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Greenhousegases,producedbynaturalprocessesandenhancedbyhumanactivities,stayintheEarth’satmosphereformanyyearstokeeptheearthwarmandinhabitable.Humanactivitiesarebelievedtohavecreatedanacceleratedorenhancedgreenhouseeffect.Byclearingvegetationfromlandandusingenergyderivedfromfossilfuelstodriveourcarsandwarmandcoolourhomes,weareemittingexcessiveamountsofgreenhousegasesintotheatmosphere.

Withgreateramountsofgreenhousegasesbeingtrappednaturallyintheatmosphere,theEarthiswarmingandcreatingchangesintheweatherpatterns.Climatechangeresultingfromhumanenhancedgreenhouseeffectisnowwidelyacceptedbytheinternationalcommunity.

Wecanchangethisbytakingpersonalresponsibilityforouractions.Bylivingmoresustainablyathomeandinthecommunity,wecanhelptoreducetheeffectonclimatechange.Beingenergysmartinvolveshavingawarenessandconsiderationofhowgreenhousegasesaregeneratedandhowwecontributetothegreenhouseeffect.Followthesimpletipsinthisbooklettomakeachange.

FormoreinformationaboutclimatechangeandgreenhousegasesvisittheAustralianGreenhouseOffice,www.greenhouse.gov.au

80 percent of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels, such as brown coal, are finite and therefore they are unsustainable resources.

Leaving appliances in standby mode can cost you up to $100 a year!

For more information about energy saving suggestions and possible financial rebates for installing solar systems, contact Sustainability Victoria or the Australian Greenhouse Office - for details see page 40.

�� Sustainable - and proud of it.

Byselectingthemostenergyefficientappliances,signinguptogreenpowerandusingenergywisely,youcanreducegreenhousepollutionandpotentiallysavemoney.

• Changelightglobestocompactfluorescents.

• Turnyourmobilephonechargeroffwhenitisn’tcharging.

• Useaclotheslineinsteadofadryer.

• Washclothesincoldorwarm,nothotwater.

• Usedishwashersandwashingmachinesonlywhentheyarefullloads.

• Lethotfoodcooldownbeforeputtingitinthefridge.Thewarmthonlyheatsupthefridge–usingmoreenergytocoolitdown.

• Switchoffunnecessarylightsincludingfluorescentlamps.Timercontrolsanddaylightormovementsensorsarenowavailabletoswitchoffautomatically.

• SwitchoffTV’s,stereos,computersandotherelectricalequipmentattheswitchwhenyou’renotusingthem.

• Airconditionersoversummerusehugeamountsofelectricity.Besmartabouttheiruse.Setthemnolowerthan25°candonceyourhouseiscool,turndownthefan,orbestofall,useceilingfansinstead.

• Preventyourhousefromwarmingupinsummerbyinstallingblindsandcurtains.Planttreesthatwillprovideshadetothehouseduringsummer.

• Preventyourhousefromcoolingdowntoomuchinwinterbyplantingtreesthataredeciduousandwillallowthesunlighttowarmyourhousenaturallyinwinter.

• Ifyoucanaffordit,investinsolarhotwatersystemsorsolarpanels.

Leaving appliances in standby mode can cost you up to $�00 a year!

Leaving appliances in standby mode can cost you up to $�00 a year!

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I / We…

Will replace standard light globes with compact fluorescent globes.

Will switch my mobile phone charger, TV, stereo and DVD players off at the switch when not in use.

Will sign up for green energy with my energy provider.

Will dress to keep warm and turn the heater down in winter.

Install blinds on windows to prevent the house heating up from sunlight.

Always look for highest energy ratings when buying new appliances.