There are both big and small changes you can make to your everyday life which can have a huge impact on your environmental footprint.
Go all electric
Be part of a clean energy future by moving your home to all electric.
Everyone can enjoy the performance leaps electric appliances have taken over the past few years - that’s cheaper heating, cooling, hot water and cooking. And it doesn’t have to be all at once. Take time to prepare so that when appliances, like hot water, need replacing, you’re ready to make the switch. If it takes 6 months or 6 years. Move to renewable electricity for clean air and a safe choice for your household.
Some resources to help you go all electric at home:
- Planning ahead: Three steps to all-electric - Renew
- Getting your home off gas: a quick guide | Climate Council
- State Government Rebates available to residents to upgrade appliances at home
- State Government rebates for solar panels.
Create your own home electrification plan using Victorian Electric plan (pdf) template
Borrow a home environment kit
Find out how your home is performing with our Home Environment Kit.
The Home Environment Kit contains the following equipment to help you find ways of saving energy and water around your home:
- Energy smart thermometer - measures hot water temperature, room temperature, and fridge and freezer temperatures. You may have things hotter or colder than they need to be
- Infra-red thermometer - measures surface temperatures such as walls and windows. You may be losing or gaining heat which can be fixed with insulation or shade
- Energy monitor - measures energy consumption of your appliances to see which ones need to be used sparingly, and where standby power is being drawn needlessly
- Light meter - to help apply the ideal light conditions in your home and using energy wisely
- Water flow measure cup - to assess how much water your shower and taps use and to see whether you should reduce the flow rates.
To see how to use this kit, view this instruction video guide.
You can also borrow thermal imaging cameras to identify energy inefficiencies in your home, such as poorly insulated areas.
To book the kit or the camera, call your local library or place a request via the library catalogue.
Saving water at home
Making changes around the house can have a big impact on how much water you use and help keep water bills down.
Here are some things you can do to save water around the home:
- install a water efficient shower head
- collect rainwater for use in the garden
- look for the Smart Approved WaterMark when purchasing appliances
- install a dual flush toilet.
For more information about these tips visit Sustainability Victoria or Melbourne Water.
You can exchange your old showerhead for a free water efficient model, valued at $34.
To exchange your showerhead, visit Niddrie Library and:
- present your old showerhead and water bill
- complete a survey and permission form
- receive your new showerhead and information.
Customers can exchange one showerhead. Installation services are not provided. Instructions for installation come with the new showerhead.
Note: City West Water advises that people with gravity fed hot water systems should not change to a water efficient showerhead.
Get around sustainably
We encourage local residents and businesses to consider car sharing as a sustainable transport option.
- Flexicar provides 6 share cars in Moonee Valley.
Sign up for the program on the Flexicar website or call 1300 36 37 80. - Car Next Door operates a neighbour-to-neighbour car sharing network.
Sign up to the program as either an owner willing to share your car or as a borrower on the Car Next Door website or call (03) 9946 4106.
- GoGet provides 11 share cars in Moonee Valley.
Sign up to the program on the GoGet website or call 1300 769 389. - GreenShareCar provides one share car in Moonee Valley.
Sign up for the program on the GreenShareCar website or call 1300 575 878.
Workshops and events
Council has free workshops and events to help you live green all year long.
To be notified of the next event sign up to the Green Living newsletter.
You can watch recordings of past webinars on Green Living - YouTube channel.
