Two ‘Big Hits’

If you live in Canada, most of your personal greenhouse gas emissions likely originate from your home and your vehicle. Home upgrades and efficient vehicles can be significant investments, but both pay off handsomely through energy savings and greatly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. So here are two ways you can make big reductions in your personal impact on the planet:

AT HOME - Make your home more efficient: All Canadian homeowners can get grants through Natural Resources Canada’s ECO-Energy program . According to Natural Resources Canada, homes over 25 years old have the potential to save 35% of their energy use. Basement insulation, attic insulation, air sealing, wall insulation and, in some cases, doors and windows are typically the most cost-effective upgrades.

Specifically: Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs): Traditional incandescent light bulbs are only about 10% - they produce far more heat than light. In comparison, CFLs use about one-fourth the energy to give the same amount of light. Plus, CFLs last for years. Turn out the lights: In fact, go a step further and turn off anything when it is not being used, including computers, stereos and televisions.

Use less air conditioning: Air conditioning reduces mileage and produces greenhouse gases. As an alternative, try using fresh air settings on the highway and roll down your windows to enjoy fresh air at lower speeds.
Install a low flow shower head: Hot water represents 20% of a home’s energy use, and you can save a lot by installing a shower head that uses much less water but still provides a pleasant shower.

Wash clothes in cold water: Many of today’s laundry detergents have been developed specifically for cold water use, so you can count on clean clothes and significant savings.

Use a clothesline: A dryer is one of the biggest users of energy in a home. A clothesline can do the same job for free. It’s the original solar energy collector!

Choose locally produced food: Local food not only helps out producers in your community, but it’s better for the environment because it doesn’t need to be transported halfway round the world.

Compost: Turn veggie trimmings and other organic waste into fertilizer for your garden. It’s simple and odor-free, and it reduces garbage transportation and landfill costs.

Don’t throw it away: To trim your bin, compost your kitchen waste, avoid products wrapped in excess packaging, and recycle as much waste paper, glass, metal and plastic as you can. Donate larger unwanted items to your local charity shop or offer them on one of the many ‘give away’ websites springing up.

Plant a tree. Grow a garden: All plants absorb CO2 from the air, and trees are especially good at it: one tree can absorb one tonne over its lifetime. Gardening is a great way for young children to interact with nature in a meaningful and rewarding way. Fast-growing sunflowers are always popular with young gardeners, while city kids with no garden of their own will enjoy growing other easy-care varieties from seed in flowerpots on a windowsill.

Reduce, reuse, recycle in that order: Consider grocery bags: it’s best to use cloth bags, reducing the need for plastic bags; second best to reuse your plastic bags; and third best to recycle plastic bags. But any of the 3 Rs are better than simply discarding. The same logic applies to most things we buy or use.

Bring your own bag: 80 per cent of shoppers use new bags each time they shop at the supermarket. This convenience comes at a high environmental cost, but you can make a difference by getting into the habit of using canvas bags or ‘bags for life’ when you shop. If possible, recycle your old plastic bags or reuse them for dirty diapers, sports kits, bike seat covers – your imagination’s the limit!

Break the bottle habit: Manufacturing and even recycling plastic water bottles uses energy and every year in Canada we throw away over a billion of them! It’s not worth the waste. A less expensive and more earth-friendly alternative to buying bottled water is to fill reusable aluminum or stainless steel bottles with tap water, then chill in the fridge.

ON THE ROAD: Use your BMW (bike, metro, walk) - take public transport.
If/when you drive: Drive less: Carpool to work with a neighbor or colleague if you can for an instant fuel saving of 50%. Better still, take public transportation if it’s available. Do all your errands in one trip. Organize neighborhood carpools for getting the kids to and from their activities.High potential for making a big impact quickly.

Drive gently: Want to save 10-20% on your gas bill right away? Imagine there’s an egg taped under the toes of your right foot, and try not to smash the egg as you drive. Accelerate gently instead of tramping on it, and ease off sooner as you approach a stop. Find and use the free kilometers along your route, places where you can coast downhill without losing speed or slowing traffic. High potential for making a big impact quickly.
Drive an energy efficient vehicle: Hybrid cars can go about 3 times as far on a liter of fuel as a typical sport utility vehicle, van or pickup truck. Check vehicle fuel efficiency ratings at www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca to find the most fuel efficient vehicle that meets your needs.

Telecommute. If it’s an option, work from home. Zero traffic, zero fuel used, zero time wasted en route.
Car Pool: Share rides for community and children to school.

Remove excess weight: every 100 pounds means 1% to 2% less fuel consumed.

Use the AC sparingly: can result in an overall reduction of 2% to 5%.

Commit to ‘zero-idling’: Idling more than 10 seconds wastes fuel and is hard on today’s engines. Use the ‘10 second rule’ to save money and reduce air pollution.

Avoid drive-throughs: Each year, Canadians burn millions of liters of fuel idling at drive-throughs. It’s much more eco-friendly to park and go inside - and it’s often faster too!

Avoid (ab)using remote starters A cold engine is ready to go after just 30 seconds of idling, and idling any longer wastes fuel. The best way to warm up the entire car is to drive it.

Check your tire pressure monthly: Under-inflated tires reduce your vehicle’s gas mileage, and over-inflated tires wear out prematurely.

AT WORK - Suggest a workplace audit = Up to 30% reduction in emissions.

THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY

1. Write your elected representatives: Let our leaders know that you support policies and programs to fight climate change. It’s up to each of us - in big ways or small, each of us can change our corner of the world and make a difference.
2. Write your local newspaper (op-ed or letter to the editor)
3. Talk to your family and neighbours
4. Learn More e.g. Tim Flannery’s The Weather Makers www.theweathermakers.com/

For more information www.desireemcgraw.com

WHAT I WILL DO TO FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING

Today:

This week:

This month:

This year:

This lifetime:

Signed __________________________ Date ________________________