10 easy ways to go green at home

Posted 21 December, 2017 Clair Morton

Being environmentally friendly doesn’t have to cost the Earth – in fact, it can save or even make you money. Here’s how:

Switch on

Swapping old halogen lights in your home with LED or CFL bulbs is not only better for the environment, but can save pennies in the long run. According to the Energy Rating website, a 10w LED with a ten-year lifespan will cost about $39, compared to halogen lighting which can rack up a $148 bill over the same period.

Switch off

Think about all the different appliances you use on a daily basis – television, washing machine, kettle, microwave, hair dryer – the list goes on. Now think about the fact that all of these appliances still use power when they’re turned off, slowly adding to your energy bill. Thankfully there’s a simple fix that the environment will thank you for. Just make sure your appliances are turned off at the wall once you’re done with them.

Embrace solar

More than 275,000 South Australian homes have solar panels, and it’s easy to see why. Solar panels not only slash your energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they can also help increase your property’s value. RAA offers a range of solar packages to suit your budget and needs. Whether you’re after solar panels or looking for a complete solar and battery storage system, we’re here to help. Members receive 10% off the price of all packages. Find out more.

Try meat-free Monday

According to the United Nations, the livestock sector is ‘one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global’. So before you stick some pork on your fork, sit down to a vegetarian option at least one night a week.

Cash in

Two words: 10c refund. Most South Australians would be familiar with this one, considering the container deposit scheme is the longest running of its kind in the country. Collect your cans and bottles, and drop them off at your nearest approved collection depot to cash in.

REDcycle it

Sometimes plastic packaging is unavoidable. What many people don’t realise that while it can’t go into your yellow bin, it doesn’t have to go in the red one either. Get together all of your chip packets, plastic shopping bags, old green bags, and frozen veggie bags, and drop them off at your nearest REDcycle drop off point – found in most Coles stores across Adelaide.

Feed the worms

Instead of putting old newspapers in the recycling bin, keep them in the kitchen. They’re great for wrapping up food scraps, which you can then stick straight in your green bin, or your own compost bin. Did you know you can also stick pizza boxes, kitty litter, coffee grounds and wine corks in your green bin? Basically anything with organic origins is fair game.