Please Wait...
progress bar
Last reviewed: Tue, 25 Oct 2011

At home

We can all make a difference at home by reducing waste, being energy and water efficient, shopping wisely, travelling smarter and by going on a carbon diet to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Here are some practical ways you can take action at home.

A photograph of a lady holding a globe in her hands.

Learn how to save money and the planet

A photograph of a scale model house lit up surrounded by other non lit up houses.

Be energy efficient and have a warm home

[ Back to top ]
A photograph of a girl tending a to flowers in a garden box.

Get back to nature and grow your own food

Also visit:
Best Gardening Guide
Organics New Zealand

[ Back to top ]
A photograph of a person holding a hose with water coming out spraying everywhere.

Conserve our water

  • Being waterwise means that you are making our precious water last by stopping drips, watering the garden only when necessary and only washing full loads.
[ Back to top ]
A photograph of the three new wheelie bins to show the different sizes and colour of the lids.

Reduce your rubbish

  • Reducing your rubbish is simple and is something that can involve the whole family.
  • Find out about the kerbside collection service.
  • You can also recycle many household items and building materials at your local Eco-Drop Transfer Station
  • Buy pre-loved items for a bargain from the Eco-shop located at 191 Blenheim Road.
  • For new parents choosing washable nappies can halve your rubbish and save money.  Visit The Nappy Network for local suppliers of washable nappies.
[ Back to top ]
A photograph of a man in a suit riding his bicyle in a cycle lane on the road in the city.

Travel smarter

  • Save costs and hassles by walking, cycling, car pooling and catching the bus.
  • If you need to take the car be a Fuel Saver by doing multiple jobs with each trip and by driving smoothly and slowly.
  • Choose the Right Car to improve your safety and fuel performance.
[ Back to top ]
A photograph of a man tapping in a nail in the construction of a house being built.

Build a warmer, drier, more comfortable home

  • A smart home is warmer, drier, and more comfortable. It has more natural light. It's healthier for you and your family. And it's affordable too.  Level provides detailed information about home design and renovation.
  • See how well your home performs against the Home Star assessment tool
  • EcoBob has a directory of environmentally friendly building products, services and great tips.
  • The best way to get the home you want is to design and build in an integrated way, find out how at Right House.
  • For free and independent local advice on energy and building solutions see the Council's Building Design Guides.
[ Back to top ]
A photograph of a small child in a supermarket pushing her toy trolly round.

Shop wisely

[ Back to top ]
A poster advertising green cleaning by using healthy alternatives to household chemicals which has a picture of two lemons.

Clean your home without nasty chemicals

  • Cleaning your home without chemicals is better for you and need not cost the earth. The Green Cleaning Guide [PDF 938KB] provides cheap, effective and easy to get eco-alternatives to most household cleaners and detergents.
  • To really know products you purchase are good for the environment look for the Green Tick and Enviro-Choice logos. 
[ Back to top ]
A photograph of several pine trees in a forest and clear blue sky.

Be climate friendly

  • You can help to cool the climate by being energy efficient, reducing waste, shopping wisely and using your car less.
  • Find out about the national and local impacts and responses to climate change.
  • Off-set any unavoidable carbon emissions at Trees for Travellers.
  • Take climate smart actions and grow your own native tree online at Tree People.
[ Back to top ]

Did you know?

  • Over 400 Christchurch households have signed on to the Sustainable Living Programme where they learn how to enjoy life with less impact on the environment.
  • Over 12,000 homes in Christchurch are now warm, dry and smoke-less due to the financial support of the Environment Canterbury's Clean Heat Programme.
  • Saving water also saves energy. Pumping water to and from homes and businesses uses as much energy as powering all of the street lights in the City.
  • There are over 50 green grocers and farmers markets throughout city selling fresh locally grown food.
  • There are 30 Community Gardens in the city producing food and sharing ideas on gardening and composting.
  • The three bin domestic kerbside collection service will help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
  • Christchurch residents take 53,000 bus trips each day, a hassle-free and cost-effective way to reduce congestion, parking worries and vehicle emissions.
[ Back to top ]
 

Authorising Unit: Strategy Support

Last reviewed: Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Next review: Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Keywords: christchurch, home, sustainabliity