GreenHome wins prestigious Banksia Award
GreenHome, the Australian Conservation Foundation’s sustainable living program, has won the 2007 Banksia Education Award, awarded by the Banksia Environmental Foundation.
The Australian Conservation Foundation’s GreenHome program is a community education program that helps householders to reduce their environmental footprint in their home and lifestyle.
Since January 2005, there’s been significant behaviour change demonstrated by 2,917 participants in the NSW GreenHome program - from shorter showers to sustainable home design. Environmental benefits include 116 ML of water saved (equivalent to 116 Olympic sized swimming pools full of water), 6,880 tonnes of greenhouse gas prevented (equivalent to taking 1,370 cars off the road) and 510 kilolitres of waste avoided (equivalent to 2,123 wheelie bins full of waste). Similar savings are expected after the continued roll-out of the workshop program in Victoria this year.
The GreenHome program is delivered to Australians through:
• Face to face workshop series and sustainable living expos
• GreenHome website, including the GreenHome Challenge
• GreenHome segments on free-to-air and pay TV programs
• GreenHome Train the Trainer program
“We’re thrilled to accept this award on behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation, all the GreenHome workshop participants and the online GreenHome Challenge participants,” said Elle Morrell, GreenHome Research Coordinator.
“GreenHome is a national program which has had a strong presence in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia through workshop delivery and events. We’re continuing to expand the program with the aim of educating all Australians keen to green-up their lives.
“GreenHome helps people make changes to their homes and lifestyles that not only help the environment, but help them too. They can save on their electricity, gas and water bills and make their homes a more comfortable place to live in. One way everyone can get involved in GreenHome is to take the online GreenHome Challenge at www.acfonline.org.au/greenhome,” she said.
GreenHome has been made possible through funding from the NSW Environment Trust ‘it’s a living thing’ partnership and, in Victoria, through the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Sustainability Fund.
The Banksia Environmental Foundation, established in 1989, is a national not-for-profit organisation that promotes environmental excellence and sustainability through its Awards program and other associated events. The Banksia Environmental Awards are regarded as the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia.
For more information, see the GreenHome website.
