Hi guys, I just got a great email that I wanted to share with you.
On 31st March, the city of Sydney are getting together to try and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5%. From 7.30-8.30pm we are turning our lights off for an hour. If you really want
to make an even bigger difference, turn your electrical goods off as well. That means switching everything off at the powerpoints as standby uses power too.
Click
here to sign up and support an awesome cause. It costs nothing, and is helping to create a healthier earth for our children, our childrens children, and our children's children's children! Or alternatively paste the following link into your web browser.
http://earthhour.smh.com.au/what-is-earth-hour.html
You can even go into the draw to win a car!
But in the meantime, have a think about the following things you can change in your day to day routine to help reduce global warming: (Advice taken from earthhour.smh.com.au)
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and reduce emissions. Lighting accounts for around 5% of household greenhouse gas emissions, and compact fluros use 75% less energy than an equivalent incandescent bulb.
Although the bulbs cost more up-front, you will actually save money through the energy saved and extended life of the bulb.
Turn appliances off standby
Unplug any appliances - mobile phone charger, TV, microwave, MP3 player - which are not being used and are on standby.
Appliances on standby consume up to 10% of your electricity bill.
Turn off anything that doesn't need to be on
A good rule is to turn off anything not being used. When you leave a room or leave the house, turn off your lights or appliances like the TV or computer.
Switch to Greenpower
Contact your electricity provider today and switch to GreenPower, a cleaner, renewable form of energy that does not contribute to global warming.
If all Australians switched to GreenPower today, Australia's total greenhouse pollution would be cut by 30% in one year. That's the equivalent of more than 40 million cars!
More...
For more ideas on living sustainably, visit our Future is man made site.
At work:
Get off standby
Speak to your office manager about turning off any equipment at work that is not being used, including computer screens, photocopiers and printers.
Before you leave the office
When you leave work each day, remember to turn off any lights in your workspace and your computer. Remember to unplug your mobile phone or laptop charger when it's not in use.
Find out what's happening in your workplace?
Chances are the organisation you work for is already doing a lot to reduce their emissions. Ask about your environmental policy and find out what's already happening. Look for ways to reduce energy use in your workplace and encourage improvements.
Encourage your organisation to go carbon neutral. The 3CBDs initiative (see below) is a great starting point. Switching to GreenPower will also make a big difference. Many Australian businesses are now choosing to offset their energy use and travel as a way of reducing the impact their business has on the environment.
Join the 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative
If you're a commercial office tenant, demonstrate your leadership to reduce greenhouse pollution by joining Sydney's 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative.
The Initiative encourages businesses to reduce the climate change impact of office buildings in Sydney's three largest CBDs ‑ City of Sydney, North Sydney and Parramatta ‑ with a focus on supporting and promoting commercial office tenants who increase their energy efficiency, and demonstrate commitment to reducing their greenhouse impact. Using less energy in the office can reduce these emissions and cut energy costs for the company.
Visit the 3CBDs website to find out more.
In our house we are going to have an earth hour every sunday night. And after the kids are in bed and I am in here chatting away on minti, I am going around the house to turn off all the lights and electrical appliances other than the fridge. What do we need them on at night for anyway?
As of 6.30pm 26/3/07 there were 35455 people signed up. Will you be one of them?
(March 2007) (
