Greenhouse gases like CO₂,methane and nitrous oxide act like the outside covering of a greenhouse. These gases trap heat from the sun, raising the temperature in the atmosphere. Humans contribute to the production of greenhouse gases through activities such as driving cars and trucks, farming, burning of coal and cutting down trees. These activities have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, causing the Earth to heat up at a faster rate than ever before.

 

This process is called ‘global warming’ but a better way to think of it is as ‘climate change’. The reason why this term has been adopted is because the overall impact of global warming also has an effect on our climate. Extreme climatic events such as floods, storms, cyclones, droughts and landslides are likely to increase if we do not reduce our impact on the environment.

 

• When possible opt to walk, cycle or use public transport
• Have your car serviced regularly
• Remove any unnecessary items from your car, such as roof racks or heavy objects that are in your boot – did you know this very simple act could save as much as 5% off of your fuel bill?
• Keep tyres on your vehicle inflated at the right pressure – this will not only save fuel costs, but the wear on your tyre
• Cutback on waste by buying products with less packaging
• Recycle paper, glass, tin and plastic
• Compost food scraps – great for your garden and reduces the amount of landfill at our dumps
• Use recyclable or cloth shopping bags at the supermarket
• Use an insulated wrap on your hot water cylinder
• Buy appliances with a high energy rating – the more stars the more energy efficient the item is!
• Swap old light bulbs with energy efficient ones
• Turn off lights and electrical appliances at the wall when you are not using them
• Insulate your home and try to double glaze windows
• Use your dishwasher only when there is a full load
• Buy Sanctuary Wines* – they are produced by the world's first carboNZero^{Cert TM} winery!