There are many ways to make our homes more sustainable. These guides and tips will help you to be resource-smart in different areas of the home and garden. There are also some fun, educational resources for the kids.
Measure how sustainable your home is
Before you get started making your house more resource-smart, it can be good to have a baseline. You can borrow our sustainable home audit kit to measure your home's resource use.
Home energy assessments are also offered by the Victorian Government as part of their residential efficiency scorecard system
Sustainability events
The City of Casey runs regular workshops and webinars on sustainability, biodiversity, and how to reduce household waste. Keep an eye on the Casey Events Calendar for upcoming events.
Sustainable gardening
It’s easy to garden sustainably for the health and wellbeing of our family and the environment.
The Your Sustainable Garden booklet has been developed by the City of Casey specifically for local conditions. The guide contains lots of information on how you can develop a fantastic sustainable garden. Download the guide to learn about:
- designing and building your sustainable garden
- maintaining your garden's health
- choosing the best indigenous plants
- planting to attract wildlife
- gardening with the kids
Looking for some tips to get your sustainable garden started?
- Plant indigenous plants that are best suited to your local soil and climate. Find out what plants are indigenous in the Casey area.
- Avoid plants that are known invasive species in our bushland and wetlands. Find out how how to better manage weeds.
- Use water wisely.
- Avoid using synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
- Buy garden products made from recycled or renewable resources.
- Grow your own fresh, delicious produce and reduce food miles!
Sustainable water use
Fresh water is a scarce resource. By saving water at home you can reduce your water bills and improve the health of our creeks and rivers.
There are currently permanent water saving rules that help us to use water efficiently. Melbourne Water also has other tips on how you can use and save water at home.
Sustainable energy use
Renewable energy is produced using natural resources that are constantly replaced and never run out. Some common examples include solar, water and wind power.
Renewable energy is great for the environment and can help to reduce your energy bill. Find out more about renewable energy on the Australian Renewable Energy Agency website.
Solar panels
The most common renewable energy system in Australian homes is solar panels (also known as photovoltaic panels or PVs). Sustainability Victoria has information about solar panels and tips on choosing the right solar system for you.
You may also be eligible for a rebate for installing a renewable energy system.
Sustainable transport
Changing how you travel can help to reduce the impact your journeys have on the environment. Smarter driving can also save you money by reducing the amount of fuel you use. It also cuts down on unnecessary wear and tear on your car and the amount of pollution your car generates.
Sustainability Victoria has tips on how to make sustainable choices about your transport and travel.
Reduce your waste
A lot of our waste unnecessarily goes to landfill. Landfill sites take up a lot of space, which could otherwise be used for natural bushland, farmland and other open spaces.
Find out how you can reduce your waste at home.
Sustainability for kids
Get your kids thinking about the natural world with our biodiversity and green living colouring sheets. Simply download, print and colour at home.
- Download Southern Brown Bandicoot colouring sheet
- Download wetland wildlife colouring sheet
- Download creek ecosystem colouring sheet
- Download green living colouring sheets
Check out our kids’ web series on Casey’s biodiversity. This series showcases the animals you might find when out and about in Casey, as well as what is in your backyard! Head to the City of Casey YouTube channel to view all 5 episodes.
Sustainability for educators
Engage your students and school community in sustainability and waste related issues with our curriculum-aligned lesson plans and accompanying student resources.
• Rubbish or Recycling lesson plan (Foundation – Level 2)
• Recycling Researchers lesson plan (Level 3-6)
• Recycle Right student worksheets (Foundation – Level 6)
• Recycle Right bin signage
Subscribe to our termly Green Living in Casey Education e-newsletter for more resources, grants and professional learning opportunities.