20 simple ways to be greener at home

It just takes a little know-how and some small switches to live a more sustainable life.

Living a greener life and creating a more sustainable home is something everyone strives for, but knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Here are 20 super-simple eco-friendly updates and changes you can make to do your bit for the environment.

1. check the label

Greenwash is a term to describe how just about everything these days is labelled as "green" or "eco". To find out if furniture, flooring, paint and building materials actually have legitimate green credentials, check with Good Environmental Choice Australia. It's Australia's only independent, not-for-profit eco-labelling program.
Photo: Jessie Prince

2. quality over quantity

Buy with longevity in mind and go for quality over quantity. the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that, on average, each Australian sends 23 kilos of textiles to landfill per year. it takes 10,000 litres of water to grow the cotton used to make the denim for a pair of jeans, so choose a pair that will last. Organic cottons are kinder to the environment and fabrics like pure linen tend to last longer. The same goes for your furnishings.

3. eradicate plastic

To avoid wasting plastic bags, keep your fruit and veg loose when shopping. At home, transfer them into reusable breathable fabric bags that can be stacked in the fridge – they'll stay much crisper for longer!
Photo: Maree Homer

4. eco clean

To give your home a green clean, bicarb and vinegar are both wonderful, natural cleaning solutions. There are also plenty of great eco cleaning products available.

5. try bokahsi

Want to compost but don't have a big garden? "Try a Bokashi bucket an easy-to-use compact composting system if space is tight. Also, some councils allow fruit and vegetable scraps in green waste." Costa Georgiadis, host of Gardening Australia and International Composting Awareness Week ambassador.

6. reduce food waste

Do you waste a lot of food? Try growing your own, even if it's just a pot of basil on the windowsill, and you might rethink the way you shop and eat. "With 40 per cent of household waste consisting of food waste, respect for the process is more important than ever." Emma Bowen, GM, Pocket City Farms. If you have the space you can also create a garden farm to grow your own vegetables, fruit trees and herbs.
Photo: Chris Warnes | Styling: Sarah Ellison

7. coffee conscious

Coffee lovers, don't try to recycle takeaway cups – they have a plastic coating recycling centres can't process. If you use coffee pods, take part in Nespresso's capsule-recycling program or try refillable stainless steel capsules.

8. sustainable building materials

Timber can be used throughout your home, from your pool decking to your kitchen cabinets. Look for Forest Stewardship Council certification when you're buying timber for your home – this is your guarantee that it's been sourced in an environmentally responsible manner.
Photo: Maree Homer

9. buy local

When grocery shopping, support Aussie farmers. "The distance travelled by fruit and vegetables in Australia is estimated to generate CO² emissions of about 480g per kilo. Buying local produce will reduce this dramatically." Emma Bowen, from Pocket City Farms.

10. showerhead switch

If you really can't (or don't want to) shorten your shower time, upgrade your showerhead. A standard showerhead uses about 15 to 25 litres of water per minute, while a three-star-rated water-efficient showerhead uses as little as 6 or 7 litres per minute! To find out the water consumption and WELS (Water Effeciency Labelling and Standards) star rating of your shower, head to Waterrating.govau

11. LED lights

Buy LED light globes – they cost a little more than Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) bulbs, but an LED provides 15,000 to 50,000 hours of illumination compared to a CFL's 6000 hours.
Photo: Jessie Prince

12. be water wise

These are two of the easiest ways to save water in the bathroom: Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth and you could save up to 30 litres of water a day. Also, take a shower instead of having a bath. A shower uses about 35 to 95 litres while a bath can use up to a whopping 250 litres!

13. dispose thoughtfully

Leftover paint is hard to dispose of, but instead of waiting for council clean-up day, now you can drop off half-used tins at Paintback's nearest collection point. Paintback will separate the liquid and packaging, then recycle the containers. Waste paint is treated in a number of ways, which minimises landfill.
Photo: Jessie Prince

14. concentrated cleaning

If you really want to ensure your natural cleaning products of choice are in fact "green", then you need to scrutinise the labels and enquire to find out the complete list of ingredients if the packaging is vague. Or, to save you time, follow our guide to the best cleaning products in Australia.

15. fill your home with plants

Indoor house plants can remove toxins from indoor air, so filling your home with ferns, cactus, and leafy plants is one of the most eco-friendly choices you can make. If you have trouble keeping them alive try some low-maintenance plants you'd have to try to kill.

16. upgrade your appliances

That old washing machine could be costing you and the environment! Some modern appliances are far more water and energy-efficient than they used to be so have a look at what energy and water saving upgrades are available.
Photo: Alicia Taylor

17. temperature control

Heating and cooling accounts for a huge percentage of your home's energy draw in winter and summer. Try to select more moderate temperature control during both extremes. For example, you can set your heater between 18°C and 20°C and slash its running costs by up to 10 per cent, while in summer, try setting your air conditioner between 24°C and 26°C.

18. save on heating

To save heating costsin winter, Draught proof your home so warm air stops escaping. The easiest way to do this is with curtains or a draught excluder (also called a door snake), which you put at the bottom of doors and windows.

19. eco apps

Use your phone for good! Today, there are some amazing apps with information and tools that will help you stay ahead of the sustainability game at home.
Photo: Derek Swalwell

20. recycle… of course

Most of us are across the basics of what can and can't go into our kerbside recycling collection. But there may well be a few items you're unsure about. Brad Gray, head of campaigns for Planet Ark, sheds some light:

yes, it's recyclable

  • Tetra-paks: "Almost all councils accept them these days – check with yours."
  • Broken wine bottles: "It is fine to recycle a smashed wine bottle." Note that ovenproof glass is not recyclable so make sure you place that in your general rubbish bin.
  • Pizza boxes: "As long as they're empty and they don't contain too much oily residue."
  • Soft packaging plastics from biscuits, chips, etc.: "These don't go into the kerbside collection but you can take them to a Redcycle collection point near you."
  • Foil: "Scrunch smaller pieces together before putting it into your recycling so that it's easier for the sorting machines to pick up."
  • Old clothes and textiles: "Some charities, including Mission Australia, accept worn-out clothes and turn them into industrial rags."

no, it's not recyclable

  • Pot-plant pots from the nursery: "The plastic is technically recyclable but these pots are often black, so that they won't be picked up by the light sensors at recycling centres."
  • Tissues: "Recycled paper is pulped, but tissues will disintegrate rather than pulp."
  • Plastic soy-sauce fish: "They're too small, but some councils advise to collect them in a milk bottle to recycle when you have a few."
  • Glass perfume and cosmetics bottles: "These are often made of tempered glass, which is not recyclable like normal glass."

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