How often lately have you heard politicians and media talking about climate change, greenhouse gases, water shortages, global warming, nuclear power, solar power, wind power, and energy efficiencies?

These hotly debated issues now see water policy and climate change being in our top news items.

Insurance companies and financial institutions are also seeking innovations to their policies and loans that address these issues and the environment.

Driving this trend towards environmental issues by corporations and government are the increased risks and clear signals of drought, warmer sea temperatures, unusual weather conditions, tsunami, changes to polar ice and limited new oil discoveries.

These trends will affect you and me – all of us – singularly and collectively because it is now being agreed that human effect is the primary cause of climate change. Therefore, the primary focus of the debate is to address how we all can use our resources more efficiently and live safer.

What is Climate Change?

Climate change is the alteration of the world's climatic patterns. Our current trend is towards global warming which means that the surface of the earth is getting hotter. This is happening at a rate faster than in any century in 10,000 years.

In other words, our current industrialised way of living is speeding up the heat of our home.

The good news is that our effects are reversible if we each incorporate some positive changes to the everyday things that we do. This means families, individuals, farmers, builders, companies and government agencies - everyone.

The target is for us collectively to reduce our negative effect on the atmosphere by 60% across the next 40 years.

Over the next few months I will offer some information to help translate the political and scientific speak that is mainly doom and gloom into simpler lingo with positive actions we can all apply to our homes and lifestyle.

If you think about it, we don't consider energy in terms of coal, nuclear or solar or what the greater effects are when we add more gadgets and operate them less efficiently.

We simply want to turn on a light, get from A to B, run our latest gadget, have a hot coffee, cold beer or a warm bath.

We can easily do some things differently that will enable us to each play an important role towards reaching the 60% target while protecting our home.

Here are five tips to begin with:

1. Reduce your personal waste

If you've taken waste to Birkdale transfer station you will have discovered the best view in Redlands. This mountain wasn't built for our scenic pleasure rather it shows how much stuff we throw away.

An enormous proportion of greenhouse gases come from landfill sites. We can each help reach the 60% target by taking time to consider what we buy and how we use it.

2. Reduce your electrical waste

Did you know you spend 10% of your electrical bill by NOT using most of your appliances? Turn off standby buttons on appliances such as tvs and computer monitors.

Write to the electrical industry asking them to remove these buttons from appliances.

Buy efficient fridges, washing machines etc and check that seals and other parts are in good condition.

3. Ask for Cleaner and Renewable Energy

Solar and wind power are constantly renewable, easy to get and cheaper to use. You can help meet the 60% target by installing solar hot water systems, solar panels for power or getting Greenpower from your energy provider. Write to the government and the energy industry asking them to cost Greenpower at the same rate or cheaper than coal or other non renewable sources. NB Effective 1 July, Queensland homes and small businesses can nominate their preferred electricity supplier

4. Ask for and use improved methods of transport

This includes energy efficient cars and improved public transport

5. Make your home less energy intensive

Ensure your home is insulated, oriented for good breezes, air flow and minimal western summer sun. Reduce hot colours for roofs, driveways, walls and plant shading and water tolerant trees. Treeless spaces will easily raise the temperature of daytime surfaces while shading trees will absorb the radiation into their canopies. While we often wait until things are dire or for incentives before we make change it is also possible that we can make our own change by easily doing simple things that will help us achieve the 60% target.