by Linda Moon With Australia’s major supermarkets banning the plastic bag it’s a good time to get on board #PlasticFreeJuly. The initiative, whereby people pledge to reduce plastic from their lives for a month, is a great opportunity to learn about plastic-free eco alternatives beyond the tote bag. Founder of the Plastic Free July Foundation, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, says while plastic is an extremely useful material the fact it’s designed to last forever causes problems for the

The saying goes that from little things, big things grow. That’s certainly a motto we can adopt in our attempts to live greener lifestyles. Each day we take small steps to ensure our own environmental footprints don’t leave a mark on the planet. Many of us are seasoned recyclers, and every morning I see more and more commuters enjoying their coffee in KeepCups. But in what other ways can we up the ante? As a recent convert, let me make a case for composting. Although I love l

When we think about sustainable living, we often cast our minds to homes with the latest energy saving features and technologies. But how often do we consider physical wellbeing and mental health? Not often enough, it seems. Around 14 million Australians are overweight or obese and 20 per cent of us are suffering from mental health issues. For Amanda King, CEO of fitness and wellbeing program Live Life Get Active, her mission is to change this. In many Green Star communities

Australians love their cars. In a country that is as vast as it is diverse, being able to get behind the wheel is not only a convenience, but often a necessity. But while we’re keen on driving, our vehicles are burning a hole in our pockets, not to mention the environment. By working out how much you’re spending on your car each week, you might be less inclined to rev the engine and more included to get behind the handlebars to cycle instead. According to the Transport Afford

What are your non-negotiables when hunting for a house? According to realestate.com.au, these are the most common things Australians aren’t willing to budge on: • Good natural light • Privacy • Street appeal • A second toilet • Storage Whether you’re a first time buyer, family or renter, this seems like a reasonable list to work from when it comes to the search for your next home. But is there a point where we need to stop, think and compromise? It all com

by Sophie Pickett-Heaps What surprises people most about living in a sustainable home? It’s how easy sustainability is on the hip pocket, says Stockland’s co-head of design, Sophie Pickett-Heaps. “People often think affordability and sustainability are mutually exclusive,” Sophie says. “But our residents often tell us how pleasantly surprised they are on opening their electricity or water bill. The benefits of sustainability features are all there in black and white.” Take St

If you’re like most people, the phrase ‘green home’ immediately brings to mind high-tech and high-cost environmental features such as solar panels perched atop green roofs and greywater systems that recycle waste water. What may be surprising is just how low-tech many green features can be. Take ‘The Summer’ in South Fremantle – the first apartment in Australia to achieve a Green Star rating for sustainable design. The building’s solar passive design focused on clever orienta

by Lydia Hales It was one of the most extreme heatwaves in south-eastern Australian history. During late January and early February 2009, temperature records were toppled across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Then, on 7 February, 24 of Victoria’s 35 long-term stations recorded record high temperatures: Melbourne reached 46.4C while Hopetoun broke a state record with 48.8C. These extreme temperatures were said to have caused an estimated 374 deaths in Victoria. And it

So you’re on the path to leading a greener lifestyle. You recycle, you’re composting and you’ve invested in a KeepCup to make your morning coffee hit guilt and paper free. However when it comes to your home, there are other ways to boost your sustainable footprint and it starts with swapping common household items with those that promote environmental friendliness and longevity. Bedding How many times have you bought new bedding? How often have you considered what it’s made f

While we’re all used to tending to hanging plants and backyard veggie patches, we could be overlooking some of the powerful health benefits of keeping indoor plants. Big or little, slight or strong, more people are choosing to turn their homes into micro forests to reap the rewards of sharing space with plants. You can even get crafty using old teapots, mismatched crockery or recycled pot plants to house your new friends. If you’re not quite a green thumb yet, but you want to

What can you do right now to green your home? Your home doesn’t have to be new to be green. Green features are a smart investment in any residential building, with a fast payback time, ensuring you save money in the long-term. So, what can you do right now to green your home? Firstly, you have no idea how your building is performing until you measure it, so track your home’s energy consumption and water consumption, and look for areas where you can make improvements. Replace