Take Action Against Climate Change
There are literally hundreds of everyday actions you can take against climate change. These tips are currently appearing in the regional EMC and Smiths Falls This Week newspapers.
HOME HEATING AND COOLING
TRANSPORTATION
SOLID WASTE
IN THE HOME
LIGHTING
KITCHEN
LAUNDRY
REFRIGERATORS/FREEZERS
OTHER APPLIANCES
WATER IN THE HOME
AT THE OFFICE
OFFICE / HOME OFFICE
1. Upgrade your old inefficient wood stove for an EPA woodstove, use 30% less wood, produce 90% fewer emissions and get $600 back from ecoENERGY and the Ontario government.
2. Think you can't afford a new furnace that will cut your heating bills by 20-25%? Think again. With an ecoENERGY audit, you could access up to $1,000 towards that furnace.
3. Installing a heat recovery ventilator could earn you a rebate of $600.
4. Have a licensed, independent energy advisor perform a residential energy assessment to identify how your home uses energy and where it is being wasted. Call (613) 283-9500.
5. Use a programmable thermostat to turn the heat down to 17 degrees while you're sleeping or away. For every degree you turn it down, you can save 2% on your energy bills.
6. Set your air conditioner to 24oC. Each degree below that uses 3-5% more energy.
7. Upgrade your insulation in your walls, basement and attic and reduce energy use by as much as 30%.
8. Thermo-insulated blinds and drapes guard against heat loss in winter, reducing drafts and saving energy.
9. Check your chimney! Flue dampers should fit snugly and be closed when not in use. If you never use your fireplace, put in a flue plug.
10. Homes that are more than 25 years old have the potential to save an average of 35 percent of their energy use.
11. Use a timer to turn on your car's block heater only two hours before you plan to drive and save energy.
12. In stop and go traffic, car air conditioner use can increase fuel consumption by up to 20 percent. Do you really need it?
13. Check the air in your tires. Maintaining proper tire pressure can save you $50 a year in fuel costs.
14. Do you need to drive your child to school? Car pool, have children walk together, or use the school bus and reduce emissions.
15. Save time and travel costs by using a conference call for meetings. Less travel leads to fewer car or plane emissions, and less pollution.
16. Don’t idle! Switch off your vehicle engine if you will be stopped for more than 10 seconds, except in traffic.
17. Be a smooth driver. Harsh acceleration and braking can use up to 30% more fuel.
18. Roof racks, excess weight, snow and ice buildup all increase fuel consumption.
19. A poorly tuned engine can use up to 50% more fuel than a well-tuned one.
20. Never burn garbage in wood stoves, burn barrels or pits.
21. Close the loop! Look for products made from recycled materials in addition to recycling your own waste.
22. Landfills release methane, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere as they decompose. Aim to create less waste and compost your own kitchen waste.
23. Watch for local announcements on Christmas tree pickup after the holidays.
24. Use your municipality’s community compost site.
25. Watch for announcements about leaf and brush pickup in the fall.
26. The Ontario government is offering a point-of-sale retail sales tax exemption for ENERGY STAR® appliances purchased, rented or leased before July 20, 2008.
27. The federal and Ontario governments have combined programs that will provide up to $10,000 for home energy retrofits that include ENERGY STAR qualified furnaces for heating, solar domestic water systems, insulation and other improvements.
28. The Ontario government has extended the retail sales tax rebate on qualifying solar, wind, micro hydro-electric and geothermal equipment to January 1, 2010.
29. Rent a Kill-a-Watt meter from your local library to determine the energy consumption of some of your home's appliances.
30. Take advantage of the grants available for home energy upgrades. Locally, call (613) 283-9500.
31. If your refrigerator is more than 10 years old, it could be using twice the energy of a new one and costing you twice as much in power bills.
32. Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use.
33. Consider buying green power. You buy electricity from the grid and the company injects clean renewable wind and water-power energy back into the grid.
34. If you have a swimming pool or hot tub, you can use solar power to cut pool heating costs. Most solar pool heating systems are cost competitive with conventional systems.
35. When purchasing appliances, remember they have two price tags: purchase price and lifetime energy cost.
36. Operate holiday lights for no more than six evening hours a day using a timer.
37. Switching just 5 incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescents could save you $30 a year.
38. Check the Canadian Organic Growers and ecoPerth on the web for their lists of local and organic food suppliers.
39. Take down the Christmas lights after the holidays:)
40. Check the Ontario Natural Foods Coop and Mountain Path for food buying clubs in the region or to start your own.
41. When choosing a new appliance, compare the EnerGuide labels to compare the efficiency of models.
42. Chest freezers are more energy efficient than upright models.
43. A refrigerator accounts for 11% of your household energy use - use it wisely!
44. Unplugging your second refrigerator could save you $80 a year.
45. Using dimmer, motion sensors and timers on your lighting can save you $60 a year.
46. Look for Energy Star appliances that are the most energy-efficient in their class.
47. Take care to insulate hot water pipes that pass through unheated basements and crawl spaces.
48. Turn off the hot water heater in your cottage when not needed.
49. Use your solar and wind powered clothes drier - the clothesline. An electric clothes dryer costs $80 a year to run.
50. When it’s time to replace your hot water tank, buy the most efficient one possible. Consider a tankless, on-demand system
51. Installing a high efficiency water heater can save you $100 a year.
52. Fixing a hot water leak of one drop per second can save you $36 a year.
53. A refrigerator bought today is 40% more efficient than a model purchased 10 years ago.
54. Replace your toilet with a low-flush or dual-flush toilet rated at 6 litres per flush or less.
55. Installing a solar powered water preheater could qualify you for a $1,000 rebate.
56. An insulating cover on your hot water heater can save you up to 15% on your water heating costs.
57. Use your dishwasher’s no heat or air-drying cycle, or just open the door to let the dishes air dry.
58. Place the faucet lever to the cold position when using small amounts of water; using the hot position uses energy to heat the water even though it may never reach the faucet.
59. Front loading washing machines use 40% less water than top loading models.
60. A low flow showerhead can save you $100 a year on your water heating bill.
61. Limit your use of gas powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers and snow blowers. Typical gas mowers produce as much air pollution in a season as a car driven 550 kilometres.
62. Screen savers do not reduce energy use by monitors. Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off is always the better energy-saving strategy.
63. Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use much less energy than desktop computers.
64. As much as 40% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Unplug the appliance or use a power strip you can shut off.
65. Aim to use the phone or videoconferencing in place of business trips.
66. Change over incandescent or fluorescent exit signs with LED exit signs.
67. Ink-jet printers use 90 percent less energy than laser printers.
68. Flat-panel liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors use considerably less electricity than comparably-sized CRT models.
69. If you have to buy a CRT monitor, buy the smallest monitor that will meet your needs. A 17-inch monitor consumes 35 percent more electricity than a 14-inch monitor.
70. Reduce the operating time of your pool filter and automatic cleaning sweep.
71. Cover or remove window air conditioners to avoid heat and energy loss over the winter.
72. Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces.
73. A new home provides the best opportunity for designing and orienting the home to take advantage of the sun’s rays.
74. Air leaks can account for 20-30% of your home's heat loss. Weatherstrip doors and windows and seal other leaks.
75. A large window fan costs one-fifth as much as an air conditioner and uses only one quarter of the energy.
76. Clean air conditioner coils and compressor compartments regularly.
77. Check for cracks around plumbing, lighting fixtures and electrical outlets that can leak air.
78. Change your ceiling fan direction to push warm ceiling air down in the winter.
79. An energy efficient furnace can save up to 25% of your home heating costs.
80. If your attic has enough insulation and your home still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer, chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls as well.
81. If using an air conditioner in a room with more than one window, install it in the window on the shady side of the house; a window unit in direct sun uses as much as 10% more energy.
82. Whether you use room or central air, replace any unit 10 years or older with an ENERGY STAR unit, which are typically 8% above the standard efficiency.
83. Install rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls.
84. Seal holes in the attic that lead down into the house, such as open wall tops and duct, plumbing, or electrical runs.
85. Close off heating and cooling vents and doors of unoccupied rooms of the house.
86. The easiest and most cost-effective way to insulate your home is to add insulation in the attic.
87. Make sure all heating vents are opened and unblocked by furniture or other items. This will ensure that the air is evenly distributed through the home.
88. Through-the-door mail slots can be a large source of heat loss. Seal it off and use an outside letter box.
89. In winter, leave curtains or blinds open during the day to receive passive solar heat, and close them at dusk to reduce the heat loss.
90. On hot summer days, keep blinds lowered, curtains and windows closed from early morning.
91. Sufficient insulation can increase your comfort and reduce your cooling costs up to 30 percent.
92. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs last six to 10 times longer than traditional lighting and generate 70 percent less heat.
93. Keep lamps or TVs away from the air conditioner thermostat. The heat they generate will cause your air conditioner to run longer, running up bills unnecessarily.
94. On hot days, delay heat-producing activities such as dish washing and using the oven until the evening.
95. Buying new windows? Ask about air leakage and glazing systems with special low-e coatings, and gas fill between the panes.
96. Install energy efficient windows and doors.
97. Plan to car pool for meetings, kids activities and social events.
98. Look for opportunities to walk, bike, use public transport or car pool instead of taking the car.
99. Combine errands into one trip. Several short trips, each one taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
100. Consider a smaller, more fuel-efficient car for your next vehicle purchase to save money and reduce pollutants.
101. Don’t buy a bigger vehicle than you need.
102. Holiday closer to home and avoid unnecessary air travel, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
103. Your car produces 3.5 times its weight every year in carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change. Try car pooling!
104. Poorly maintained cars account for half of our smog producing emissions. Tune it up and help clear the air.
105. Reduce your speed and use the cruise control. For every 10 kilometre reduction in speed, you'll save 10% on your fuel costs.
106. Burning treated or painted wood in your fireplace lets toxic smoke go up the chimney and into the air we all breathe.
107. Let manufacturers know you don't want overpackaged products by writing or calling their toll-free numbers.
108. Buy products in bulk to reduce packaging waste. Share with someone else.
IN THE HOME
109. Make sure that bulbs, fixtures, lenses, lamps and reflective surfaces are cleaned regularly. By removing grease, dust and other dirt, you can increase the output of your lights.
110. Use task lighting to focus light where you need it instead of lighting the entire room.
111. Three way lamps make it easy to keep lighting low or bright as necessary.
112. Exterior lighting is one of the best places to use Compact fluorescent lights's because of their long life.
113. Motion-sensitive exterior lighting is a good way to save energy.
114. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary incandescent bulbs and use about one-quarter the energy.
115. Install 2-way switches in halls and stairways so lights can be switched off from different locations.
116. Switch to LED lighting for holiday decorating. It lasts longer, uses less energy, and there is less fire hazard.
117. Nothing is more energy efficient for cooking than your microwave. It uses two-thirds less energy than your stove.
118. Match pot lids to pots, and pots to element size.
119. When using your oven, try to cook several items at the same time.
120. Glass and ceramic cookware decrease cooking temperatures by an average 15o C.
121. Self-cleaning ovens use less energy for normal cooking because of the higher insulation levels built into them.
122. Keep range-top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better, and you will save energy.
123. The microwave uses less energy than conventional ovens. In general, smaller appliances use less energy to do the same job.
124. Choose local, organic and seasonal food whenever possible.
125. Cooking from fresh ingredients helps avoid transportation and packaging costs.
126. Rethink oven use: avoid preheating, avoid opening it, and turn off heat shortly before food is ready.
127. Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.
128. Wash and dry full loads. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.
129. Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.
130. Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
131. Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire.
132. Consider air-drying clothes on clothes lines or drying racks.
133. Switch to a cooler washing machine temperature. Much of the energy used is for heating the water.
134. Use the automatic moisture sensor on your electric clothes dryer, to shut it off as soon as the clothes are dry.
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HOME - REFRIGERATORS/FREEZERS
135. Insulate your hot water heater and the first two meters of the hot and cold water pipes from the heater.
136. Unplug the "beer fridge". Older models are known energy hogs.
137. Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
139. Check refrigerator seals by closing them on a piece of paper. If it pulls out easily, make a service call.
140. Make sure the fridge is away from the oven, dishwasher or direct sunlight and clean the coils at the back.
141. Don't let your freezer build up more than 6 mm of frost. Defrost it regularly for maximum efficiency.
142. Refrigerator motors and compressors generate heat, so allow enough space for continuous airflow around your refrigerator
143. Set your refrigerator temperature between 1.7 and 3.3°C (35-38°F) and the freezer compartment at -18°C (0°F) for maximum efficiency and food safety.
144. Position the freezer away from all sources of heat. And make sure your freezer is at least 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 in.) out from the wall so that air can move freely around the unit.
145. Keep your freezer full; full freezers take less energy than when partly full.
146. Fully defrost and clean the inside of your freezer at least once a year.
HOME - OTHER APPLIANCES
147. Avoid phantom power usage from leaving TV’s and stereo equipment in standby mode by using a power bar.
148. Unplug equipment once recharged, as electricity is drawn even when the battery is full.
149. Look for a high efficiency water heater unit.
150. When your family size changes up or down, reconsider the size of your water heater.
151. Turn off the electric water heater when you are away for more than a week. It saves money, and reduces energy use.
152. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator to avoid running the tap every time you want a cold drink.
153. Your dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand. Then let dishes air-dry to save even more!
154. A leak of one drop of water per second wastes about 10,000 litres of water a year. Fix it and save water and money.
155. Thirty percent of the water we use each day is flushed away. Use a water efficient toilet.
156. An aerator on your kitchen faucet can cut water consumption from 25 litres to 14 litres a minute.
157. Use a basin in the kitchen sink for rinsing vegetables or washing your hands instead of letting the water run.
158. A quarter of your hot water is used for washing clothes. Use cold or warm water to wash and rinse in cold water.
159. Showers use less water than baths. Try limiting shower time to less than five minutes.
160. Use your dishwasher and clothes washer only when you have a full load.
161. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater to 54ºC. At this temperature, your water will be hot enough to prevent bacteria buildup, but not unnecessarily hot.
162. Use a shut off nozzle on your hose to avoid wasting water.
163. Water early or late in the day and only on calm days to reduce evaporation.
164. An automated car wash actually uses less water than when done at home. Look for establishments that send waste water to municipal treatment, not storm sewers.
165. Place composting mulch around the base of plants to help the roots retain moisture. You'll need to water less.
166. Plant a row of evergreens on the north side of your house for extra energy savings in winter.
167. Replace a piece of lawn this summer with drought resistant plants and ground cover. They save time on upkeep, and water!
168. Use rain water collected and saved in a barrel for watering your garden.
169. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean the garage, driveway, or sidewalk.
170. Compost is the best fertilizer of all. It's also free and reduces your kitchen and garden waste.
171. Adjust sprinklers to water lawns and plants, not pavement or people.
172. Avoid chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Fertilizers are a source of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide.
173. Watering your lawn every day produces shallow roots and weak grass. A good soaking every 5- 7 days is enough and helps conserve water.
174. Plant trees around your home to provide shade in summer and reduce home air conditioning needs by 10 to 50 percent.
175. Stockpile fallen leaves to layer in your compost. Shredding the leaves will reduce their volume.
176. Protect your lawn from drying out by letting it grow to three inches in the heat of summer.
177. A tree that is well maintained from seedling to maturity will continue to filter pollution from the air for 20 to 60 years or more.
178. Plant shade trees to keep your house cool in the summer and let the sun shine in during winter.
179. Pass it around at the office! By circulating documents and posting notices in a central place, fewer copies will be needed.
180. Encourage double-sided documents in the office, and cut paper use by up to half.
181. Look into local options for refilling and recycling toner and print cartridges.
182. You can compost at the office, too! A vermicomposter will take care of coffee grounds and lunch leftovers.
183. Don't print hard copy from the electronic mail system at work unless you have to.
184. Order office paper products with maximum recycled content, a high percentage of post-consumer content, and that are unbleached.
185. Switch office equipment such as photocopiers off at night.
186. Ensure your computer is switched to its energy-saver option.
187. Using rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and PDAs is more cost effective than throwaway batteries.
188. If your workplace does not have recycling, start a program! In the meantime, take your bottles and cans home to your blue box.
189. When buying products, look for companies that have gone beyond what is required to reduce their green house gas emissions and address other environmental issues.
