Squeezable teabags and Lipton Intense teabags. Lipton Quality Black teabags are priced at $2.99 for 50 teabags to $4.55 for 100 teabags.

Australians can visit the new ‘Lipton for the future’ website at www.liptonforthefuture.com which contains a wealth of information about Lipton Quality Black Tea and the Rainforest Alliance.