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Our Clean and Green E-newsletter is the best way to keep up-to-date on the latest news and events about environmental and sustainability initiatives happening in the City of Canterbury Bankstown. Share this with friends!We will be sending updates every two months to keep you connected with what we are doing in your local area.

Community gardens

Ever wanted to grow your own fruit and veggies but don't have the space? Want to get to know other keen green thumbs? Then community gardening is for you! 

Solar and Energy Efficiency

Solar power systems on your rooftop use renewable energy from the sun to create electricity. They reduce the amount of electricity you need from the grid and excess electricity can be directed back into the grid, or stored in a battery for later use. Solar has a number of environmental and economic benefits, including:

  • Reducing your carbon footprint
  • Lowering electricity bills
  • Potentially attracting financial incentives from your retail energy provider

To find out more on how solar works, installing and grants available visit the NSW Government Energy Saver website.

SunSPoT is a great online tool to help you calculate how much electricity and money a solar PV system could save you at home or your business.

This is done by analysing your roof, shading, weather and solar radiation data, and combining these with your electricity usage and billing costs

The Federal Government has developed an online tool to help you compare electricity and gas offers, understand your energy bills and learn about energy consumer rights. For details, go to www.energymadeeasy.gov.au.

Being energy efficient is the number one thing you can do to reduce your power bills and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Here are a few simple changes you can make to be more energy efficient at home:

Draughts

Draughts and air leakage can lead to between 15-25% of heat loss. Keep heat from escaping your home by:

Draught proofing gaps around external doors and windows with adhesive tapes or seals.
Furnishing windows with heavy curtains and pelmets, window films or, in a pinch, bubble wrap.

Heating and cooling

Many households find that heating and cooling is their biggest energy expense. Cut those costs while keeping warm or cool with these energy-saving tips:

Heat and cool with your home’s Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner. Isolate and close off to the areas you spend the most time in rather than heating and cooling the entire home
Set your Air Conditioner or heater to 18-20℃ in winter or 23-25℃ in summer.
Where possible, use fans with air conditioners (or better yet, instead of A/C) to circulate warm air in winter and cold air in summer
Prioritise personal heating with items like electric blankets or heated throw rugs rather than heating the entire room. Personal heating options only cost around 3c per hour to run

Hot water

For hot water systems, adjust the thermostat to 60 degrees for a storage and 50 for an instantaneous system

Take showers instead of baths
Take 4-6 minute showers by using a timer
Wash laundry in cold water
When replacing your hot water system, install a hot water heat pump

Electronics and appliances

Here are ways to reduce your appliance’s electricity consumption:

Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer.
Switch TVs and computers to an energy saving setting.
Turn off appliances and electronics at power point when not in use (except fridge)
Set your refrigerator to 3°- 4°, and your freezer to -15° to -18°. Check your fridge/freezer door seals are intact and replace if not.

The NSW Government is trialling a new way to help people on low incomes reduce their electricity bills by installing free three kilowatt solar systems on their homes. To be eligible you must be a low income homeowners that hold a valid Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card and are currently receiving the Low-Income Household Rebate.

Solar is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint and you can save up to $600 a year on your household electricity bills. That’s up to twice as much as the Low Income Household Rebate of $285 a year.

For more details about the program - including eligibility and how to apply - please refer to the program guide on the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website.

Switching to a 100% GreenPower electricity plan is the best thing you can do for our planet today. It’s your fastest way to go renewable, even if you rent or live in an apartment.

GreenPower is a government accredited and audited green energy program which is available to all residents in Sydney. It provides a more sustainable energy alternative to everyone, even if you can’t install solar panels. 

You can switch your electricity plan to a GreenPower accredited plan if you rent, own, live in an apartment, house or run a business. GreenPower electricity plans are available through more than ten energy providers in Sydney and you could switch to a GreenPower plan in as little as 10 minutes.

For more information about GreenPower

Home water efficiency

Did you know that just 0.0075% of the earth’s water is suitable to for us to use? Even though water is the most common substance on earth, 97% of it is saltwater. The other 3% of the earth’s water is fresh water, but even this is mostly  locked up in groundwater and as ice.
 
Australia is the driest inhabited content in the world and it is therefore important that we use the little water we have effectively and not waste it.
 
Even small things can make a difference. For example, a leaking tap can waste up to 2,000 litres of water a month. Simple changes in habit and home maintenance can save thousands of litres of wasted water and reduce your water bill.

What can you do?

  • Regularly check and repair any leaking taps, toilets, and showers to prevent water wastage.
  • Take shorter showers.
  • Turn off taps while brushing your teeth to save water.
  • Ensure your dishwasher is full before running a cycle.
  • Choose water- and energy-efficient appliances when purchasing new ones.
  • Install water-efficient showerheads and toilet systems.
  • Plant native species, as they are naturally adapted to local conditions and require less watering.
  • Water plants in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation and ensure more water reaches the roots.
  • Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways, paved areas, and paths.
  • Install a rainwater tank or reuse greywater in your home.
     

For more tips on how to use less water in your home and garden visit Sydney Water.

Installing a rainwater tank is an environmentally friendly way to make the most of a freely available resource around your home and garden, even when water restrictions are in force.


Tanks come in a variety of sizes and shapes and because they are heavy when full, must be installed and maintained correctly. When plumbed into your home, a rainwater tank could save up to 40% of your drinking water supply and reduce your water bills.


Regulations and some conditions may apply for rainwater tank installation. For detailed information visit Sydney Water Rainwater Tanks.

Greywater is wastewater from washing machines, showers, baths, and basins that can be reused. When used properly, greywater is safe and can provide valuable nutrients for plants, making it a great option for year-round irrigation.

Greywater can be collected in three ways:

  • Use a bucket to collect greywater from your washing machine or shower to use on the garden. It’s cheap and easy but don’t store for more than a day.
  • Accredited greywater diversion devices collect and store greywater in a small holding tank and then to a self-draining irrigation system below the soil surface.
  • Greywater treatment systems can treat and store greywater for flushing toilets or watering the garden but definitely not for drinking. 

For detailed information about using greywater safely, greywater diversion devices, and accredited suppliers of greywater treatment systems visit Sydney Water Greywater Reuse.

Sydney Water offer a wide range of water saving programs to help you stop wasting water at home and in your business including:

  • WaterFix Residential
  • WaterFix Commercial
  • WaterFix Strata
  • WaterFix Schools
  • WaterFix Concealed Leaks 


For more information visit Sydney Water WaterFix Programs.