Nature provides us with so many fundamental aspects of being human.
As a species, we’ve spent most of our evolutionary history using its essential resources to eat and drink, learn new skills, and protect us from threats.
We feel at home in nature, and science now shows us what that connection means for our wellbeing: it can help restore our attention on a task2 and lower the levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) in our bloodstream3.
Of course, nature is also invaluable for our planet’s health and our response to the climate crisis. While we can individually drive electric cars and put solar panels on our roofs to help mitigate the problem of CO2 emissions, we fundamentally need nature – our trees, plants, soil, and the ocean – to draw down excess CO2 from the atmosphere.
And the reason is simple: without a drastic reduction in carbon levels, some of the big risks of climate change on human health include more heat-related illnesses, water-borne diseases, and injuries from intense storms.
Since roughly 40 per cent of Australia’s carbon footprint comes from the energy required to heat, light, and cool our residential buildings4, it’s vital to understand how even the simplest sustainable changes to a home can affect the natural world’s ability to absorb CO2 – and improve our quality of life.
Here are four key areas to look at around the home if you’re ready to improve its green health.
Heating and cooling to regulate temperature
Insulation is fundamental for any environmentally healthy home, given that heating and cooling make up such a large part of our energy use and bills.
The great news is that you can make some relatively inexpensive improvements to your existing building without needing to do major renovations. Adding an extra layer of insulation in your roof, for example, is a great way to reduce energy use and control temperature. In my home, I’ve also had the tin roof sprayed with a particular kind of paint that helps to reduce the amount of heat that the roof tin absorbs from the sun by five or six degrees Celsius.
The payback period for these types of sustainable investments is typically short, as well. Rolling out extra insulation in the roof or double-glazing windows might cost a couple of thousand dollars, but you would likely save a good block of that from your heating and cooling bills every year from then on.
Don’t overlook the benefits of sustainable gardening either, if you have a yard. A garden of native plants attract native pollinators, which can help to build back lost habitat, and so many Australian native trees can provide a good level of shade for your home during summer, keeping it naturally cooler and helping you reduce your carbon footprint.
Renewable energy to power planet-friendly savings
My home is powered by solar, and I have to say there’s something very empowering about drawing your home’s energy from the sun.
So, if finances allow, solar panels are worth the investment. Not only will you reduce the amount of mains electricity you use by generating your own electricity, you’ll even be paid for any leftover electricity you export to the grid. Solar is nowhere near as expensive as it used to be – there are plenty of schemes and rebates, such as the Australian Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, making solar available to Australians around the country. Try Googling to find out what’s available for your home.
Another key area to look at is what you cook with. Removing natural gas from the home is extremely important for the planet’s health and your health. Gas is a fossil fuel, first and foremost, and cooking on a gas stove releases methane and produces carbon dioxide. A lot of research is also showing just how harmful gas stoves can be for anyone with respiratory diseases, but particularly for children5. Electric induction cooktops are a better alternative.
If you’re looking to remove gas from your home altogether, consider also replacing your gas hot water system with a heat-pump hot water system. These systems only use electricity to operate their parts, not to actually heat water, meaning they’re far cheaper to run than gas systems or conventional electric systems – and you might see a return on your investment within just a few years.
Water use and food waste to minimise emissions
The energy that utility companies use to clean and pump and process water for our consumption – whether we’re watering our garden, drinking it, or showering with it – comes with a big carbon footprint.
In California, for example, 20 per cent of the state’s carbon footprint comes from the energy required to move water around, pump it, and filter it6. In a typically dry place (just like Australia), that is a big cost to the economy and to the environment. So, the less water we consume, the better off we will be. Install water-efficient taps, showerheads, and toilets, and upgrade appliances like washing machines (the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme makes it easy to compare the water efficiency of similar products just by checking the label). Fix dripping taps and seals quickly, take shorter showers, and scrape dishes before washing them, instead of rinsing.
Speaking of food scraps, Australia uses about 2,600 gigalitres of water every year on food that ends up getting wasted – and that food waste makes up about 3 per cent of our country’s annual greenhouse gas emissions7. A great way to start reducing food waste at home is to buy only what you will eat, but also look at separating your waste streams. Avoid adding food scraps to the rubbish bin. If you have a yard, compost them, or give them away to friends or neighbours with chickens or worm farms.
