You may consider that climate change and fixing environmental issues is a huge undertaking and that you as an individual can do nothing to assist with keeping our planet green. Well there are a large number of things individuals can do, to ensure that our environment stays clean, green and sustainable.

Firstly, lets look at your home. Do you consume large amounts of electricity and water? Do you think you could reduce your water consumption? Could you survive with having half the amount of shower time? Is your garden suitable for your climate, or does it consume large amounts of water?

These are some of the areas where water savings can be made and therefore reducing your water costs and also saving the environment. The recommended level of water consumption is approximately 140 litres per person per day. Do you exceed this level?

Look at ways of reducing your water consumption. Take shorter showers, turn the water off when brushing teeth and only back on to rinse off. Plant drought resistant plants, or suitable plants for your climate that don’t require large amounts of water. Remember if you reduce your water consumption you also reduce your water rates and taxes, thereby saving you money.

Next let look at electricity consumption and whether or not you can reduce your energy needs just by managing the lights around your home, and turning off appliances that are not in use, just don’t leave them on stand-by. There is a wide range of energy efficient appliances and star rating systems that let you know which appliances and devices are energy-efficient and to what level. When buying new appliances, choose an appliance that displays high star energy rating that will not consume as much power as other models.

Have you replaced all your light bulbs with energy efficient ones? Just by replacing the light bulbs in your household will reduce your energy consumption. Also look at turning lights off, as soon as you leave a room and perhaps not have as many lights on in your home. Yes, it might be nice to light up your garden at night, but unless you are entertaining is it necessary to have them turned on every night? Think about the money you will save, just by saving electricity in your home. And remember electricity is set to increase by 30% over the next few years and possibly more once the carbon tax is introduced in Australia.

Other ways of assisting the environment is to choose products and services that have been certified green and environmentally friendly. You don’t need to stop purchasing items, but just choose products that assist with the environment. Here is a list of things you can do which are easy to achieve and all assist with keeping our environment clean and green:

Purchase your fruit and vegetables from local markets and choose organic produce. Avoid buying fruit and vegetables from the major supermarkets where the produce has been stored for up to 6 months using additional electricity and a range of chemicals to keep it fresh.
Reduce your electricity consumption and offset the costs by buying green power which comes from renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power and even natural gas.
Reduce your water consumption and utilize water savings devices where possible.Look for green products when buying. Green products include products and services rated as carbon neutral. Carbon neutral products and services have offset their carbon footprint by purchasing carbon credits in green projects and schemes.
Buy organic foods, skin care and personal care items. If we increase the demand of organic products not only will the cost come down but the range and variety of products will increase and eventually become mainstream.
Only use re-useable shopping bags. Never use plastic ones, or if you do make sure you use them again as garbage bags. Never let plastic bags be disposed of in water ways.
Consider walking or riding your bike to the shop instead of driving. Not only will your health and fitness benefit from this, it will save the environment, reduce wear and tear of your vehicle and save you money as well.       

There is a wide range of things that you can do, without having to change your habits too much, that assist in keeping our environment green and clean. Do you want your children to live in a healthy environment or one that is polluted? It is the little things that matter and if we all contribute equally we can make a change. We can assist in climate change and can make a difference to our environment.

Over the coming years, you will also see a range of Green Energy Rating systems that will assist in helping you make the choice to choosing green products.  If you want to know more check out http://www.greenmarketplace.com.au for more information and articles on green products and services and ways to save the environment.

About the Author:
Selina Worton is author and writer for http://www.greenmarketplace.com.au Australia’s leading green directory, eco products showcase, green articles, environment jobs and everything you need to know to help the environment.

Please Note... All links within articles are placed by their author-owners and not by this blog.Products with in those links may or may not be the best in the world.If it sounds too good to be true it could be a scam.Articles are posted for their info,ideas and or entertainment value only.

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Everyone knows that conserving water is important, and many people take steps to save water in their house by doing things such as taking shorter showers or checking for leaks.  While this is a critical step in the process of making our lives more environmentally friendly and protecting a precious resource, it is only part of what you can do.  Did you know that most wasted water is outside your home?  Here are some ideas to help you prevent wasting water in your yard.

With the spring planting season approaching and people pulling out their lawnmowers and getting them ready for the summer, it is important to remember a few simple tips.  Don’t cut your lawn too short or it will dry out quickly and turn brown.  Instead to save water and have healthy-looking, green grass that the neighbors will be jealous of, raise the blade of your mower to three to four inches high.  This allows your grass to have a shaded root system, which allows it to retain more water.  Many people like to fertilize their lawn in the spring but beware!  Fertilizer, because it encourages growth, makes your lawn very thirsty and it is easy to over-fertilize, causing your grass to die rather than thrive.

If you plan on planting around your house, consider native, drought-resistant plants.  Not only are they easier to maintain, they will give your home a more natural atmosphere.  Make sure to mulch your beds and around your plants since mulch helps control weeds and insulates against water loss.  Consider installing drip irrigation, which is a much more efficient way to water since it delivers the moisture directly to the plants roots.  My husband used an old hose with holes punched into it to water my beds of roses last year.  This also kept my flowers from developing mold on the leaves from over-watering.  In the summer, your lawn generally only needs water once a week, and a good soaking rain can extend this period for up to two weeks.  When you do need to water your lawn, it is best to use a sprinkler in the early morning to prevent evaporation and allow the water to soak into the ground.  Remember to only water your lawn for about thirty minutes to avoid oversaturation.

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About the Author:
For more information about water conservation, please visit <a rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank” href=”http://www.centralbasin.org/“>Central Basin</a>
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Please Note... All links within articles are placed by their author-owners and not by this blog.Products with in those links may or may not be the best in the world.If it sounds too good to be true it could be a scam.Articles are posted for their info,ideas and or entertainment value only.

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