First-time parents must prepare themselves to stay green.

New mother Gabrielle Breen is very conscious of her environmental footprint – in the latter stages of her pregnancy, she spent time draught-proofing her house. But after her daughter was born, her priorities changed for a while. “In the beginning, I didn’t care if I used energy,” she says. “It was the last thing on my mind.”

She found out she wasn’t alone. “I’ve heard stories of parents who discover that flushing the toilet calms their baby, and so one parent holds the baby and the other flushes the toilet over and over again.”

In hindsight, Ms Breen says that with careful planning, new parents’ resource thriftiness need not go down the drain. “If you’re prepared beforehand it makes things easier. And over time, as you get on top of parenting, you can improve things even more,” she says, suggesting that over-zealous flushers try downloading a recording of ‘white noise’ from the internet instead.

New parents spend much more time at home so sealed gaps and boosted insulation will mean lower heating and cooling bills. “Keeping your home cool during summer is an energy efficiency thing, but it will also increase your comfort and your baby’s comfort,” she says.

The Moreland Energy Foundation (MEFL) runs short energy-smart sessions for new parents through Maternal and Child Heath Centres in the area. “We give information about what you can do to minimise your bills and ensure you’re comfortable without costing the earth,” the foundation’s Jessica Steinborner says.

A comprehensive information booklet is free to download from the MEFL website. The Energy for Babies Kit discusses common infant issues such as heating, cooling and washing. It also outlines a number of standard eco-wise measures, from low-energy lighting to water saving.

Ms Steinborner says that while anyone can make those changes, the message is particularly relevant for new parents. “Bringing a baby home is a life changing moment. Often people are planning a renovation or considering big purchases, like new fridges, cars or heating and cooling systems. New parents can either wed themselves to very expensive bills and a bigger carbon footprint, or they can make a clear step towards reducing their impact.”

When her old washing machine conked out, Ms Breen and her husband bought an efficient front loader, which uses much less water, and they’re thankful for their choice. “Babies are so small, I couldn’t believe how much washing you end up doing.”

The couple opted for reusable nappies. According to MEFL’s research, cloth nappies are a more sustainable choice than disposables because they reduce both landfill waste and water use – laundering a cloth nappy takes less water than manufacturing a disposable. They’re also cheaper. “Disposables cost at least $3000 per child whereas a set of cloth nappies costs up to $900 dollars, and you can use them for subsequent children,” Ms Breen says. “I thought reusables would be hard, but it’s been easier than we expected.”

She says that changing simple habits, as well as your hardware, makes a big difference. To help keep your kid cool in summer, she recommends natural air conditioning. “When you’re feeding your baby at night you can wrap them with a damp muslin cloth. During the day, wipe them with a wet facecloth, or put a damp cloth over the top of the pram.”

Melbourne’s tough water limits will go on through the summer.

The state government recently announced that Melbourne’s Stage 3a water restrictions would stay in force until at least the end of March. The Target 155 campaign will also continue – in the year since it was introduced, Melbournians met the challenge, consuming an average of 153 litres per person per day.

“We’re about 100 gigalitres better than we were 12 months ago, which is roughly 100 days of water,” says Pat McCafferty, spokesperson for the Target 155 campaign. “But our storages are still at the second lowest level on record.”

Thanks to good spring rainfall and infrastructure improvements, water restrictions have begun to ease in many other parts of the state – to find out the rules in your area, ask your water retailer or visit the Our Water Our Future website.

McCafferty says that although most people have changed their habits, some confusion remains about the Stage 3a restrictions. “The most common pitfall is people watering outside their allocated watering days,” he says.

If you live in an even numbered property you may water your garden on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Odd numbered households can water on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Manual dripper systems, watering cans and hand-held hoses with trigger nozzles can be used between 6 am and 8 am on the allocated days (households with a resident over 70 can choose to water between 8 am and 10 am instead). If you’ve got an automatic dripper system, you can set it for between midnight and 2 am.

It’s prohibited to water your lawns or wash your car at home. “You can spot wash the windows with a bucket, but if you want to wash your whole car you have to take it to an efficient commercial car wash,” McCafferty says.

If your consumption is high, the bathroom is the first place to look – that’s where about half the household’s water goes down the drain. “We’ve still got thousands of efficient showerheads to give away for free, so contact your water retailer to exchange your old one and to receive a four-minute shower timer,” he says.

Once you’ve changed your habits and fittings, you’ll have to splash out to cut down further. “You can hardwire things into your home to make it more sustainable,” McCafferty says. “Things like drought tolerant plants, efficient appliances, and rainwater and greywater systems that capture and reuse water.”

For city veggie gardeners, any tactic helps. The continued Stage 3a restrictions make it tricky to keep the crop from wilting between watering days. Jonathan Pipke from the Food Gardeners Alliance argues that green thumbs should be allowed to water more regularly, so long as they stay within the 155-litre target. “There are all kinds of benefits to growing your own vegetables at home. On average, you use one-ninth the water of commercial producers.”

Despite his concerns, Pipke says it’s still possible to reap a bountiful harvest under the water restrictions. “But you have to be very diligent and prepare well for hot days.” He recommends rigging shade cloth over your garden and putting pots in the shade. It’s also wise to collect and reuse clean water around house, such as the water from washing your vegetables. “Because of the heat, you want to water minimally, but more often – don’t let the soil dry out and then over soak it.”

Choose real trees and cut waste this festive season.

Christmas trees may not be the most pressing household sustainability issue, but for many little (and not so little) people, festive decorations are a serious business. So what’s the best option when you’re choosing a tree?

On the plus side for artificial trees, they can be packed up and re-used. But their longevity is also a weakness, especially if they’re thrown out before their time is really up. The plastic cannot be recycled, and so, once discarded, they remain in landfill for thousands of years. Also, they are manufactured overseas, transported long distances and arrive decked in layers of packaging.

According to organic gardening expert Lyn Bagnall, plantation trees are a better option. “I love the smell of the pine – it’s part of the Christmas atmosphere,” she says.

There are a number of Christmas tree farms a short distance from Melbourne and a cut tree can be put to good use after the big day has passed. “The pine needles can be recycled in your garden and the wood can be mulched,” she says. If you can’t do it at home, ask your local council how to dispose of green waste. Alternatively, many tree farms will take back used trees.

It’s best to choose trees from plantations that don’t use chemicals, but even where they do, Ms Bagnall is pragmatic. “It’s no worse than buying commercially grown flowers,” she says.

Provided you don’t mind having a small tree, and lugging it indoors every year, growing your own tree in a pot might be the best option of all. “If you buy a potted tree, listen to what the nurseryman says about how to care for it,” Ms Bagnall says. “That way you’ll have it for a good many years. If you’re prepared to look after it, then it’s a lovely alternative.”

Ken Hickson, author of The ABC of Carbon, keeps a Christmas tree in a pot on his balcony. “We decorate it and bring it inside for festive season,” he says. As well, his family re-uses their decorations and they make sure they don’t leave the Christmas tree lights flashing around the clock.

Mr Hickson is adamant that it’s possible to be eco-minded at Christmas without being a scrooge or a killjoy. “With climate change, we need to be ready to adapt our behaviour, but we can still enjoy the luxuries of life,” he says. “We just need to be much more energy efficient in doing it.”

During the silly season, that means giving preference to organic and locally grown produce and being aware of food miles. It need not be more expensive, he argues, especially if you think carefully about how to avoid wastage.

That’s a message that goes for gifts, as well as for food. “By being sensible about the presents we give, we can eliminate a lot of unnecessary plastic packaging and boxes,” Mr Hickson says. Rather than clamouring for more material goods, consider eco-friendly gift ideas, such as donations to charities or planting trees. And then, on Boxing Day, when the party’s over, be sure to recycle the refuse.

It pays to find out how much electricity you use.

Right now, it’s tricky for householders to know exactly how much power we’re consuming at any given moment – and how much it’s costing us. But that’s all set to change as smart electricity meters are rolled out across the state.

Peter Clements, from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, says the new devices will help us understand our energy use. “Courtesy of these smart meters, you will know far more about the costs of turning on your heater or air conditioner,” he says.

Our current spinning wheel meters will be replaced with digital technology that allows energy retailers to read your meter remotely and offer price deals that vary throughout the day. While that will mean steeper metering fees and higher rates at peak times, it can also help you save money.

A recent trial conducted by Integral Energy in NSW found that consumers paying variable tariffs saved an average of $100 per year. Under one pricing model, consumption fell by 40 per cent during peak periods.

The smart meters can connect with an in-home display that gives real-time information about your consumption and costs, but it’s not compulsory to install one. Depending on the services offered by your energy retailer, updates on power use and prices may also be available via the Internet or SMS.

“Smart meters are a tool to help people better manage the inevitable energy cost increases due to climate change,” Mr Clements says. If you want to cut your bills and your eco-footprint, opt for an in-home device – try to get all the information you can, as clearly and simply as possible.

The new meter roll out will begin slowly; about 15,000 have been installed so far, mainly in northern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Under the state government’s timetable, all Victorian households will receive one by the end of 2013.

Happily, you don’t have to wait years to learn more about your energy consumption. Jason Bond, from EnviroShop in Thornbury, says there are gadgets already available that give you the knowledge you need.

The Power-Mate Lite is an Australian-made gizmo that plugs in between the socket and an appliance and tells you exactly how much power the appliance is guzzling. “It allows you to work out where you are using energy,” Mr Bond says, “so you can reduce it, and reduce the associated environmental impacts.”

The device can be set to display energy consumption, costs or carbon dioxide emissions, and can also extrapolate the results to produce an annual figure.

“Every time someone uses a Power-Mate, they always find weird things they never thought would need much energy,” Mr Bond says. He’s been surprised to learn that some gas wall-heaters also churn through electricity to run timers and thermostats. A heated towel rack is another serial offender, especially when it’s left running night and day.

“You can also find out how much your TVs and stereos are consuming when they are on standby,” he says, “Those phantom loads can be substantial – around 10 per cent of your entire energy usage.”

A Power-Mate Lite will set you back $115, so it’s a good idea to split the cost with family or friends. Alternatively, some public libraries have Power-Mates available to borrow, or you can rent one from EnviroShop for $35 per week.

Check out this selection of Australian eco home websites.

yourhome.gov.au – a joint project of the Australian Government and the building industry, the Your Home Technical Manual contains all the know-how for your wildest sustainable design and construction dreams. The authoritative website also has step-by-step guides for buyers and renovators. All information is free to download.

makeyourhomegreen.vic.gov.au – Make Your Home Green is a portal site, chock full of news and links for Victorian homeowners and renovators. You’ll find loads of facts on the 5 Star building standard, plus links to rebate guides and tips for saving money, water and energy around the house.

greenelectricitywatch.org.au – if you’re thinking about switching to green power, Green Electricity Watch will help you sort through the spin. Run by three major environmental groups, the regular survey assesses the eco-credentials behind the claims of the power retailers. It lists each product’s ranking alongside its extra cost, and also carries a comprehensive page of energy saving advice.

savewater.com.au – the Savewater Alliance is a non-profit association made up of water businesses and government agencies. Its website is intended to be a one-stop water conservation shop, and boasts tips, research, case studies and product links that will help you cut water use throughout your home and garden.

sokitt.com – when your old white goods conk out, make Sokitt your first research stop. This ingenious website analyses the running costs of the fridges, dishwashers and washing machines on the Australian market, together with their upfront prices. You can modify the search to account for your size and style preferences and even compare your old model with new ones on offer. 

sgaonline.org.au – Sustainable Gardening Australia is a non-profit organisation that promotes smart backyard gardening with a taste for veggies. The website includes a forum and free fact sheets examining aphids, zucchinis and everything in between. You can also sign up to Cuttings, a monthly email update full of handy seasonal hints and planting guides.

aussieslivingsimply.com.au – this busy online forum is dedicated to the simple life. Join up and ask questions of other people who are putting sustainable living into practice. Discussion threads include permaculture, fruit and veggie gardening, renewable energy, preserving and mending, as well as cooking, cleaning and DIY construction.

recyclingnearyou.com.au – if you’re not sure what can and can’t have a second life, look up Recycling Near You. Run by Planet Ark, the website contains information from every council in the country. It covers kerbside collection as well as instructions for trickier items like e-waste, tyres, oil and chemicals. You can search by council area or by product.

ethical.org.au – the Ethical Consumer Guide aims to inform shoppers about the social and environmental impact of our buying habits. The website has information about the brands and products on our supermarket shelves, as well as explanations of broader issues such as waste, food miles and organics.