Household water conservation education for 18-35 year-olds

GreenHome Water Education

Background and objectives

The GreenHome Water Education project is part of the Australian Conservation Foundation�s national GreenHome program which involves a series of community workshops and events that help Australians take action in their own lives and homes to save water, reduce greenhouse pollution and cut down on waste.

Supported by the Water for Life Education Program, this project builds on the GreenHome project by specifically engaging 18-35 year-olds throughout the greater metropolitan area and empowering them to involve others to save water.

Resources and tools

As part of this project the ACF has developed a suite of resources to assist environmental educators to run events aimed at 18-35yr-olds.

The new online resources can be downloaded and tailored for use. They include:

resources to run an eco-Sounds trivia night
presentations that were given at GreenHome lunchtime workshops
short films showing what participants learnt
water saving tips poster
comprehensive GreenHome guidebook
new research reports including focus groups with 18-35yr-olds and a literature review of communication techniques for this age group
the final project report.

Project activities

There are two main project components:

Water conservation for a younger audience of 18-35yr-olds
Exending the GreenHome Program

Water conservation for a younger audience of 18-35yr-olds
According to the DECC survey Who Cares about the Environment in 2006, younger people (especially generation-y adults aged 18�25) are less likely to think that water conservation is the most important issue in NSW (35% compared to 59-64%) than other age groups. This is also reflected in significantly lower levels of engagement in pro-environmental water related behaviours.

This project was designed to encourage younger adults in generation x (25~35 year olds) and generation y demographics to save water at home and use their social and professional networks to involve others to adopt and promote water conservation actions.

The project methodology included:

secondary research of recent literature and existing programs
original primary research via focus groups to design events/seminars/workshops and multi-media and online communication more specific to mainstream generation x and generation y demographics
three eco-sounds events: a unique combination of social setting, live music and incidental education via informative eco-trivia competition linked to ACF�s GreenHome Guide
a sequence of seminars ranging from informal to formal in style with varying content focussing on Sydney�s water issues, detailed urban water solutions or water saving tips
television program segments were produced with and broadcast by Seven�s Sunrise, Sky News Eco-Report and Channel 31�s Making The Switch programs
a set of three video clips on eco-sounds

Feedback on the events run includes:

"[the EcoSounds event] got a lot of our group thinking � particularly about the differences between a front and top loading washing machine."
"How much water goes into making food was the new thing for the night."
"I�ll use the shower timer � 4 minute showers � yeah that�s reasonable I think."
"A lot of our team members are thinking � how can I do things differently at home to save water."

Extending the GreenHome Progam

The water component of the NSW GreenHome program was extended by helping to design and deliver water workshops and expanding and tailoring the water content in the program materials. This program is also a component of the NSW Government�s Environmental Trust funded by Our Environment- It�s A Living Thing sustainability education partnership program, and has demonstrated successful water savings outcomes.

Outcomes and successes

The detailed project report contains evaluation of the project outcomes.

How to get involved & find out more

Resources and more information can be downloaded online

For more information or to request a hardcopy of resources contact Clea Warneminde on (02) 8270 9901 or by email at c.warneminde@acfonline.org.au.

This project has been funded by the NSW Government�s Climate Change Fund as part of the Water for Life Education Program.