Maitland City Council has backed the initiative to encourage businesses and households to become energy efficient as part of the global campaign established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972.

Countries from around the globe will mark the event, including Norway, Algeria, USA, Spain, Lebanon, China and the Russian Federation.

Auckland is the host city for this year’s international celebrations.

The theme for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy.

Council service planning and regulation group manager Leanne Harris said this year’s World Environment Day recognised climate change as a defining issue and encouraged individuals and businesses to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them.

“World Environment Day is about empowering people to make a difference,” she said.

“The event promotes an understanding of our role as individuals, groups and nations in addressing climate change and in creating tangible reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

“Maitland City Council is encouraging the community and local business to adopt some simple measures to address environmental change.

“If all of us take up these opportunities the cumulative and positive affect of our actions will be profound and a great contribution to a safer and more prosperous future.”

These measures include:

n replace traditional incandescent light globes with compact fluorescent globes

n use the star rating on appli ances to choose an energy efficient electrical appliance such as washing machines, fridge or dishwasher

n walk or ride a bike when travelling short distances

n insulate your home to reduce the need to heat and cool it. The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change is currently providing rebates for the installation of insulation in homes

n conserve hot water use

n consider the installation of a solar hot water system. Both the Australian Government and NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change are currently offering rebates for the installation of such systems in homes

n turn appliances off at the wall rather than leaving them in stand-by mode

n consider the use of “greenpower” rather than the use of traditional non-renewable power sources

n recycle where possible as reprocessing materials uses far less energy than creating items from scratch

n consider installing roof solar panels to provide energy to your home.