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Reducing Environmental Impact

Reducing Environmental Impact

As individuals and as a community, there are many things you can do [PDF 98KB] to make a difference in the battle against climate change.

In the home

Council teamed up with Moreton Bay Regional Council to initiate the online LivingSmart Homes program. It’s free to join and helps you to reduce your household’s environmental footprint and save money at the same time. You will find information, activities, games and calculators, all designed to help you to complete the four living smart modules. Once you sign up, you will receive your Living Smart sign to display on your gate, post box or front door.

The state government’s ClimateSmart Homes program also has a range of initiatives to encourage Queensland homes and businesses to help solve climate change, including carbon calculators, the ClimateSmart Home service, information for groups and businesses and regular newsletters. 

The federal government offers the Green Loans Program, including an assessment of your home by a professional home sustainability assessor. You will receive a detailed report on how to save the environment while saving money, and you may also qualify for an interest free Green Loan to help fund recommended investments like solar hot water, insulation, rainwater tanks and energy-and-water-efficient appliances.

More green living resources

What council is doing

Council has been committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through its involvement in the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Program with participation from the former three councils since the 1990s.

A wide variety of actions by the former councils in recent years include:

  • methane gas recovery at a sewage treatment plant
  • flaring methane at a landfill site
  • a biodiesel trial
  • reducing emissions from council’s vehicles
  • introduced solar heatpumps in swimming pools
  • LivingSmart, TravelSmart and ecoBiz programs.

The advent of climate change increases the risks of flooding on the Coast, and council is undertaking an extensive program to understand and mitigate the risks. 

Sliver Cell solar panels

As of June 2009, council is the first local government authority in Australia to embrace new efficiencies in alternative energy through the installation of Sliver Cell solar panels on community buildings.

The new solar panels are now in place at the Lake Kawana Community Centre, the Caloundra Library and the Glasshouse Mountains Visitor Information Centre. Together, the three installations are equivalent to taking 15 cars off the road for 25 years. Collectively the panels will save more than 550 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over a 25 year period.

ecoBiz program

ecoBiz is a partnership program between council and the EPA that helps Queensland businesses adopt resource-efficient practices that are good for the financial bottom line as well as for the environment. The program helps business achieve savings through more efficient use of energy, materials and water, reducing water, reducing waste, working towards improvements in eco-efficiency and achieving better productivity.

Since its commencement in June 2006, the ecoBiz program has grown to include 32 Sunshine Coast businesses [PDF 113KB]. More information on ecoBiz can be found on the EPA website.

Sustainable transport

The former Noosa council teamed up with Rockhampton and Thuringowa councils to produce the The Green Travel Plan [PDF 5.9MB], which is designed to encourage changes in travel behaviour and provides information to encourage people to make informed travel choices.

Last Updated 19-Oct-09