These are the top 20 actions Zero Carbon Moreland recommends for making the largest reduction in greenhouse emissions.

1. Purchase 100% GreenPower

Savings (kg CO2/year)	6,509
Black balloons per year	130,176
Annual $ savings	$0
% of average Moreland household footprint	38%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	owner/rente

100% accredited Greenpower electricty is energy that is completely derived from renewable resources such as solar, wind, biomass (waste), wave or hydro, which produce much lower levels of greenhouse gas pollution.  Since 1997 greenpower usage  in Australia has reduced emissions by the equivalent of taking 930,000 cars off the roads.

More info: Green Energy Watch

2. Reduce and Offset Car Emissions

Savings (kg CO2/year)	3,348
Black balloons per year	66,955
Annual $ savings	$0
% of average Moreland household footprint	20%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	all

The more you can get your car off the road the better, and the more you can offset the rest of your emissions the better.

More info: Carbon Offset Guide

3. Purchase 50% GreenPower

Savings (kg CO2/year)	3,254
Black balloons per year	65,088
Annual $ savings	$0
% of average Moreland household footprint	19%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	owner/renter

50% accredited GreenPower has 50% clean renewable power, 50% from poluting sources such as coal.  It's cheaper than 100% and cuts half of your electricity emissions.

More information: Green Energy Watch

4. Reduce and offset air travel emissions

Savings (kg CO2/year)	2,651
Black balloons per year	53,020
Annual $ savings	$0
% of average Moreland household footprint	16%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	all

Air travel produces a vast amount of carbon emissions and can easily wipe out any emissions savings you make in other areas.  So make sure you only fly if you really need to, and in those cases pay to offset the emissions.

More info: Carbon Offset Guide

5. Eat less meat

Savings (kg CO2/year)	2,389
Black balloons per year	47,775
Annual $ savings	tbd
% of average Moreland household footprint	14%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	all

Meat, especially beef has very high emissions due to the high intensity of grain growing to feed the animals, the methane produced by livestock, and the meat sector's industrial processes.  Just cutting back a few beef meals a week can make a huge difference.

More info: Vegetarian Network Victoria.

6. Install solar panels

Savings (kg CO2/year)	2,113
Black balloons per year	42,254
Annual $ savings	$300
% of average Moreland household footprint	12%
Type (low income, owners, renters)	owners

Harness the sun's power instead of nasty coal!  There's a range of rebates that you can take advantages of when planning your solar purchase.

More info: MEFL Sustainability Advice

7. Install gas boosted solar hot water (to replace existing system)

Savings (kg CO2/year)	1,687
Black balloons per year	33,730
Annual $ savings	tbd
% of average Moreland household footprint	10%
Type (low income, owners, renters)	owners

Gas, solar and heat pump hot water systems have significantly lower emissions than electric hot water systems. Ask us about Government rebates that can help you upgrade your hot water system.

More info: Dep't of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

8. Get rid of the second car

Savings (kg CO2/year)	1,674
Black balloons per year	33,477
Annual $ savings	tbd
% of average Moreland household footprint	10%
Type (low income, owners, renters)	all

Do you really need it?  Sharing one car efficiently will save both money and emissions.

9. Install bulk insulation (ceiling) of at least R3.5

Savings (kg CO2/year)	1,644
Black balloons per year	32,880
Annual $ savings	$259
% of average Moreland household footprint	10%
Type (low income, owners, renters)	owners

If your ceiling isn’t insulated you could lose up to 35% of your winter heating via the roof. A well insulated home can reduce your heating/cooling bills and make your home more comfortable all year round. In Victoria choose bulk insulation for your ceiling of at least R3.5+ and floors and walls to R1.5+. Ask for a free renovation and building consultation with one of our Sustainability Advisors.

More info: MEFL Sustainability Advice

10. Purchase 20% GreenPower

Savings (kg CO2/year)	1,302
Black balloons per year	26,035
Annual $ savings	$0
% of average Moreland household footprint	8%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	all

20% accredited GreenPower has 20% clean renewable power, 80% from poluting sources such as coal.  It's often comparable price to regular electricity and so is an easy first step.

More information: Green Energy Watch

11. Holiday closer to home

Savings (kg CO2/year)	865
Black balloons per year	17,296
Annual $ savings	tbd
% of average Moreland household footprint	5%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	all

Exotic far flung places are exciting but going there every year spews out a vast amount of greenhouse gases.  What gems could be hiding withing a day's drive?

12. Switch off the second fridge

Savings (kg CO2/year)	806
Black balloons per year	16,111
Annual $ savings	$114
% of average Moreland household footprint	5%
Type (low income, owners, renters)	all

Have you got one lurking in the garage?  For that occasional party, or to keep a couple of beers cold.  Phoenix fridge (1300 366 283) will pickup your old fridge in any condition for free - they are recycled and support the Brotherhood of St Laurence's social programs.

More info: Phoenix Fridge

13. Convert your car to gas

Savings (kg CO2/year)	680
Black balloons per year	13,592
Annual $ savings	tbd
% of average Moreland household footprint	4%
Type (low income, owners, renters)	all

If you drive a lot, converting your car to gas will cut costs and reduce emissions.   All those taxis cant be wrong!

More info: LP Autogas website

14. Use public transport / walk / ride / carpool more

Savings (kg CO2/year)	607
Black balloons per year	12,149
Annual $ savings	tbd
% of average Moreland household footprint	4%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	all

Look at all your car trips and work out which ones could be replaced by an alternative.  You'll probably find that the trip is less stressful and a great way of getting to know your city.

More info on car sharing: MEFL Sustainability Advice

More info on public transport in Mopreland: Moreland City Council (TravelSmart map download, 8.3MB)

15. Wash clothes in cold water

Savings (kg CO2/year)	558
Black balloons per year	11,152
Annual $ savings	$79
% of average Moreland household footprint	3%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	all

Many washing powders clean just as well in cold water.

More info: Savewater website

16. Dry clothes on clothes line/airer instead of dryer

Savings (kg CO2/year)	513
Black balloons per year	10,259
Annual $ savings	$73
% of average Moreland household footprint	3%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	all

Without snow or subzero temperatures, we don't have much of an excuse to use dryers in Moreland.   The Phoenix project (1300 366 283) will pickup your old dryer for free.

More info: Phoenix Project

17. Insulate under floor boards to R1.5

Savings (kg CO2/year)	486
Black balloons per year	9,723
Annual $ savings	$76
% of average Moreland household footprint	3%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	owners

More info: Your Home website

18. Replace halogen globes

Savings (kg CO2/year)	375
Black balloons per year	7,507
Annual $ savings	$53
% of average Moreland household footprint	2%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	owners/renter permission

Replace  50W halogen downlight globes with 35W halogen downlight globes or 11W CFL downlights

More info: MEFL Sustainability Advice

19. Take shorter showers

Savings (kg CO2/year)	354
Black balloons per year	7,084
Annual $ savings	$54
% of average Moreland household footprint	2%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	all

Producing hot water is high in greenhouse gases, so shortening your shower is a no brainer.  See if you can shower for the duration of singing your favourite song!

20. Install a new shower head

Savings (kg CO2/year)	348
Black balloons per year	6,966
Annual $ savings	$53
% of average Moreland household footprint	2%
Type (low income, owner, renters)	owners/renter permission

Install water efficient shower head (3 star model) or flow restrictor (9L/min). Low flow showerheads save between $40–$110 per year on hot water costs. You can also get water flow restrictors for taps too. You can exchange your old showerhead for a water efficient one at the MEFL office.

Please note

Zero Carbon Moreland is providing these carbon reduction and $ savings figures as an indicative rough figure for what a Moreland household would be expected to save by taking on an action.  Since each house is different in the way they behave and their mix of gas and electrical appliances, there will be large variability between households.  For any further inquiries, please contact Cory Jemison.