How can householders effectively tackle climate change at their own level? Noosa and Caboolture Councils have looked closely at this issue and the result is the Living Smart Homes Project. Officially launched in June, the project gives householders ways of measuring and reducing their consumption in the areas of energy, waste, water and transport.

“The project’s ultimate aim is a sustainable community,” said Ben McMullen, Manager Environment Services at Noosa Council.

“Regulation isn’t the answer when it comes to long term change. People need ownership. Making a conscious choice to live a sustainable lifestyle was not something people thought about in the past. But now we as individuals, communities and a society have to start to address it.”

“This program is helping people at the individual household level to take the first steps along that path,” he said.

The program is coordinated through a website that connects participants in cyberspace, whilst community workshops bring people together face-to-face.

Householders signing up to the program log on to the website and work through modules on energy, waste, water and transport at their own speed.

“The website not only provides information for households, it gives them a voice and encourages them to feel comfortable discussing the issues as they see them. Importantly, it encourages action by individuals and lets them track the sustainability of their own households,” Mr McMullen said.

On signing up, participants receive a sign for display on their property boundary declaring their commitment to changing their own patterns of behaviour. As each energy, waste, water and transport module is completed, the achievement is recognised through a badge attached to the sign.

Evan Raymond, Senior Environmental Officer at Caboolture Council, coordinates the Living Smart Homes Project in his shire.

“The delivery and scale of this project sets it apart from other sustainability awareness programs,” he said. “Caboolture Council has developed and delivered local community and school based sustainability awareness programs since 2005. Integrating the internet in the program will increase accessibility and connect like-minded people on a greater scale. The Living Smart Homes Project is all about facilitating relationships within communities and between communities.”

All households in Noosa and Caboolture are eligible to sign up: families or individuals, home owners or renters, houses or flats.

“This isn’t top down, it’s a bottom up approach,” Mr McMullen said. “People have strong feelings about how households and communities should address climate change. The Living Smart Homes Project gives them the means to take action and then measure their progress. They can be champions of sustainable behaviour change within their local neighbourhoods.”

The Living Smart Homes Project builds on the Living Smart Program that for three years has provided information on sustainable housing in the Noosa area, including a database of business contacts.

Queensland University of Technology will independently review the effectiveness of the project during 2008.

For more information visit the website here.