How to get a little more green every day
Posted 03-16-2015 at 08:07 AM by info4yourlife2015
Small actions can contribute to big change when it comes to making green choices in the home. Here are some low-stress steps for your day-to-day activities to help reduce your carbon footprint and create a healthier, greener lifestyle.
• Eat wisely. A few simple changes to your daily food habits can have a tremendous impact on the environment. Choose to go 100% veggie or eat less meat. Buy organic and locally grown items when possible and reduce food waste. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than one third of all food produced worldwide is wasted (that's a shocking 1.3 billion tonnes per year). In fact, unused food in a landfill is one of the top sources of greenhouse gases.
• Be energy smart. Canadians are the second largest consumers of energy per capita in the world. Reduce your energy consumption by switching to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, buying low-flow showerheads and fixing leaky windows. Consider getting a home energy audit to see where you can cut back. Check how your appliances measure up with the EnerGuide rating label, and commit to buying Energy Star qualified products.
• Get water wise. Reduce, repair, and retrofit. From installing a low-flow toilet, to using an outdoor rain barrel, to taking shorter showers − there are thousands of ways you can save water at home.
• Travel light. Leave the car at home. If possible, walk, bike or take public transportation. If you must drive, carpool. Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle. Fly less. Air travel has a massive carbon footprint—in fact, it's the mode of freight transport that has the most emissions. Consider greener transportation options like buses or trains, or travel less altogether and utilize technology like video-conferencing and e-mail.
• Check your trash. The average Canadian produces about 2.2 kilograms of garbage each day—that's over 30 million tonnes of waste in total per year. And the majority ends up in landfills. Be diligent about recycling and composting. Check your municipality website or recycling hotline for details and support the Compost Council of Canada.
• Buy smart. Make your everyday food and beverage purchases with the environment in mind. For example, replace your usual single-serve coffee plastic capsule with an eco-friendly choice, such as 99% biodegradeable OneCoffee. You will feel good about making an eco-conscious purchase, without compromising on quality. Simple switches in the grocery aisle have a big impact. Buying them means you're doing your part to encourage more and more sustainable products.
• Eat wisely. A few simple changes to your daily food habits can have a tremendous impact on the environment. Choose to go 100% veggie or eat less meat. Buy organic and locally grown items when possible and reduce food waste. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than one third of all food produced worldwide is wasted (that's a shocking 1.3 billion tonnes per year). In fact, unused food in a landfill is one of the top sources of greenhouse gases.
• Be energy smart. Canadians are the second largest consumers of energy per capita in the world. Reduce your energy consumption by switching to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, buying low-flow showerheads and fixing leaky windows. Consider getting a home energy audit to see where you can cut back. Check how your appliances measure up with the EnerGuide rating label, and commit to buying Energy Star qualified products.
• Get water wise. Reduce, repair, and retrofit. From installing a low-flow toilet, to using an outdoor rain barrel, to taking shorter showers − there are thousands of ways you can save water at home.
• Travel light. Leave the car at home. If possible, walk, bike or take public transportation. If you must drive, carpool. Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle. Fly less. Air travel has a massive carbon footprint—in fact, it's the mode of freight transport that has the most emissions. Consider greener transportation options like buses or trains, or travel less altogether and utilize technology like video-conferencing and e-mail.
• Check your trash. The average Canadian produces about 2.2 kilograms of garbage each day—that's over 30 million tonnes of waste in total per year. And the majority ends up in landfills. Be diligent about recycling and composting. Check your municipality website or recycling hotline for details and support the Compost Council of Canada.
• Buy smart. Make your everyday food and beverage purchases with the environment in mind. For example, replace your usual single-serve coffee plastic capsule with an eco-friendly choice, such as 99% biodegradeable OneCoffee. You will feel good about making an eco-conscious purchase, without compromising on quality. Simple switches in the grocery aisle have a big impact. Buying them means you're doing your part to encourage more and more sustainable products.
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