Welcome to the column that looks at more sustainable, eco-friendly (and richer) living. Why richer? Because often by changing one thing you can save money and you end up richer, as well as living a more healthier, sustainable life.
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There are two things coming up – Christmas in July, and the school holidays.
Our Aussie Christmases are hot. Think of all that delicious food that it was too hot for. Did you ever have one of those Christmases where the kitchen was almost too hot with food baking in the oven? Well, when do you want the room to be warm? Now - in winter. So turn off the heating and bake roasts, biscuits, pies, cakes, etc. Try all those delicious recipes. Not only will you save on heating but you'll eat better. (As you can make sure you are eating free-range eggs, Aussie grown vegetables, and less preservatives, additives, sugar and salt).
Invite friends over. With more people the house will be warmer and need less heating. So instead of 2 or 3 houses being heated there is only one, and it's also using less heating.
Also fill the freezer with food for later. A full freezer needs less energy to operate than an empty one. Finally, if not baking use the microwave. Microwaving food uses a lot less energy than the stove so if not baking use the microwave if possible.
School holidays are also coming up, so if you are driving anywhere please be aware of the wildlife.
Try and finish any trips well before dusk (i.e. well before 4pm) as wildlife is often out at dusk. Around Yass there can be fog and icy roads as well.
Don't use roadside rubbish bins, take your rubbish with you. That way you can make sure it won't harm wildlife and it's recycled or composted, etc. Many roadside bins aren't wildlife proof so plastic, glass or sharp objects can be scattered around bins as wildlife search for food. All animals need food and if there's even the smell of food wildlife will try to get it. All it takes is one person not to put the lid on properly for them to get in and the rubbish scattered. We've all seen pictures of how long a plastic bag can stay in the environment, and these bins could also hold non-biodegradable plastic nappies, glass and sharp edges and many choking or cutting hazards.
So take a bag and make sure you bring your rubbish home, where it can be recycled, or composted, etc. That way we all have a happier holiday.
