Sustainability Street in Willoughby

A powerful tool for Councils undertaking sustainability education within their community.

Tony and Sally: Sustainability Street residents

Installed photovoltaic cells and a solar hot water heater

Built a no-dig vegetable garden

Switched to 100% GreenPower

Reduced carbon footprint by 11 tonnes C02 per year

Developed a proposal to Council for a Sustainable Building Display House.

Improvements in resident’s sustainability behaviours

Changes in behaviour due to the Sustainability Street program:

50% of households more energy efficient

Not just preaching to the converted!!!!

Sustainability measures Before participating in program

After participating in programHousehold with good-very

good energy efficiency rating

31% 69%

Home powered by 100% GreenPower

12% 35%

Think global, act local: Tonnes of CO2 saved

Sustainability Street residents saved 187 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

This is equal to taking 41 cars off the road each year!

Building community capacity

Community-run workshops

Regular columns in community newsletters

Sustainable street parties

New community partnerships

Sustainable Living Library Collection

Enhancing the sense of “community”

Community streetscape projects = focal point for community pride

Planting native species on nature strips

Willoughby’s Water-wise garden

Sustainable no-dig garden and mural

Sustainability St Garden: This picture was taken in the Artarmon Sustainability Street garden on a sunny morning, Sunday April 13. Mother and daughter, Fran and Clare, who live in a flat in Elizabeth Street, were spied having breakfast there. “We often come here for breakfast. It’s a beautiful place to sit and enjoy the herbs, the plants, how they grow and change, and even to watch the lizards scurry about”.

BeforeBefore

AfterAfter

Benefits for Council

Staff professional development

Cross-divisional capacity building

Community partnerships enhance Council programs

Improved community relations

Lessons learned about community engagement

The importance of a committed group initiator

Size doesn’t matter

Every community is different

Q: Need to engage with your community on

sustainability?A: Sustainability Street

www.aaeensw.org.au

www.sustainabilitystreet.org.au