WATER-SAVING TOILET
The promise Installing a toilet with lower fl ush volume will save
water and money. Replacing a single fl ush toilet that uses 12 litres of
water each fl ush with a new four-star toilet with a 3.5-litre fl ush can
save 50 kilolitres of water and $148 each year. What’s involved
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, which runs
the WELS Water Rating system, advise that you “look for a toilet
with three, four or fi ve stars. The more stars, the less water the toilet
will use. The fi ve-star toilets have an integrated hand basin so the
water you wash your hands with will fi ll the cistern for the next fl ush”.
Cost A four-star toilet with 3.5-litre fl ush volume could set you back
$149, while installation by a plumber starts at $150. Best for
Eco-conscious homeowners with a little spare cash.COMPOST SYSTEMS
The promise “Once food waste goes to landfi ll, it goes anaerobic
and produces methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more powerful
than CO2. Our food waste produces over three per cent of
Australia’s greenhouse gases – on par with the entire civil aviation
industry,” says David Gravina of Compost Revolution. If composted,
the 2.3 kilos of food waste an average household generates weekly
can save 4.4 kilos of greenhouse gas emissions. What’s involved
On-ground compost bins need soil so worms and bugs can come
up and eat the food. Tumbling composters can be used without
access to soil as they do all the composting in a barrel. Worm farms
and bokashi bins are small and self-contained, so can be used
indoors too. “As long as people maintain a 50:50 mix of nitrogen
(food scraps) and carbon (dry leaves, newspaper), keep the
compost moist but not wet, and aerate twice a week,”
David says. Cost Compost bins start at $40, bokashi
bins from $60 and worm farms from $70. Get 40-80%
off at Compostrevolution.com.au. Best for Anyone!ENERGY–EFFICIENT APPLIANCES
The promise Switching to energy-effi cient appliances can save
money in the long run. Appliances use up a third of our power usage,
accounting for 45 per cent of a home’s greenhouse gas emissions.
What’s involved When buying appliances, check the Energy
Rating Labels – the more stars and less energy used, the better.
The biggest energy guzzlers are fridges, freezers and TVs so rethink
your need for two of each. And turn appliances off at the power point
so you’re not wasting energy. Cost Energy-effi cient appliances can
cost more, but they save on power bills. Estimate running costs and
compare models with the Energy Rating Calculator at Energyrating.
gov.au or Nationalproductreview.com Best for Anyone who wants
to save money on their energy bills, while reducing emissions.“Worm farms can get through fi ve to 10 kilos of
food scraps a week; bokashi bins can break down
vegies, meat, dairy and bread in three weeks;
and compost bins can break down a signifi cant
volume of kitchen and garden waste into rich
compost in one to six months, depending on the
season.” – DAVID GRAVINA, COMPOST REVOLUTION photography
brooke holm (right) |stylingmarsha golemac (right) |designrob kennon for burnley house (right)KITCHEN + DINING
SHOP IT!
LEFT TO RIGHT Electrolux FreshZone 540L Right Hinge Top Mount fridge in Stainless Steel, $1473, Harvey Norman. 100% Linen Market bag, $35, In Bed. Ikea 365+
jug with cork lid, $6.49, Ikea. Signature 3-ply Stainless Steel saucepan with lid (16cm/1.9L), $260, Le Creuset. Emporio Organico “Bambu Cutting Edge” cutting
board in Slate, $44.95, Hardtofi nd. Bamboo 16oz bowl in Charcoal, $5.80, Eco Soulife. Pacifi c Gold straw set, $17, Clean Coast Collective. Lunchbots “Uno” Stainless
Steel Food container (600ml), $30.95, Hello! Green Eco Store. Avskild cork coaster, $1.99 for pack of 4, Ikea.Cork is one of the most sustainable materials
you can choose and its harvesting doesn’t cause
harm to the environment.Ditch single-use
plastic bags and opt
for reusable bags.@reallivingmag
130