Close

Not in Melbourne?


Dance It, Drink It, Do It – Carbon Neutral Melbourne


John Butler is a well-known 'carbon neutral' champ, the recent Climate Festival made good its own 'bad for the environment' emissions and even Cascade has joined the environmentally aware trend with their 100% carbon offset Green beer. But what do 'carbon neutral' and 'carbon offset' really mean?

OK, briefly, the carbon we're talking about is a naturally occurring gas called carbon dioxide (CO2) which, at normal levels, exists quite happily in Earth's atmosphere. Where it gets nasty for nature is when humans up CO2 levels via burning fossil fuels to feed our energy needs. The emissions build up the greenhouse gasses, which keep the heat in, which is global warming in a nutshell.

Going carbon neutral is a three-step process starting with calculating your emissions (derived partly from your energy use), reducing them wherever possible and then funding carbon offsetting projects such as tree-planting schemes. Offsetting your carbon emissions (rather than neutralising them) is a one-step process where you fund projects that compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions you have created.

So, carbon junkies, with the (very) basics explained it's time to get neutral with your emissions. To do this, first visit the Climate Positive website and use its calculator  to work out your carbon footprint (Climate Positive is a not-for-profit organisation that works with businesses and households to achieve global warming solutions). Now have a look at the suggested 'Top 10' simple solutions below.

  • Switch your electricity to an accredited 'green power' and get your energy from a renewable source (so not burning fossil fuels).
  • Replace ordinary light bulbs with low-emission light bulbs.
  • Put a jumper on rather than cranking up the heating at home.
  • If you have to put the heater on, keep it to 20c or below.
  • Walk, cycle or take public transport to work rather than drive.
  • Get a worm farm to chomp through your organic waste.
  • Get green bags and say no to as much extra packaging as possible when shopping.
  • Elect to offset your carbon emissions when booking a plane ticket.
  • Support carbon offset/neutral products where possible (drink Cascade Green for example!)
  • Find a carbon offsetting project (such as tree planting) and help fund it!

Most of these suggestions are easy to achieve around your home and in your daily life - take them on and you'll be neutral (and cool) in no time.

Kelly Ford, Citysearch

Ask for a bottle of Cascade Green at these Melbourne hot spots

East Brunswick Club Hotel

280 Lygon St (cnr Albert Street), East Brunswick

-37.761641 144.94215

A great local that serves up some of the finest music in Melbourne.

Category: Bars & Clubs // Venue Type: Pub

Average user rating

(0 user review)

There is no average rating for this content currently.

Review This 1137527089877 places|vic|east%20brunswick|east%20brunswick%20club%20hotel
Pugg Mahones Irish Pub

171-175 Elgin St, Carlton

-37.802609 144.961814

Although a little out of the way for an Irish pub, Puggs has a plethora of beer choices and a enough kitsch to keep your grandmother happy.

Category: Bars & Clubs // Venue Type: Pub

Average user rating

(0 user review)

There is no average rating for this content currently.

Review This places|vic|carlton|pugg%20mahones%20irish%20pub
Northcote Social Club

301 High St, Northcote

-37.771448 144.998252

Live music is alive and kicking in the inner north at the Northcote Social Club – a legendary inner-city live music venue.

Category: Bars & Clubs, Restaurants // Venue Type: Bar, Pub // Mains from: $12.00 // Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average user rating

(0 user review)

There is no average rating for this content currently.

Review This places|vic|northcote|northcote%20social%20club

Do something with this page

0 User review (add yours)

User Feedback

Your Feedback

*Your rating

* required

*Your review (1000 characters max)