We're all aware of a growing urgency for 'do it now' sustainability. Vanessa Murray shows how to really get started in this practical guide

Sustainability is arguably the buzzword of the noughties, and our growing awareness of the need for sustainability in all facets of life is a definite positive in this time of uncertainty. No political campaign or government body report is complete without it. It's the term of the present - and the future.

The recently released draft Garnaut Climate Change Review paper makes no bones about it - carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels constitute half of Australia's global ecological footprint, and are the major contributors to climate change. An emissions trading scheme - meaning higher petrol and electricity prices to try and even up the balance - is on the cards. Imagined visually, a global hectare is the size of a soccer field. According to the Living Planet Report of 2004, Australia's ecological footprint is 7.7 global hectares (gha) per person, more than three times the average global footprint of 2.2 gha, and well beyond the level of what the planet can regenerate on an annual basis - just 1.8 global hectares per person per year.

Knowledge is power. With this in mind, I decided to calculate my personal ecological footprint. Calculators are available online - those of the Environmental Protection Agency of Victoria are user friendly and visually enhanced, and tailored to personal, home, office, school, retail and events. My personal ecological footprint is 4.1 gha per year. I'm pleased to see I'm below the Australian average - but I'm still a giant. According to the calculator, if everyone lived like I did, we'd need 2.3 earths to survive!

But knowing is one thing, doing is quite another. Action is all important. What we do today will shape the world of tomorrow. By all reports the world of tomorrow is in trouble, and it's up to us to save the world. In the words of the great Mahatma Gandhi, "Be the change you want to see in the world." But how? Here are some practical, simple and achievable ways to live, act, and be in a sustainable way.

In the home

A government initiative called Your Home has taken the guesswork out of greening up your living space. It contains more than 60 fact sheets for designers, builders and renovators on a diverse range of topics. Figures presented by Your Home show that the average household's energy use is responsible for over seven tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, and water and space heating/cooling systems together make up 63 per cent of home energy use.

Review your home energy supplier. Where does your energy come from? Green Energy Watch has done the research for you - so check their site. Does your supplier have green plans you could switch to? If not, consider changing companies. The online Carbon Offset Guide is another useful site for checking on how your supplier shapes up. Are they acting responsibly? Give your supplier some feedback - the laws of supply and demand dictate that the greater the demand for green energy, the swifter and more substantial will be the reaction of energy suppliers.

Protect your home against the elements by insulating roofs, walls and floors, sealing off draughts, letting in the winter sun and drawing the curtains at night. Position your furniture to deflect or avoid draughts. Use the Your Home fact sheets to identify which type of heating system is best for your needs. Our bodies have their own heating and cooling systems, so think before you act. Do you really need to put the heater or air conditioning on? Or perhaps you just need to put on a jumper, or take off a layer or two?

Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world, and yet we are one of the highest consumers of water per capita. Maximising water collection and conserving water resources is vital. Consider installing solar heating systems and rainwater tanks - in many areas, both are eligible for government rebates.
State by state information is available on the Green Plumbers website.

Save Water, an independent advisor on sustainable water use and products, recommends simple steps for water conservation, such as fixing leaks (a leaking tap can waste 20,000 litres of water per year), installing an energy efficient shower head, and making sure your hot water system thermostat is not set too high (as topping up with cold water to regulate temperature is wasteful). Cut down on shower time by soaping up and shaving legs before you get under the shower. Fill the sink rather than leaving the tap running for tasks like shaving, washing vegetables and rinsing dishes, as this uses less water. Catch running water whilst waiting for it to warm up and use it to water plants, rinse dishes or wash fruit and vegetables. Turn the tap off when it's not in direct use, for example when brushing your teeth, and only use the washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load.

Elsewhere, recycle what and where you can. Visit your local council's website to find out what they do and don't recycle (see In the marketplace for more on recycling).

In the garden

Flowers look good, but vegetables taste good (and they don't look bad either). Get into growing your own produce and you'll not only give yourself the gift of a satisfying new hobby, you'll save money. Make the most of your outdoor areas by growing herbs and vegetables in garden beds and pots. Garbage disposal units use about six litres of water per day, so put suitable food scraps into a composter or worm farm rather than down the kitchen sink - the compost you'll create will be great for the garden.

If you have a swimming pool, ensure you are not exceeding your water allowances. Conserve the water you are allowed by reducing evaporation, a major cause of water loss from your pool, particularly in the early evening when the air cools but the water remains warm. Covering the pool lowers the water temperature, decreases evaporation and prevents debris from falling on the pool surface. By preventing sunlight from penetrating the water, you will also reduce the quantity of chemicals needed to keep the pool clean. Wind also contributes to evaporation, so adjust the landscape around your pool with walls and hedges to create shelter from the wind.

Rainwater diverters attach to a downpipe and can be used to divert rainwater into your swimming pool, and are an inexpensive alternative to installing a tank. Consult a plumber about stormwater diversion - Green Plumbers are specially trained and accredited to give this type of advice.

In the workplace

Many workplaces have nominated environmental officers at work and sustainability policies are already underway. Does yours? In the office, switch off computers, photocopiers and lights when they're not in use, and definitely overnight. Make sure your printers do double sided printing and have this as the default setting. Think before you print - do you really need it on paper? Make it easy for your employees to cycle to work - install bike racks and cover. Recycle what you can. Primary industries are major users of water and electricity. Make sure it's being done in the most eco-efficient way possible.

Implement a green purchasing policy. It's a great way for businesses to inject sustainability into their practice. Eco-Buy is a government funded initiative offering advice on green purchasing to businesses Australia-wide. They categorise products by recycled content, greenhouse friendliness, water savings, energy efficiency, low toxicity and fuel efficiency, and has a searchable database of green products and suppliers in your area available online and for free.

In the marketplace

Shop with sustainability in mind and you'll save precious resources and, ultimately, money. Eco-Buy's searchable database is designed for businesses, but freely available to all. Buy Australian made, and cut down on your meat consumption. The average meat-rich Australian diet requires twice as much water per person per day as an equally nutritious vegetarian diet. A meat-rich meal made with imported ingredients also emits nine times as much carbon as a vegetarian meal made with domestic ingredients that don't have to be hauled long distances.
When buying new appliances, shop for energy and water efficient models. Check dishwashers and washing machines for a WELS (National Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme) label - the more stars, the more water efficient the product. A WELS dishwasher uses half the water of an average model. Washing machines should have a four or more star rating, and front loaders are more energy efficient.

Check to see if the retailer or manufacturer offers a whitegoods recovery and recycling service.

Recycle in other areas as well - if you're buying something new, what are you doing with the old? There are recycling schemes in place for practically everything these days, from computers to clothing, furniture to eyeglasses. Donate unwanted goods to your local charity shop, or get out of the money jungle altogether and check out freecycling, an online community of recyclers where no money changes hands.

On the move

Get your groove on and think outside the square when it comes to getting around. When travelling locally, take public transport, walk, or ride a bike. Look into carpooling in your area at The Carpool - it might not be as inconvenient as you think. Car sharing schemes like FlexiCar and GoGet CarShare take the hassle out owning a car, and, provided you can plan ahead, are economical ways to access transport when you need it.

Offset your car's impact on the environment with Greenfleet, who will calculate your carbon emissions and plant greenhouse gas absorbing trees on your behalf. If you're thinking about buying a new car, why not go green and invest in one of the many types of hybrid car entering the market. They use electricity as well as petrol (approximately fifty-fifty) to power the motor. Demand for the Toyota Prius, the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Lexus 400h is currently exceeding supply, so get your order in now.

Links:
http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ecologicalfootprint/
http://www.yourhome.gov.au
http://www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au/
http://www.carbonoffsetguide.com.au/
http://www.savewater.com.au/
http://www.greenplumbers.com.au/
http://www.ecobuy.org.au/
http://www.freecycle.org.au/
http://www.thecarpool.com.au/
https://www.flexicar.com.au/
http://www.goget.com.au/
http://www.greenfleet.com.au/