Know someone, a business or organisation that has been working hard to help the environment? Then why not nominate them for the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards 2008.

This is a national awards program that recognises businesses, local governments, organisations, community groups, individuals, schools and the media whose work serves to protect, manage or restore the environment.

Anyone can submit a nomination. Nominations close 2 May 2008.

A work colleague of mine is busily organising and promoting national Ride to Work Day. Watching him stick posters up around the office has reminded me to promote this worthwhile event.

According to the event’s organisers, the day will stimulate over 10,600 tonnes of greenhouse gas savings in the first three years. This is more than 2650 hot air balloons.

Besides the obvious health benefits, cycling just 10km each way to work instead of driving can save1.3 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

So if you can, get on your bike on October 17. Register at the site to be a participant or a work place co-ordinator. You will also go into the running to win some great prizes.

Can ordinary suburban households help save the planet? Find out by tuning into the Eco House Challenge, which begins April 11 on SBS TV at 7.30pm.

The show features two families trying to radically reduce their consumption to live more sustainably. The challenge — without warning four environmental hotspots (energy, water, transport and waste removal) are shut down until further notice. Both families are high consumers but will have eco coach Tanya Ha to help them out.

Viewers will also have a chance to take part in the challenge. Find out how.

Did you know that a regular light bulb can use up to 80 per cent more energy than a compact fluorescent bulb?

This not only increases your electricity bill but also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions if your electricity supply comes from fossil fuels, rather than green power.

Over a year, replacing a single incandescent bulb with an energy saving equivalent will save as much greenhouse gas as burning 55kg of coal. Also, regular light bulbs have a much shorter life span than compact fluorescents - for every compact fluorescent you’ll need 10 regular light bulbs. So it makes sense to start banning the bulb by switching your regular light globes for more efficient compact fluorescent ones.

Neco and Channel TEN are helping NSW town Tamworth to ban the bulb by replacing every standard incandescent bulb in Tamworth over the coming month. This is part of the Channel TEN Television show Cool Aid  The National Carbon Test.

Fancy banning the bulb in your city? You don’t have to be on television, just contact Neco, the program is free for councils and householders. For more information please email: mail@neco.com.au or call them on 1300 88 26 40 or visit the website.

Seventy per cent of water use in the Sydney, Illawara and Blue Mountains areas is due to households, not industry.

Therefore it is more crucial than ever to start conserving this most precious resource. Luckily, Sydney Water has a few initiatives to help people in these areas do just that.

If you are one of these people you can begin by water fixing your home for just $22. A qualified plumber will visit your home to install water saving devices and check for minor leaks. The service and products are worth $180, and they will really help you cut down on water use.

Although, the plumber could not fix new shower heads onto my showers due to the type of showers I had, he still fitted flow regulators into my showers and aerators into my taps to reduce my water use by half. However, be prepared to recieve less water - especially in the shower. He also did not have to install dual flushing mechanisms on my toilets because I already had them but he did manage to check over my property for any water leaks.

If you don’t want to fork out $22 then do it yourself for free. Sydney Water is offering free water saving kits that will help you save up to $50 a year on your water and energy bills. The kits contain easy-to-install devices for kitchen taps, bathroom taps and showers, along with instructions to help you install them.

If you are up for buying a new washing machine then Sydney Water will rebate you $150 if your new machine has a water efficiency rating of 4-star or 5A. But the rebate will only last until 1 March 2007.

How much does your lifestyle impact on the environment? Find out with the Australian Conservation Foundation’s (ACF) eco-calculator.

After answering a short questionnaire, the ACF calculates how much water, land and energy is used to support your lifestyle in one year. Find out how to reduce this impact by joining the ACF’s Green Home challenge.

However, ACF’s questions are a little limited if all aspects of green living are to be taken into account. Choice magazine, published by the Australian Consumers’ Association, offers a more comprehensive test.