Posted 1 March 2018 - 4:07pm
Eighty Blue Mountains businesses have adopted low-carbon practices thanks to a CRC for Low Carbon Living project due to be rolled out across Australia this month.
Low Carbon Living Australia, an initiative of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, will launch nationwide on 22 March 2018.
Low Carbon Living encourages hotels, cafes, restaurants, tourism operators and community organisations in tourism hotspots such as the Southern Highlands and the Hunter Valley to lower their carbon footprint by reducing waste, energy consumption and water use.
Other regions well positioned to quickly benefit from Low Carbon Living include the Margaret River- Busselton region, Byron Bay, Central Australia and Kangaroo Island.
“We’re doing this to support communities, businesses and individuals who want to take positive steps to address climate change,” said Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute executive director Dr John Merson.
The Low Carbon Living pilot program started with 30 businesses in the Blue Mountains and has steadily grown. Each business was rated on its waste output and energy and water use and provided with recommendations on how to lower their carbon footprint.
“We now have over 80 businesses involved in Low Carbon Living, Blue Mountains, and we expect the initiative will be equally successful in the Southern Highlands and other regions,” Dr Merson said.
“This program empowers everyone to address climate change by making positive decisions about their use of resources, where they shop and what services they support.”
Dr Merson said research undertaken as part of the Low Carbon Living program shows 82% of visitors and 91% of residents would choose a local business that has made an effort to reduce its carbon footprint. The research also found 50% of visitors would choose a low carbon destination over one not known for reducing its carbon impact.
CRC for Low Carbon Living Program Leader Associate Professor Alistair Sproul will speak at the launch of Low Carbon Living Australia.
Please register here.