HOPE

H.O.P.E. (Householder’s Options to Protect the Environment) Australia along with the Queensland Government is encouraging residents to take part in the State’s Low Carbon Diet Challenge, designed to create “climate smart living”.

The Low Carbon Diet is a 30 day program providing environmental awareness and an understanding of energy usage by challenging households to reduce their annual carbon emissions by 2000kg.

President of H.O.P.E. Australia, Frank Ondrus is delighted that H.O.P.E. is a part of the Queensland State Government's efforts to promote energy efficiency.

He said, “Our organisations main aim is to raise awareness of the environment, and encourage more active participation in waste minimisation and the conservation of energy".

According to Premier Anna Bligh’s Towards Q2 report, “Our State’s average emissions per person are well above the rest of the world”.

“The current carbon footprint of the average Queensland household is 13.77 tones of CO2 each year (13,770 kg’s).”

“The government has set a Q2 target to reduce the State’s household carbon footprint by a third by 2020”.

H.O.P.E. is currently offering free Low Carbon Living Starts at Home booklets developed to show residents simple and effective measures to reduce electricity and water consumption at home.

The 12 page booklet highlights all areas of the home where residents, renters and renovators can all make smarter choices to reduce their impact on the environment.

Queensland’s Environmental Protection agency has developed The Low Carbon Diet Challenge for households, business and community groups to implement these measures to play a part in saving water, energy and money.

EcoTeams (a group of 5-10 households) can also be formed as a fun and reliable way for neighbourhoods to set goals and keep one another accountable for carbon usage. 

For more information about the Low Carbon Diet challenge, including how to get involved and to apply for funding go to the Climate Smart Living website http://www.climatesmart.qld.gov.au   .