AT HOME

AT HOME

 

 

If anyone can stop global warming, it's you. Don't be fooled by politics or pessimists. YOU have the power to FLICK OFF. And here's what you can FLICKing do about it.

Are you still reeling from the shocking fact that next to Australians, Canadians are pretty much the biggest energy gluttons on the planet? We're even worse than the States, per capita (per person). So start cleaning up the place where you can do the most good: home sweet home. Doesn't matter if it's your parents' place, a condo building or a frat house. These tips cover many bases.

  

FLICK OFF!
Avoid using electronics that constantly suck up energy while in ‘standby’ mode. Stop putting your computer to ‘sleep’ when you could just flick it off.

  
INSTALL COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULBS AROUND YOUR HOUSE
CFLs use 75% less electricity than incandescent light bulbs. Each incandescent light bulb you replace with a CFL will keep a half-tonne of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere over the course of the life of the bulb. Oh, and while they may seem expensive, CFLs are actually cost-effective considering they last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs.

                 

                       ^{http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energystar/english/consumers/reference-card.cfm?text=N&printview=N}

INSTALL MOTION DETECTORS
On your porch lights, garage lights and in your backyard. Installing motion detectors on your lights will save you money while keeping you safe. Ask your condo or apartment building to install motion detectors on lights in common areas, laundry rooms, hallways, basements and everywhere you notice they are constantly left on. Timers are also a good solution in any home.


PLUG YOUR ELECTRONICS INTO A POWER BAR
Most electronics—including the TV and VCR—still draw power even when they are turned off. That's as much as 10% of a home’s total energy consumption! Plug your electronics into a power bar. That way you can FLICK OFF the power bar when you FLICK OFF your show.

 

FLICK OFF THE WATER TAP BETWEEN USES
This applies ALL the time: brushing your teeth, shaving, washing your hands or washing your dishes. You could even turn it off while you lather your hair! It just makes sense. Question your loved ones when you witness them committing these senseless acts of wastefulness!

CLEAN GREEN
Buy environmentally friendly cleaning products. Many cleaning products contain Butyl Cellosolve and methanol and are high in phosphates. What does this mean to you? Butyl Cellosolve enters the body through skin contact or inhalation of vapours, and can cause blood and bone marrow damage with high exposure. Dishwasher detergents, often high in phosphates, create algae blooms in bodies of water, and contain chlorine bleach, a lung and eye irritant. Glass cleaners, made with methanol, can cause blindness or death if accidentally ingested. Think your careful use of these products negates any danger? These products wind up in lakes, rivers and streams after you dump your wash bucket down the drain. Go with the friendly alternative: Non-toxic, ammonia-free, no fumes, hypoallergenic, and septic-safe glass cleaner. And it biodegrades  99% within 28 days! Visit Grassroots to buy environmentally friendly cleaning products and much more, on-line.

TAKE A SHOWER, NOT A BATH
Feeling dirty? A five-minute shower uses 40 litres of water while a bath requires about 75 litres of water to fill up the tub. A low-flow showerhead will save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide from escaping each year.

USE A PLUG-IN KETTLE. USE A MICROWAVE.
Stovetop kettles are not our cup of tea. Plug-in kettles use less energy. On that note, use a microwave to heat up food. It uses 75% less energy than stove ovens.




USE CLOTH DISHTOWELS AND CLOTH NAPKINS
Paper or cotton? Choose cloth dishtowels and napkins instead of paper towels. Save old rags for dusting and cleaning.

  

 

WASH CLOTHES IN COLD, RUN A FULL LOAD
Run dishwashers, dryers and washing machines only when you’ve got a full load. Wash clothes in cold water.  85-90% of energy used by the washing machine is used to heat the water. And when you're ready to dry, hang stuff up! If you MUST use the dryer, remember to clean the lint filter. A clogged lint filter can increase energy usage by 30%.¹

 

WASH YOUR CAR AT A CARWASH
Hate washing the car? Don’t do it! Take your car to a car washing service to spare the sewers the runoff and your arms the effort. Car washes conserve water and send dirty water through a filtering process for contaminants. The water is then sent to a sewage-treatment facility.

 

 
DITCH YOUR CAR - SHARE INSTEAD
It’s a major polluter. And you could do with the extra exercise from walking or riding a bike. Rideshares, carpooling and public transit are all other options for leaving your car behind.

By using a carshare program like Zipcar you can have a car whenever you need it but don't have to worry about the added expense of caring for your own set of wheels.  And what's even better? Over 40% of carshare members decide against purchasing a car, or end up selling their existing vehicle. They drive less: car usage of individuals is reduced by as much as 50%. And they use other transportation. Members use the most efficient means of transportation for the task — walking, biking, public transportation, taxi or Zipcar.

Flick Off supporters can join Zipcar for only $30/year.  To join, click here

 

PLANT A TREE
A seed, a sapling, whatever. Trees clean the air. It’s basic, really.

 

 

 

BUY LOCALLY
Buying local 'farmers market' fruits and veggies is better than purchasing imported food that’s been hauled halfway around the world. A 40-tonne transport truck releases 5,000 kg of greenhouse gas emissions on an average food shipment. That’s almost the same as what a single Canadian produces for an entire year. Visit Farmers Market Ontario or look online for a local listing of farmers markets in your area.

 

SKIP THE WARM-UP!
When car engines became electronically controlled, idling to “warm up the engine” became totally unnecessary.

 

 

NO MORE JUNK MAIL
Sick of junk mail? Have your name removed from mailing lists to cut down on the annoyance of junk mail and a huge waste of trees. Simply click on the “Do Not Contact Service” button at www.the-cma.org

  

SPEAK TO YOUR CONDO BOARD ABOUT  INSTALLING A GREEN ROOF.
A garden on your dirty, gross city rooftop? Green roofs are popping up in cities across North America as a healthy combatant to the urban heat island effect. They also look incredibly cool! Green walls are another option. Not only do they perform the same function, but they are also simpler and easier to install.  Address the issue with your condo board or speak to your university's student housing services. For more information check out Light House Sustainable Building Centre.

 

UPGRADE TO ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES
Dump your pea green, CFC-ridden refrigerator from the 1970s and upgrade all your appliances (while you’re at it) to energy-efficient models. You don't even have to have a thirty-year-old fridge to use this tip. You'll find that refrigerator technology has come quite a long way in recent years! For tips on what to look for when purchasing a new fridge, visit the Clean Air Foundation's Chill Out guide.

                             ^{Source: Clean Air & Environment Guide, Spring 2007.}