A low carbon program that has helped cut the carbon emissions of more than 80 Mountains businesses is about to go national.
The success of Low Carbon Living - Blue Mountains has inspired the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute to launch the program nationwide on March 22.
Low Carbon Living Australia will encourage 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 the program include the Margaret River-Busselton region in Western Australia, Byron Bay, Central Australia and Kangaroo Island.
Ecotourism Australia is supporting the initiative, together with UNSW Sydney’s Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living.
Executive director of the institute, Dr John Merson, said: “We’re doing this to support communities, businesses and individuals who want to take positive steps to address climate change.”
Thirty businesses in the Mountains joined the Low Carbon Living pilot program. 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 … and we expect the initiative will be equally successful in the Southern Highlands and other regions,” Dr Merson said.
Businesses which have benefitted from the program – not only reducing emissions but also saving money on energy costs – include Scenic World, the Rooster restaurant, Carrington Hotel, Hydro Majestic, Lilianfels and Echoes in Katoomba and Parklands in Blackheath.
Steps taken have included improving insulation, installing rainwater tanks, sourcing food locally, recycling waste, replacing lights with LEDs and putting in water-saving low flow shower heads.
“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.
Dr Merson said research undertaken as part of the program showed 82 per cent of visitors and 91 per cent of residents would choose a local business that has made an effort to reduce its carbon footprint.
The research also found 50 per cent of visitors would choose a low carbon destination over one not known for reducing its carbon impact.
The launch of the national scheme is at Scenic World in Katoomba on Thursday, March 22 from 5-7pm. More information see www.bmwhi.org.