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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For those who aren’t already aware, the state of California is in a water crisis.  More than two thirds of the state’s water supply comes from the Sacramento Delta, an area poised for catastrophe when the next major earthquake hits.  According to scientists, such an event isn’t just a possibility, but rather a probability, and they estimate that there’s a 75% chance of such an earthquake occurring before the year 2040.  The problem is further complicated by an aging infrastructure, insufficient levies, droughts, and ecological concerns in the area.

All this begs the question, what can California residents do to ensure that there will be enough water in the coming years to support the needs of their growing population?  While the state of California realizes that major steps must be taken to overhaul and revamp the Sacramento Delta area, state agencies are also campaigning to raise public awareness about the need for water conservation.  Though conservation alone won’t solve the problem in its entirety, encouraging residents to use less water is one important piece of the puzzle.

One of the biggest sources of water waste in the average American home is the toilet.  It’s estimated that approximately 25-30% of the average household’s water consumption is flushed down our toilets.  If the state of California could conserve even a part of that water, multiplied across its millions of residents, the savings would be staggering.  One possible solution to water savings in the bathroom are composting toilets.

Composting toilets have been around for decades in one form or another, all with the same basic goal-to convert human waste into compost, a harmless substance that looks and smells like ordinary garden soil.  Like most products, composting toilets have moved through a product development life cycle that began with fairly primitive fixtures and has evolved into a very sophisticated and highly effective product.  The modern composting toilet is not only 100% odorless, but it’s also easy to maintain and operate and is aesthetically pleasing in today’s residential bathrooms.

Composting toilet systems are not cheap.  A single, self-contained unit retails around $1,500, or a large, whole-house system with toilets in multiple bathrooms can cost around $3,500.  How can the state of California make it financially feasible for their residents to install these pricey fixtures in their homes?  One possible solution is to subsidize the cost of the toilets with tax incentives.  Many states offer tax breaks to homeowners who install high-efficiency windows, doors, and HVAC units, so why not offer a tax credit to homeowners who install approved composting toilet systems?

The state could gather an independent panel of plumbing and home repair experts to evaluate the various models of composting toilets on the market today, and identify one or more particular brands and a group of models within those brands that the state could deem to be “approved fixtures.”  The state could even subsidize part of the tax credit offered to homeowners by cooperating with the manufacturers of those composting toilets.  For example, for every tax credit the state of California gave to a homeowner who purchased a qualifying system, the state could then provide that same documentation to the composting toilet manufacturer to receive some credit or rebate on the sale, payable directly to the same funds that the tax credits come out of.

While this may seem fairly simplistic, the state of California has to start somewhere if they want to encourage water conservation on a large scale.  Reducing residential water use by even 10-15% would make a huge difference in the state’s water situation, and composting toilets might be just the product to help them accomplish the task.  For Californians, at least it’s worth some consideration.

For more information on compost toilets and other waterless toilet options, visit the Composting Toilet Store at http://www.composting-toilet-store.com/
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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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