See Environmental Impact Checklist to see how you can help too.
Steps we are taking to minimize our footprint on this planet:
We recycle paper, tin, glass, and recyclable plastics.
We compost all suitable organic waste.
We try to buy as much as possible (organic) local produce and meat. It can take a long time to read all the labels to see where stuff is coming from - and it is surprising!
From 2003 to 2008 in Alberta we purchased wind-generated power from our utility company (Enmax).
Now that we are in Ottawa, we have switched to purchasing GREEN energy through Bullfrog power in Ontario
In March 2005 we purchased the most fuel efficient station wagon we could find: the Toyota Matrix (1.8l engine).
In November 2006 we purchased the most efficient small freezer we could get even though it cost more money.
In December 2006 we stopped buying beef for groceries or dining out. The primary concern is not health (although this is a legitimate reason), but the unbelievable amount of land (plains, forests, rain forests) being used (and cleared, irrigated, and sprayed with chemicals) to sustain the cattle industry.
In April 2007 we replaced the most-used lights in our house with compact flourescent lights and started using switched powerbars to reduce power consumption on electronics that still draw power even when turned “off”.
In April 2007 we replaced all plastic water bottles and travel mugs with stainless steel bottles (health reasons) and decided to avoid wherever possible any disposable drink containers, especially plastic water or juice bottles and paper or styrofoam coffee containers.
See Environmental Impact Checklist to see how you can help too.
