Coast residents going green
Wed 12 November 2008
Victoria Oyama, Bachelor of Arts
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council is encouraging local residents to embrace green practises through its Living Smart Homes (LSH) program, officially launched on September 10 2008.
Sunshine Coast Regional Council mayor Bob Abbot said Living Smart Homes supports the council's vision to make the Sunshine Coast Australia’s most sustainable region: green, vibrant and diverse.
“When the region as a whole comes together, we are a formidable force. If every household on the Sunshine Coast joined Living Smart, we would have nearly fulfilled this vision,” Cr Abbot said.
Cr Abbot has shown his commitment to the LSH program by his decision to also participate in the program as a private individual. 
Sunshine Coast Regional Council sustainability projects officer Joanna Ferris said Living Smart Homes has four learning modules to help residents tackle climate change at the household level.
“The online modules calculate your environmental impacts and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in four key areas; energy, water, waste and transport,” Ms Ferris said.
Upon joining LSH, participants receive a free Living Smart sign to display on their gate, mail box or front door. As they complete the online energy, water, waste and transport modules they receive the corresponding leaf to add to their sign.
In the energy module, recommendations include switching to “green power”, using solar energy, energy-efficient appliances and energy-efficient hot water systems.
Compact fluorescent lights conserve up to 80 per cent more energy than standard incandescent light bulbs and last eight times longer, while producing only one-fifth of the greenhouse gas.
Recycling, reducing and reusing materials cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions compared to buying new products.
Actions in the water module include installation of AAA-rated showerheads and a rainwater tank for use in the laundry and toilet system. Installation of a greywater diverter or treatment system means water usually wasted can be used for the garden.
The waste module recommends recycling of plastics, paper and cardboard, as this recovers valuable resources and reduces the negative impacts of landfill and waste disposal sites.
Recycled paper products such as tissues, toilet paper and office paper reduce the destruction of native forests, which serve as a very important greenhouse gas mitigator.
Composting food scraps and other green waste materials also reduces methane gas emissions while improving garden soils.
Tips to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport module include switching off the car when idling, as well as keeping tyres at the maximum recommended pressure.
Setting the car air conditioner on high could increase fuel consumption by over 10 per cent, and cruising at 110 km/h instead of 90 km/h uses up to 25 per cent more fuel.
Residents participating in the LSH program not only help the environment, they also benefit financially from the venture.
“Our feedback so far shows a family of two parents and two children can save around $550 and 3,000kg of greenhouse gases per year, while a retired couple can save nearly $500 per year and over 3,000kg greenhouse gas emissions,” Ms Ferris said.
Urban Development Institute of Australia Sunshine Coast branch president David Oliver has voiced approval for the LSH program.
“Let’s make our developments as sustainable and responsible as we possibly can,” Mr Oliver said.
Mr Oliver, architect principal of Greenway Architect in Mooloolaba, received wide acclaim for his award-winning energy efficient, environmentally friendly design, Brahminy House. The Buderim home has a number of passive design features and low impact technologies which enable it to achieve a low carbon footprint.
“We shouldn’t be consuming and wasting the earth’s resources without conserving or recreating them,” Mr Oliver said.
One local determined to reduce the Sunshine Coast’s carbon footprint is Buderim resident Lesley Gillett.
Ms Gillett was shocked to learn from the Australian Conservation Foundation that the Sunshine Coast is a greenhouse pollution hotspot.
The greenhouse pollution per person, per year, for the Maroochy to Buderim area is relatively high, at 18.15 tonnes compared to the state average of 18.38 tonnes.
On World Environment Day 2008 Ms Gillett attended the sustainability forum at the University of the Sunshine Coast, during which she challenged Mayor Abbot to support her in reducing Buderim’s carbon footprint.
Two days later the council’s sustainability project officer Sharron Stott visited Ms Gillett to help initiate the program.
“We may have been out of touch with one another and in love with our unsustainable lifestyles for too many years,” Ms Gillett said.
Ms Gillett has taken on the role of starting the project to make Buderim carbon neutral through linking residents and providing key information in neighbourhood meetings.
She said not taking to heart people’s indifference regarding the matter has been the most difficult aspect so far.
Sunshine Coast residents like Ms Gillett aim to reduce the Sunshine Coast’s carbon footprint and make the environment even greener with Living Smart.
“Be the change you want to see in the world,” Ms Gillett said.
Image(s) designed by Victoria Oyama