If we CHOOSE, we can do it.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Earth Day...8 things you can start doing today!
Top climate saving actions to take in April
April is spring cleaning month - a time to get your home and garden ready for the warmer months ahead. It is also the perfect time to make some changes in your life to lighten your footprint on our planet! Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Enjoy the warmer weather and fresh spring air by walking and/or cycling more, instead of driving. If you walk or bike daily, you can save as much as $3,000 a year in gas, vehicle maintenance and parking!
2. Get your garden ready for summer by composting your kitchen and yard waste in your backyard. Or, if it's offered, separate your organic waste for weekly composting by your municipality.
3. Fight climate change by washing your clothes in cold water. They'll be just as clean and you'll save a lot of energy. Almost 90 per cent of the energy used to wash clothes goes into heating the water!
4. Instead of using your energy-guzzling clothes dryer, use a clothesline to hang up your clothes to dry. After the refrigerator, the clothes dryer is the top energy-using appliance in the house!
5. When your light bulbs burn out, make sure you replace them with CFL bulbs. CFL bulbs are 75 per cent more efficient and last eight times as long as standard bulbs!
6. Did you know that the average food item travels more than 2,000 kilometres before reaching your plate! Reduce greenhouse gases by filling your plate with locally grown fruits and vegetables.
7. When shopping, take a collection of reusable shopping bags with you so you're not using plastic bags, which create waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Remember, bags take from 20 to 1,000 years to break down!
8. After cleaning out your closets, donate your pre-loved items to a charity shop or invite your friends over for a clothing swap. Remember to re-use, repair, and re-wear clothing to reduce your fashion footprint!
It's a start...Have a green day!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
CFL's in your home
It is amazing to me, the amount of people I have spoken to, who say that they are doing there part to help save energy and help the environment. However, ACTIONS always speak louder then words.
One of the simplest ways to start is by switching your regular light bulbs to compact flourescent lightbulbs or energy star bulbs, CFL's.
The number one reason that people have for waiting to change their regular bulbs is because they are waiting for the regular bulb to burn out. It's like waiting for someone else to save the earth before you pitch in. If you wait you will continue to pay a premium for the energy you are using. Although small, the first place you should see the improvement is the hydro bill. The amount of kwH used will decrease with the new bulbs. Of course, hand in hand with this is the practice of turning off the lights in rooms you are not actually in.
Today, I took a walk around the house and outdoors and took inventory of what bulbs needed replacing and the proper wattage required to light the room comfortably. I also took into account the rooms with dimmers. A quick drive to the store and voila...instant savings and less energy used.
Take today or this week and look around. How many bulbs can you change? Today I did 5. Can you beat that?
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