Modelled from UK research, the Sign Up For Sustainability program encourages public awareness of current and emerging environmental issues and subsequent participation in an educational program aimed at fostering sustainable living practices in the household.
Please follow the links below to find information on how to make your home more sustainable. The web information provided in the following links has been developed to complement the Sign Up For Sustainability program.
Cessnock City Council initiated the Sign Up For Sustainability program in July 2008. The program commenced with a pledge based incentive project to encourage actions at a household scale to enhance community knowledge and behaviour towards improved sustainable living practices. The project commenced with a community survey to identify community attitudes, knowledge and understanding on sustainability issues and actions towards their management. Survey responses were used to guide the development and implementation of the project.
Hunter Water’s website provides information on responsible water use, rainwater collection and greywater recycling to assist homeowners to improve their management of household water usage.
Creating a sustainable garden in your home will save you water, recycle household waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support native wildlife and can provide healthy food. When purchasing plants, consider the benefits it may bring to your garden and local native species. Add mulch, logs and rocks to your garden as they can also create habitat for native animals. The following links provide tips on sustainable gardening and identify local flora and fauna species including suitable habitat requirements.
The use and disposal of household chemicals can pose a threat to human and environmental health. Information on the safe and responsible use of chemicals in the home, regulations for waste disposal, opportunities for recycling and environmental standards and guidelines governing chemical use in Australia are available from the following link.
Air pollution is considered a major environmental concern through its impact on environmental quality and human health. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from passenger transport systems significantly affect air quality, particularly in urban areas. The Australian Government is seeking to lower transport GHG emissions through reducing dependence on cars by promoting public transport networks, car pooling and providing comparative information on car and fuel efficiency. The following link has more information.
