10 tips for outdoors

1. Use the sun

   Rather than using the tumble dryer, hang your clothes out to dry. Whenever the sun shines, let solar energy do the work for you.

2. Compost!

   Send organic waste back to where it belongs: the soil! Add your organic kitchen scraps and grass clippings to a compost heap and you'll significantly decrease your landfill waste. Compost also makes plants stronger and healthier, reducing the need for artificial fertilisers and pesticides.

3. Go organic

   Using organic pesticides or fertilisers in the garden is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. It stimulates beneficial soil organisms, reduces toxic wastewater runoff and creates a healthier place for children and animals to play.

4. Use a reel or electric lawnmower

   Not only are they non-polluting and better for your grass, they're also light, quiet and virtually maintenance-free.

5. Rethink transport

   You don't have to walk everywhere to do your bit, but a few adjustments can make a difference. Can you car share on the way to work? Can you take a bus to go to the cinema? Can you walk or cycle to the local shop?

6. Take note of the weather

   Keep an eye on daily weather forecasts and check soil so that you only water plants when they really need it.

7. Grow native plants

   Australian native plants are obviously better adapted to our conditions, which means they need less maintenance and less water. They are also more resistant to pests and diseases, which means less use of pesticides and fertilisers.

8. Think reusable and clean up

   Going on a picnic? Pack your food in reusable, collapsible containers instead of disposable boxes and cans and leave your picnic site clean.

9. Buy a green vehicle

   If you can't live without a car, you could consider a fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly hybrid. Research your next car purchase using the green vehicle guide. Not only will it reduce the amount of CO2 pumped into the atmosphere, it will save you money.

10. Holiday at home

    International flights contribute significant climate-changing emissions, so consider going on holiday in Australia or travelling further afield by train, bus or boat.

    Courtesy of Conservation International