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Community tips for making a difference in Blacktown

Household greenhouse gases Each year, the average Australian household generates about 14 tonnes of greenhouse gases. You may be surprised to learn that the majority of a household’s greenhouse gases from operating appliances and activities in the house, only 34% come from travel in cars and public transport.
Water heating An average house using electricity for water heating generates about 4 tonnes of greenhouse gas each year. By switching to a solar hot water system with gas boosting you can cut your greenhouse gas emissions to as little as 100 kg per year.
Heating and cooling Dress appropriately for the weather: put on a jumper before turning on a heater, and take off excess clothes before using an air-conditioner. A thermostat setting of 18–20°C in Winter, or 26°C in Summer is usually comfortable. An extra 1°C difference in temperature between indoors and outdoors can add around 10% to heating or cooling costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Computers A laptop computer used 5 hours each day generates around 40 kg of greenhouse gas each year. Desktop computers used the same way can generate between 200 and 500 kg. More than half of this is from using the monitor. An LCD panel monitor generates around half as much greenhouse gas as a conventional monitor.
Pool pumps A pool filter pump generates 1 to 3 tonnes of greenhouse gas each year (a kilogram every 1 to 3 hours). A salt chlorinator adds up to another half a tonne. Fit a timer switch and ask your pool expert how much you can cut back filtering time. To save on your energy bills, set the timing switch to off-peak periods.
Fridges On average, Australian households own 1.4 refrigerators and 0.4 freezers, which generate about one and a third tonnes of greenhouse gas. A third of Australian homes have at least two fridges, many of which are old and inefficient. Switch off the second fridge except when it’s really needed: for a single door fridge this can save up to a tonne of greenhouse gas and $130 each year.
Lighting Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) cut greenhouse gas emissions and running costs by 75% while producing as much light. Over its life, a CFL saves around a third of a tonne of greenhouse gas and $45 and avoids the cost of 6 or more incandescent globes. And you don’t have to change the bulbs as often.
Clothes washing Wash clothes in cold water: you will generate less than a third of a kilogram of greenhouse gas per wash. Heating the water for a hot wash generates up to 4 kg of greenhouse gas. Avoid washing more loads than necessary: washing a full load or a few socks generates almost the same amount of greenhouse gas.
Clothes drying Drying a load of clothes in a dryer generates more than 3 kg of greenhouse gases. Put them on the line or over a clothes rack! But if you have to use the dryer, you can save up to 2 kg of greenhouse gas per load by hanging clothes on a rack for a while before finishing them off in the dryer.