No Cost Carbon Saving Tips:

Cooking:

• Cover your pans when you cook. This can reduce the energy needed by up to 90%!
• Boil only the amount of water you need. Every cup you boil represents 25 cups of CO2 released.
• Use the right size pan for the food and cooker ring (the base should just cover the cooking ring) if you can see the heat (either the electric ring or the gas flame up the side of the pan) it's too big and is costing you money.
• Choose locally grown food that is in season. Food flown in from other countries contributes to a lot of CO2 emission.

• Televisions, videos, DVD’s, stereos, cordless phones, mobile phone chargers and computers all waste energy if you leave them plugged in when you are not using them.  By unplugging appliances when not required you could save up to 8% off your electricity bill.
• A TV if left on standby will be responsible for 30 kg C02 over the year.
• A mobile phone charger if left plugged in when not charging will be responsible for between 35 to 70kg C02 over the year. Always unplug the mobile phone charger when not in use.  Feel it, the warmth is caused by the constant consumption of electricity.

Get the message: just unplugging things when you are not using them can help us reach the CRed 60% challenge!
 

• Avoid using a dishwasher. By always making sure the dishwasher is full and using a low temperature setting, you could save up to $70 over the year. Every time you use you a dishwasher you use enough electricity to release nearly 1kg of C02. If you use it just once less a week that’s a saving of 52kg of C02 and a saving on your electricity bill of $10 over the year.
• Use the lowest temperature setting appropriate on your washing machine and always wash a full load. Wasting space = wasted energy and pointless C02 emissions.
• On a nice day hang your washing outside instead of using a tumble dryer. Every time you use a tumble dryer you use enough electricity to emit over 1.5kg C02. A tumble dryer if used for every wash will be responsible for emitting about 140kg of C02 and costs you $30 on your electricity bill.
• Fridges and freezers: Make sure all food is cooled down before it goes in the fridge or freezer. Defrost your freezer regularly to keep it running efficiently and cheaply. Put your fridge in the coolest place you can and if it has to go near any warm appliances (such as cookers or boilers) leave a good gap between them.

• Always turn them off when you leave a room!
• Keep curtains as wide open as possible during the day to let the light in but make sure they are drawn at dusk to stop heat leaving your home through the window.

• On those cold winters evenings always reach for a jacket or blanket first before going for the thermostat. Every degree over 65 °F will increase your heating bills by about 8%. For a gas fired system that's between 220 to 250kg C02 a year and a cost of around $60.
• If your curtains are above a radiator – tuck them behind it when they are closed. This will keep the heat in the room and not out the window.
• If you can, set your hot water cylinder thermostat to 140°F. This can save up to $20 over the year.
• If you have the choice, go for the shower (NOT THE POWER SHOWER!!!). Baths use more hot water and will cost you more.

Our cars release over one metric ton of C02 each year for every man, woman and child.
 

• When you are using your car drive with style, keep your distance and minimize the amount of breaking and accelerating you have to do. This is a much more efficient way of making your car get more miles to every gallon you pay for. In fact, it can save you about 13% of your fuel costs.
• Every journey under 3 miles that you decide not to use the car for will save about 2 kg C02. Walk or cycle instead and it will improve your health and your waistline.