20 Ways to save the world

Arguably, the most helpful action we humans could take for the environment would be for all of us to dig holes and jump in, pulling the dirt in behind us. A little on the extreme side? Here are 20 more practical and achievable ways we can rescue our planet.

By Alex Brooksand Paul Connolly

1. We have embraced the compact fluorescent light globe. Remember how expensive they used to be? Planet Ark founder Jon Dee says the bulbs have dropped in price from about $27 each to closer to $4 or $5, thanks to the volume of householders now making sensible lighting choices. But did you know halogen downlights are more environmentally sinful than the standard incandescent bulb? That bank of eight or 12 downlights will consume more electricity than a traditional light fitting with one to three incandescent light bulbs. While a halogen bulb is more energy-efficient than an incandescent bulb (the type with the glowing wire running through it), a downlight also requires a transformer to power it. Downlights demand six, eight or 12 lamps and transformers to light a room, so they guzzle more electricity than a single traditional light fitting. The easy solution is to replace halogen lamps with more energy-efficient 30-watt lamps, or revert to old-style light fittings and use compact fluorescent globes.

2. Make like Nanna and reuse things. Saving the aluminium foil might not be for everyone but check out www.freecycle.org, where people list unwanted items so others can reuse them for free. All types of goods are on offer - televisions, computers, outdoor furniture and more. You need to register with a local group and give away some of your own unwanted items but it's an easy way to tread lightly on the planet (and your credit card).

3. If your home relies on old-fashioned electric storage hot-water heating, converting to natural gas, heat pump or solar hot water will be the single biggest change your household can make to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the environment. "Converting will save between two to three tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year," says Paul Myors, an efficiency expert with EnergyAustralia.

4. Want to run that air-conditioner without feeling like a criminal? Switch to 100 per cent accredited GreenPower, which means all household electricity will be from renewable sources such as hydro, wind or biomass (from animal or plant material). It only takes a phone call to your electricity provider. It typically costs 30 per cent more to buy GreenPower - about $400 a year - but you save big time on guilt.

5. Switching off appliances and lights that aren't being used is the wisest way to save energy. Some households spend more money powering the clock on their microwave oven than heating meals in it. According to ANUgreen, the Australian National University's Sustainability Office website, it is a myth that switching lights on and off uses more energy than leaving a light on. Standby power consumption costs the average Australian about $100 a year. Accidentally leaving mobile phone and iPod chargers plugged in without charging anything is also naughty. Standby power sinners may prefer a foot-operated power board, which switches off everything plugged ¿ into it with the stomp of a foot. It's perfect for power points tucked behind cabinets.

6. Be fridgy-didge. Running two fridges in one house is more environmentally scandalous than forgetting to take out the recycling. Unlike lights and televisions, fridges guzzle electricity all day, every day. The CSIRO estimates traditional coal-fired electricity created nearly one-third of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions in 2003. Older fridges are less efficient and cost up to $200 a year to run, so it may be worth replacing yours with a newer four- or five-star fridge, which cost as little as $60 a year to power. Vacuum the back of your fridge once or twice a year to keep it dust-free and check the door seals. It helps to maintain good ventilation around a fridge and lubricate the seals to stop them becoming brittle.

7. Don't buy landfill. Remember lunch boxes? Use a good one and you won't need to wrap your food in foil or plastic wrap. None of us deliberately buys rubbish but it's easy to fork out cash for junky kids' toys, cheap clothes or a crappy umbrella rather taking the time to buy a quality item that will last (and stay out of the bin).

8. Get earthy and plant a tree - ideally, a native suited to your area. Not only do trees convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, they can also insulate against traffic noise. Their shade can cool outdoor temperatures by up to 10 degrees and reduce the need for air-conditioning indoors. Natives have also adapted to the climate and offer shelter for wildlife. The City of Melbourne recommends blackwoods and golden wattles, while Friends of the Earth Sydney suggests Old Man Banksia and Lillypilly.

9. Solar power the laundry - hang the clothes outside to dry. According to the Department of the Environment, using an electric clothes dryer once a week produces 150 kilograms of greenhouse gas a year. If you can't give up the tumble dryer, investigate buying a natural gas-powered clothes dryer, which will reduce greenhouse emissions by about one-third.

10. Go squeaky green and switch your household's cleaning products to natural, biodegradable ones such as vinegar. You can budge the dirt without relying on chlorine bleach or antibacterials that pollute the planet. Baking soda, in particular, has a wider range than Cate Blanchett. Visit www.greenlivingtips.com for 30 ways to use baking soda.

11. This will not appeal to steak lovers but reducing meat consumption saves the planet. The Australian Conservation Foundation says a single 150-gram serve of grain-fed beef requires 200 litres of water to produce and makes five kilograms of greenhouse pollution. Eating a meat-free meal once or twice a week will reduce your environmental footprint - and buying sustainable options such as kangaroo or pasture-fed meat earn more greenie points than grain-fed beef.

12. Shut up the house to keep it cool, rather than turning on the air-conditioning. Pull down outside blinds and awnings, draw inside curtains and blinds, and seal doors and windows against hot winds. It makes more sense to keep the house cool in the early morning than to pump up the air-con in the evening when you get home from work.

13. Waste not! Compost heaps and worm farms sound like hard work but keeping food waste out of the bin can reduce total household rubbish by about 40 per cent. It also prevents food waste entering landfill, where it breaks down to create the greenhouse gas methane. If you don't have a big house or garden, try a Bokashi bin. It's a bucket that fits in a kitchen cupboard and converts food scraps into smell-free soil conditioner, which can be used on pot plants.

14. Try not to hit the bottle. Bottled water may be convenient but Clean Up Australia says our country uses more then 300,000 barrels of oil a year to make the PET bottles for bottled water - and only 35 per cent of those bottles are recycled. Water comes out of the tap. And, hey, it's free if you put it in a glass or your own bottle.

15. Do you need to see that work colleague face-to-face? Conduct meetings by tele-conferencing or Skype. You'll save time, money and emissions.

16. An average car spews out 4.5 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year and unless you are going the long way - via Afghanistan, for example - you probably don't need a Hummer.The electric hybrid Toyota Prius has the best fuel economy in the medium-size category, according to www.greenvehicleguide.com.au. Next best are the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Small cars - such as the Fiat Punto - are also winners. As is taking the bus or the train or getting on your bike.

17. Eliminating short car trips reduces carbon emissions, road congestion, petrol bills and thigh wobble. The Department of the Environment says, "Each kilometre of car travel avoided saves up to half a kilogram of greenhouse gas and 20 cents
in operating costs." What if you're shopping? Use one of those granny-style trolleys and walk.

18. Try hypermiling to get more bang for your petrol buck. When driving, avoid stop-start traffic ("save up to 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions and fuel cost," says the Department of Environment); ensure your tyres are pumped to the recommended level ("save up to 100 kilograms of greenhouse gas each year, extend tyre life and improve safety"); and remove unnecessary weight from your car ("50 kilograms less weight cuts greenhouse gas emissions by almost 2 per cent").

19. Get rid of the second car. You'll save thousands each year on car registration, insurance, loans and depreciation. An alternative could include buying a car share, such as Flexicar (www.flexicar.com.au), available in both Sydney and Melbourne. There's a $10 monthly access fee and a $9 to $12 hourly rate to use a car parked near your home. The RACV estimates it costs close to $200 a week to finance and operate a medium-sized vehicle.

20. The only way to truly help save the world is to put your money where your ideology is. Support environmentally conscious businesses and manufacturers when it makes sense and the economy will help the environment for us.