At Taste Gourmet Grocer and Cafe, we are personally and professionally committed to doing what we can to assist promoting a sustainable environment and we are implementing programs to show our support of this principle. We firmly believe that even though we are a very small business, if we do our little bit, and you do your little bit, very soon it will addd up to a big bit being done!
As we keep finding new ways to improve out committment to sustainability, we will tell you about them on this page. And when we see new ideas and things that you too might be able to participate in, we will include those as well.
We have a number of initiatives, including offering cloth, paper and biodegradeable plastic bags, we have an extensive recycling program, and we purchase Green Power. We also support projects that promote sustainability, including the upcoming Earth Hour. See below or click on this link for more details!
Please feel free to send us your thoughts and comments along the way!
Shopping Bags
We use only 100% biodegradable plastic shopping bags
We offer paper bags
Recycling
We recycle our paper, cardboard, tins, plastics and packaging
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT!
There are lots of simply and effective ways for you to help combat global warming and assist in greating a sustainable enviroment. Here a few suggestions to get you started. First of all, find our more!
May we suggest on a personal note, if you haven't yet seen Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth, (click for more information about the documentary) do yourself and your kids a favour and take a look. It's now available on DVD. If you have already seen it, you'll know why we are are trying to doing our bit. Make sure you receommend it to those who haven't seen it!
There are lots of ways you can save energy and reduce your emissions everyday!
At Home
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and reduce emissions. Lighting accounts for around 5% of household greenhouse gas emissions, and compact fluros use 75% less energy than an equivalent incandescent bulb. Although the bulbs cost more up-front, you will actually save money through the energy saved and extended life of the bulb.
Turn appliances off standby - Unplug any appliances - mobile phone charger, TV, microwave, MP3 player - which are not being used and are on standby. Appliances on standby consume up to 10% of your electricity bill.
Turn off anything that doesn't need to be on. A good rule is to turn off anything not being used. When you leave a room or leave the house, turn off your lights or appliances like the TV or computer.
Switch to Greenpower - Do what we have done. Contact your electricity provider today and switch to GreenPower, a cleaner, renewable form of energy that does not contribute to global warming. If all Australians switched to GreenPower today, Australia's total greenhouse pollution would be cut by 30% in one year. That's the equivalent of more than 40 million cars!
At work, get off standby - speak to your office manager about turning off any equipment at work that is not being used, including computer screens, photocopiers and printers.
Before you leave the office each day, remember to turn of any lights in your workspace and your computer.Remember to unplug your mobile phone or laptop charger when it's not in use.
Taste Gourmet Supports Earth Hour
Taste Gourmet Grocer and Cafe was pleased to support and participate in world's first Earth Hour in March 2007. We were the first business on the NSW Central Coast to sign up for Earth House, and signed up again up for 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Earth Hour 2007 was a Sydney region event. Earth Hour 2010 is a global movement. We are pleased once again to be a supporter and participant.
Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming.
This simple act has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world. As a result, at 8pm on the 29 March, 2008 millions of people in some of the world’s major capital cities, including Copenhagen, Toronto, Chicago, Melbourne, Brisbane, Tel Aviv and Manila will unite and switch off for Earth Hour.
Climate change is the most significant threat to life on Earth. One way to slow the current rate of global warming is to get each individual to make small adjustments to the way they live. To achieve individual change we need to demonstrate how simple and easy the changes are.
The Objectives
Get as many individuals, households and businesses as possible to turn off their lights as a symbolic statement about the greatest contributor to climate change (coal-fired electricity).
Educate the community on the threat of global warming and what each individual can do to make a difference in their day-to-day activities to reduce their emissions
Get corporate participants to communicate Earth Hour through internal and external channels and commit to turn off their lights on the night
Provide precedent for an annual event and seek involvement from other cities across Australia and around the world
Measure the change in Sydney’s greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for a 5% reduction in the year following Earth Hour.
The Message
Commercial Sector
If Australia’s commercial sector turned off lights when buildings weren’t in use and combined this action with other cost effective technology they could reduce lighting emissions by 70%, this would save 2-4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Earth Hour aims to show these companies how easy and cost efficient these changes can be through case studies of companies that have already achieved massive reductions in their emissions. Earth Hour is working with 3CBDs, a City of Sydney initiative which aims to reduce the climate change impact of office buildings.
Households
We want each individual to understand that electricity consumption is a direct contributor to global warming and that small actions by every individual can make a big difference. When households sign up to take part in Earth Hour they will receive a pack with all the information and tools they need to cut their emissions (and their energy bill).
If all Australian households simply turned off unused lighting and appliances on standby at the power point it would reduce Australia’s emissions by at least 5 million tonnes per annum.
The Facts
69% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions come from energy production (CSIRO)
October 2006 was by far the hottest October on record for NSW with the state wide average maximum temperature more than 3.2ºC above the historical averageof 24.4ºC (records since 1950). Australian Government- Bureau of Meteorology.
Why do we need to act?
Global warming is one of the greatest threats Australia has ever faced. Our continued reliance on electricity sourced from coal-fired power stations is causing a dramatic increase in the Earth's temperature, resulting in rising sea levels, an increase in drought and severe storms, and massive changes to the environment we all rely on to survive. If all Australian households simply turned off unused lights and appliances on standby at the power point, Australia's emissions would be reduced by at least 5 million tonnes per annum. The greenhouse gas savings would be equivalent to taking 1.5 million cars off the road for a year
Why should we participate?
We've all heard about global warming and it's sometimes hard to see what we, individually, can do. Earth Hour is a great way to show your commitment to our goal of reducing Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions and to tackle the climate crisis. Earth Hour will work best if as many people participate as possible, so everyone's participation is vital to making the event a success.
What does Earth Hour mean for our business?
Earth Hour is not about us telling you what to do.Earth Hour is about individual action.We want you to tell us what your business or community is doing to support Earth Hour and reduce energy usage within the workplace / community.
will give you more tips and hints of what you can do on the night, and also give you an opportunity to share your ideas about how to spend Earth Hour.
Will all electricity be turned off during Earth Hour?
No – we are only asking for lights to be turned off. Businesses should adhere to OH&S standards and security and emergency lighting (where required) should remain on.
Isn't switching the lights off dangerous? What about public safety?
We are asking people to turn off non-essential lights for one hour - no lights that affect public safety will be turned off. We want everyone to enjoy Earth Hour in a safe and energy efficient environment.
Will there be road closures?
No, there will not be any road closures.Earth Hour is about a celebration of individual and community action.We hope you will all celebrate the evening with your friends and families in a safe environment.
Will street lights remain on?
It is important that Earth Hour is celebrated in a safe and secure environment, so we will not be turning off any of the street lights, nor any lights in public spaces (which may impact on public safety), nor hospitals or emergency services.Earth Hour is about living in a modern world whilst doing the right thing.
Earth Hour is fully supported by all Sydney’s emergency services, including RTA, Police, Fire and Ambulances.
Does this mean I have to turn of everything in my home and use absolutely no electricity?
Not at all. The main point of this campaign is to show people and companies how easy it is to take action to avoid global warming.
This does not mean you have to turn off your fridge, but we do encourage you to join the rest of Sydney by switching off your lights and make a statement, as well as changing your habits in the long term.
How much CO2 will be saved during the event?
We will be measuring how much energy is saved during Earth Hour - but the main aim of the campaign is to continue to be energy efficient beyond Earth Hour, making small actions everyday, to achieve our goal of a 5% reduction in Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions in 2007.
Aren't you using a heap of electricity and resources to promote this event?
Earth Hour is operating under our Principles of Operation, which we are happy to share with you. Earth Hour is a carbon neutral event.
If everyone turns their lights back on at the same time – will there be a power surge?
No
How can I find out more?
www.earthhour.orgwill be a way in which you can show your commitment to Earth Hour, and to sign up to receive an Earth Hour pack which will give you more information about Earth Hour, hint and tips on how to live a sustainable life, and ideas on how to spend Earth Hour.
Taste Gourmet Grocer & Cafe is committed to building a sustainable enviroment. Click here to see what else we are doing and how you can help!
WINNER - Best Café - Central Coast 2007 Business Awards WINNER - Employee Excellence - Central Coast 2007 Business Awards 2008 + 2007 Finalist - Outstanding Café - 2007 Central Coast Sun Weekly Business Awards 2008 + 2007 Finalist - Gourmet Food & Delicatessen - Central Coast Business Awards
GREEN TASTE
