Progress Report 2008: Environment

 

 
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Our environment: What you can do

Your neighbours are retrofitting their home. Your cousin started riding her bike to work. All around you, you see people fighting climate change. Now you want to do your part. You want to make a difference. Here are six easy ways to get started — some might even save you some money!

  1. Get rid of your old energy guzzling fridge

    Is your fridge more than 10 years old? If the answer is yes, it’s probably time to get rid of it. A typical fridge built in 1986 will use about 1,500 kilowatt-hours of energy and cost you $120 to $150 every year.  An ENERGY STAR® rated fridge uses about one-third less energy, meaning it will give your wallet a break.  And there’s a bonus:  if you buy a qualifying new ENERGY STAR® household appliance before August 31, 2009, you won’t pay the PST.

  2. Change a light bulb

    It’s as simple as it sounds. Replace an old incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). The CFL uses about 75 per cent less electricity and will save you money. The McGuinty government is banning the sale of inefficient light bulbs by 2012. But you don’t need to wait for the ban — you can stop using them now.

  3. Do an energy audit

    An energy audit helps you figure out how your house uses energy and identifies energy leaks. The McGuinty government will even give you up to $150 to have an auditor come to your house. You might find ways to save energy that you hadn’t even thought about. Getting started is easy. Just call your local auditor to set up an appointment.

  4. Green your garden

    Pesticide toxins can contaminate water supplies and harm children. That’s why the Ontario government has passed legislation banning the use and sale of pesticides for cosmetic purposes. Lucky for you, there are lots of environmentally-friendly ways to keep your garden looking naturally beautiful.

  5. Take a cleaner ride to work

    Think driving to work is easier than taking the bus? Think again. The McGuinty government is rolling out new public transit initiatives across the GTA and the province. The result: taking the bus or train will save you time and money. It will also save the environment.

  6. Put the environment first

    If the dishwasher isn’t full, don’t run it. If you’re leaving a room, turn off the lights. Shut down your computer before going to bed. To learn more about the changes you can make around the house, check out Ontario’s new YOUR Environment on the web. Because when you add it all up, small steps can make a big difference. And all of them will help Ontario meet its emission reduction targets.
 
 
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