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WHAT'S NEW
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Every day is Earth Day
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Discover how Canadians are rising to the environmental challenge, and be inspired to make more of a difference yourself.
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By Alanna Mitchell
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Green: Even small steps leave a lighter footprint
1. Replace burned-out lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (or LED bulbs).
2. Don't idle your car. If you're pulling over for more than 20 seconds, it's worth stopping the engine.
3. Keep your car in good running condition. That means getting regular oil changes so you'll produce fewer emissions and making sure tires are properly inflated so you'll use less fuel.
4. Buy products that come in less packaging. Check that the packaging is recyclable.
5. Plug your TV and DVD player into a power bar and then switch off the power bar when you switch off the TV. These and other devices draw power even when off.
6. Disconnect your home's downspout from the municipal drains. When the rain flows straight into your yard or into cisterns, you have to water less and the earth regulates all that water before it floods your municipality's streams, rivers or lakes.
7. At least once a week, walk to do your errands instead of driving.
8. Use rotting leaves in your garden instead of peat moss. It's better to leave the peat in bogs, where it's helping the environment. See page 1 to find out why.
9. Recycle every last can, glass bottle, newspaper and whatever else your municipality allows.
10. In winter set your thermostat a few degrees lower while you sleep than during the day. In summer set your air conditioning a few degrees higher than you set your daytime temperatures during winter.
Greener: For those who want to take it to the next level
1. Replace your refrigerator with a new one if it isn't an Energy Star model. It's the costliest appliance in your house energywise, and a new one will pay for itself in energy savings.
2. Take reusable cloth bags to the grocery store so you don't have to use plastic bags.
3. Bike or walk to work once a month.
4. Install old-fashioned window awnings. They keep your house a lot cooler than drapes or blinds on the inside of windows. White reflects heat best.
5. Install a programmable thermostat so you can rack up energy savings automatically.
6. If you don't use your fireplace, have it insulated and blocked off so heat from the house doesn't get sucked up the chimney.
7. Buy your electricity from a supplier that sells renewable energy such as wind or solar.
8. Shop at farmer's markets to support the use of local farmland and avoid foods that have been shipped long distances.
9. Don't eat seafood unless you know that it was caught sustainably
(see "Logos to look for," below).
10. Give your yard a "makeunder." That means seeding native plants, which need little water or fertilizer and no pesticides. It's less work in the long run and provides living space for insects and birds.
Greenest: When you're ready for a real eco-commitment
1. Try using ceiling fans instead of air conditioning. To keep cool, use a dehumidifier, close drapes during the day and open windows at night.
2. Start a "free store" in your community stocked with hand-me-down clothing and sports gear. The principle is to give as often as you take.
3. For an entire month, only buy food grown in your own province. Try this during the summer.
4. Ask your office manager about making some changes at work, such as shutting off computers and lights when they're not being used; keeping office temperatures comfortable but not extreme (you shouldn't have to wear a sweater in summer); and setting up a green purchasing system for office supplies such as printer and copier paper that takes into account the energy costs of manufacturing and transporting goods. Check frogfile.ca for green office supplies.
5. Take a train to your next out-of-town meeting instead of driving or flying.
6. Invest in a new furnace if your old one is less than 80 to 90 per cent efficient.
7. Have a certified EnerGuide technician do an energy audit of your home. It's a program devised by the federal government to let homeowners know how they can save money on energy costs and cut down on emissions.
8. If it's time to replace your car, make fuel efficiency a key criterion. The most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market are small, lightweight cars and gasoline-electric hybrids. If your old car is running well, keep it tuned up; it may be easier on the earth's resources than manufacturing a new car.
9. Check that your attic is well ventilated and well insulated -- key to keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer.
10. Lobby your municipality to support a green roof program. Growing plants on roofs cools down buildings and absorbs carbon dioxide. Across neighbourhoods, this can make a real difference.
Logos to look for
 Forest Stewardship Council. The logo, which features a tree and a check mark, plus the letters FSC, tells the consumer that the wood or paper has come from a certified, well-managed forest. Many leading Canadian companies and retailers use only FSC products; see fsccanada.org/LeadingCompanies.htm for a list.
 Marine Stewardship Council. This is one to watch. So far, the designation applies to few products available in Canada. But as it becomes more common, it will tell you that fish are caught in ways that won't lead to their extinction. In the meantime, use the Seafood Watch list from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California at mbayaq.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch.
 Energy Star. This international sign of exceptional energy efficiency
can be put on a piece of machinery only after testing. It's the gold standard to look for when you're buying a new appliance. There are rebates and incentives for consumers who buy Energy Star goods. Check the federal government's website for an up-to-date list. The federal government also lists vehicles that are the most energy efficient through its EnerGuide for Vehicles program.
Page 2 of 2
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