Living Sustainably
We need your help to make the Dorset community and our natural environment be happy, healthy and sustainable. Here we provide information to assist you with living sustainably, including reducing your electricity, waste and water usage (and therefore your bills!).
Reducing your energy use
You can reduce your energy use by making your home more energy efficient. This can significantly reduce the amount of money you spend on power and will also reduce your carbon footprint. Dorset residents can do this by taking advantage of Dorset Council's offer of free home energy audit tool (HEAT) kits.
HEAT kits allow householders to work out how much power they are using and what they can do to reduce their bills. They include tools such as power mate which measures consumption, a radiometer for checking fridge leakages, and gauges for determining hot water flows. You can easily measure the electricity used by your fridges, freezers and washing machines. Leaks can also be detected and hot water flows can easily be better regulated.
For further information on HEAT kits contact the Council on 03 6352 6500.
Saving Energy in the Home
Below are some helpful hints on ways to save energy in your home.
Energy Efficiency when Buying or Renting a House
Reducing your water use
There are a number of ways to reduce your water usage.
Install water saving appliances. These could include water saving taps or showerheads, a front loading washing machine or even a rainwater tank.
Don't waste it. Use less water by turning off the tap when brushing your teeth or shaving and taking shorter showers.
Fix leaking taps. If your taps leak 50 litres per hour, this is costing you around $285 per year.
Click here to see other water saving tips compiled by TasWater.
Kitchen
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Laundry
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Bathroom
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The DPAC and Aurora Energy websites list more energy efficiency hints and tips.
Using sustainable transport
Council encourages the use of sustainable transport options in Dorset such as walking, cycling, carpooling or buses.
By cycling or walking you are likely to save money as well as meet the recommended amount of physical activity a day, helping you stay healthy.
Bus operators Kinetic provide transport for the Dorset Community. To view their timetable or to contact them for information please click here.
Reducing your waste
The world's resources are limited. By reusing and recycling we enable these resource supplies to last longer. If we want to share the resources of today with the generations of tomorrow then we need to focus on the simplest way to manage waste, which is to avoid creating it in the first place. Where this is not possible we need to be reusing and repairing what we can, recycling what we can't and only as a last resort be sending materials to landfill.
Head over to our Waste Resources page to check out ways to reduce your every day waste across the community.
More information
Sustainable Living Tasmania General advice on living sustainably
Energy Rating Energy rating stars explained
YourHome Australian Government guide to sustainable homes
Your Energy Savings Australian Government guide to energy use
Live Greener Clean Up Australia's top tips, hints and how to's for living a more sustainable life.