Mosman Public School

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Telephone02 9969 9325

Emailmosman-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Zero Emissions: ECO TIPS

The 10 most EFFECTIVE and EASY ways to reduce your carbon footprint at home

Tip 1

 
Switch to an energy proveider that supports energy and make a large dent in your emissions. Did you know on average 56% of your emissions come from electricity? Diamond Energy  and Powershop support clean, renewable energy and are 100% carbon neutral. If you have Energy Australia as a provider and don't want to switch you can have them offset your energy for free and go carbon neutral via this link.
 
Go above and beyond. The sun produces enough energy a day to power the world's energy needs for an entire year! Better technology and efficiency have reduced the cost of solar power significantly in the last decade. Now is a great time to consider solar panels for your home. Visit Solarpro.

Solar panels

Tip 2

 
Upgrade to LED light bulbs. LED stands for light emitting diodes. LED are 75% more energy efficient than incandescent or halogen bulbs and, the best part is, they last 20% longer.
LED's do not contain any hazardous chemicals. They can also be recycled. Here are some options:
 
  1. Mosman Council's e-waste collection program.
  2. Your nearest Community Recycling Centre  (CRC).
  3. Take them to the next Household Chemical CleanOut Collection.

Tip 3 

Use active transport: Walking or taking the bus is better for the environment, the community and you. Transport, coupled with engery usage, makes up ~80% of household emissions. Getting active has great health benefits: for fitness and cognitive abillity, and for building communities. Most families live within 1.2km of the school, which is easy walking distance even for little legs. Make time to walk to school one day a week, then two and build from there. With the warmer weather upon us, it's the perfect time to get outdoors.
Catchinng a bus is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint too - here are some FAQs on catching the MPS school buses. Parents, please make sure you check the routes and correct stops for your child/ren.

Walk to school

If you have to use your car and don't have an Electric Vehicle yet, you can offset your annual car emisssions via Greenfleet or GoNeutral.

An idling engine can produce twice as many exhaust emissions as an engine in motion, so turn your car off when you're waiting at school.

Tip 4

Start a worm farm or compost. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is emitted as waste breaks down in landfill. It is 20 times more damaging to the environment than CO2. Worm farms and composting reduces landfill waste. Mosman Council offers residents a discount when you purchase from Compost Revolution and will deliver kits to your home.

Worm farm and compost

Tip 5

Eat less meat and more plant-based foods. Aim for at least one meat-free meal per week. Here are four reasons why:
  1. It's healthier. Eating more plant-based foods reduces the risk of chronic disease.
  2. Environment. Red and white meat production has significant enviromental impacts. Forgoing 500g of red meat such as beef is equivalent of taking one car off the road. It takes 1900 litres of water to grow 500g of chicken meat.
  3. Quality and cruelty. Anibiotic and pesticide overuse is detrimental to animal and human health. By reducing your family's meat intake, you lessen the need for factory breeding and farming.
  4. So mant meat-free options. From plant-based alternatives to nourishing vegetarian / vegan meals, it's never been easier to try plant-based alternatives and dairy replacements.

Tip 6

Reduce waste and avoid single use plastics. Once you consciously start trying  to avoid single use plastic you become very aware that it is EVERYWHERE and task seems insurmountable.
  • Start by collecting and recycling your soft plastics (Coles / Woolworths have bins for soft plastic recycling).
  • Bring bread bags, reusable shopping bags and bring your old jars to Scoop Wholefoods or Naked Foods in Mosman for package-free staples.
  • Bring your own coffee cup for take away and use paper or metal straw instead of plastic.
  • Pack 'nude' lunches (no plastic wrapping) for your kids. There are plenty of compartment-based lunch boxes available.

'Nude' lunches

Remember: Start small, don't get discouraged and keep at it. It's better to have millions doing this task imperfectly than 10 families doing it perfectly.

Tip 7

Start a vegetable / native garden or plant a tree. Plant bee / butterfly-friendly gardens with bright flowers to nurture these amazing pollinators. Plant natives that are water hardy and low maintenance. re-use old pots for herbs. A home garden educates kids on where there food comes from and how to eat seasonal produce. They'll love to eat the food they've grown. Trees provide shade, are cooling and improve air quality by absorbing pollitants.

Vegetable garden and pot planting

Tip 8

Buy local or Australian made. Be conscious of the miles imported food travels between where it produced to your home. On occasions, a locally-produced alternative is available.
Fewer miles travelled means fresher produce, and you are supporting local, state and national farmers and manufacturers. Shopping at at your local farmer's market is a great way to see what's in season too.

Look for the Australian made logo

Tip 9

Install water efficient shower heqads and conserve water. Water is such a precious resource and something we don't always have a lot of here in Australia. Whenever possible have a shower (rather than a bath) and keep it short. Never leave a tap running while brushing your teeth. If you have a big garden invest in a water tank for irrigation and watering your plants.

Tip 10

Switch your browser to Ecosia.
 

For every 45 searches, Ecosia plants a tree. The easiest win of all!

Ticked off the top 10? Here are some ways you can go the extra mile.....

1. Go paper-free: have your bills, utilities and bank statements delivered online.
2. Green purchasing: Use recycled toilet paper made from 100% post-consumer waste or bamboo options that are available and more sustainable. Buy green cleaning products to reduce chemical use and improve water quality.
3. Eco tea / coffee: Invest in an eco-kettle and get reusable coffee pods.
4 Avoid fast fashion: It's better to spend more money on one quality item and wear 30+ times than purchasing trendy, cheap clothing that ends up in landfill or being burned.
5. Track and reduce your carbon footprint at home with Climate Clever It's so easy the kids can do it!