Eco-Attitude at Home
The average Canadian produces five tonnes of GHGs each year through ordinary activities like driving, household chores, hobbies and sports. Many of the easiest ways to reduce your personal greenhouse gas emissions are at home. Try implementing some of the following tips to reduce your personal greenhouse gas emissions — and watch your energy bills reduce at the same time! Remember these tips can also be implemented at the cottage.
Tips for Inside the House
- Turn your air conditioner off/ furnace down to reduce the amount of energy you use while you're not at home.
OR - Install a timer or programmable thermostat on your furnace. In the wintertime, program the furnace to reduce the temperature by a few degrees when everyone is asleep, as well as during the day when the family is away at work and school.
- Install energy saving light bulbs. Start with the lamps and light fixtures in high traffic areas.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room.
- Install a sensor on your outdoor lights to come on when people approach your house, rather than leaving the light burning all evening.
- Don't leave the tap running while brushing your teeth. Municipal water systems use a lot of energy.
- Caulk, weather-strip and have your home professionally air sealed throughout to eliminate draughts. This will keep heat in during the winter months and heat out during the summer months saving you money on your bills! If you live in a heritage building, you may qualify for a bursary from your municipality.
- Upgrade attic insulation to R-51 where possible and upgrade your basement wall insulation to R-20 where possible.
- Install a high-efficiency gas furnace and replace your major appliances with ones that are energy efficient. (Look for the EnergyStar rating!)
- Take showers instead of baths.
- Install faucet aerators on all of your taps and low-flow showerheads to reduce water use.
- Install pipe insulation on pipes that pass through unheated spaces.
- Replace your hot water heating tank with a new, high-efficiency gas-fired hot water heater.
- Replace your top-loading clothes washer with a front-loading energy-efficient clothes washer and wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle. The production and disposal of goods and packaging uses a lot of energy and generates GHGs. Reduce the amount of garbage your household generates by purchasing more durable goods, reusable products, or products with less packaging.
- Use cotton bags or reusable bins when you go grocery shopping, instead of plastic bags.
- Upgrade old wooden doors with new foam-filled steel ones.
Tips for the Garden
- Install a rain barrel under your downspout and use the water it catches to water your flower beds and lawn instead of the garden hose.
- Water your garden early in the morning or late in the evening when it's cooler outside. Plants will require less water at those times of the day, and there is less risk of them being burnt in the evaporation process.
- Sweep your walk and driveway instead of cleaning it with a leaf blower, hose, or power washer.
- Only water your lawn when it needs it — not every other day. Place a small can (like the one that tuna fish comes in) on the lawn to help you gauge the amount of precipitation your lawn has received, and what it requires (about one inch/two-and-a-half centimetres per week).
- Start a compost heap in your backyard to cut down on your contribution to the landfills. Even if you're not an avid gardener, it will improve the lush quality of your lawn.
- Instead of bagging your grass clippings, leave them on the lawn to mulch.
- Use a push mower instead of an electric or gas mower.
- Reduce the amount of grass lawn in your yard by planting a ground covering such as fescue that does not need mowing or as much water.
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