TIP OF THE DAY

• Change a Lightbulb
  Changing even one incandescent lightbulb to a Compact Flourescent lightbulb can cut down the energy and reduce carbon emmisions every day. It'll also save you money!
  Only 4–6% of electrical energy used by an incandescent light bulb is converted into visible light. The rest is lost as heat. Modern CFL (compact fluorescent lights) provide the characteristic warm glow of incandescent bulbs but use 75% less energy and last ten times longer. CFL's may cost more than incandescent bulbs but the energy savings can pay off in less than two years. If every household in Canada changed just one traditional incandescent light bulb to an Energy Star CFL, the country would save over $73 million in energy costs every year and reduce green house gas emissions by 397,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

• Do Laundry After Dark
  Doing your laundry, running your dishwasher, breadmaker, charging cellphones, etc., after dark reduces energy demand during peak hours (9-5). Therefore, more 'clean' energy can be used to run these appliances when our energy demands are lower, reducing carbon emmisions.

• Online Mail Delivery Service
  Canada Post's Free online mail delivery service. View, pay, print & store your documents for up to 7 years. Save a tree. Sign up today!

  EPost

• Tips From Hydro One
  Use fans instead of AC Save 25%
  Turn up the Ac by 3 degrees Save 15%
  Caulk & Weatherstrip doors & windows Save 10%
  Lower pool heater by 1 degree Save 7%
  Use a clothesline to dry your clothes Save 5%
  Run dishwasher ONLY when full Save 5%
  Wash laundry in cold water Save 5%
  Turn off lights, TVs, computers when not in use Save 5%
  Get rid of second fridge Save 3%

  Ontario Power Authority

  And one from Us
  Fill your freezer! Keeping your freezer full reduces the energy required to cool the open air space inside. A layer or two of pop bottles filled 3/4 full, across the floor of your freezer, will reduce energy consumption when your freezer is low. It also has the added benefit of keeping things cool longer in the event of a power outage!

• Energy Efficient Cooking
  If you don't really need the stove, consider using smaller, more efficient appliances. Plug in a kettle, crockpot, toaster oven, microwave, or crock pot. If you're really in the mood for adventure, build your own solar cooker!

  Solar Cooking

• Don't Preheat
  Don't bother if you are broiling, roasting or baking a dish that will cook for an hour or more. Don't preheat for more than 10 minutes for breads and cakes. And when roasting meats or baking casseroles, turn off the oven 10 minutes to 15 minutes before cooking time runs out; food will continue to cook without using the extra electricity.

• Zap your meals
  Microwaves are between 3.5 and 4.8 times more energy efficient than traditional electric ovens. Cooking and reheating with a microwave is faster and more efficient than the stovetop or oven.

• Environmentally Friendly Fabric Softener
  Replace your fabric softener with 1/2 cup of plain old white vinegar. It may not smell as pretty, but it's worth it. Fabric softeners contain lots of carcinogens!

  Fabric Softener Risks

  Laundry Tips

• Wash in Cold Water
  85-90% of the energy used by your washing machine is used to heat water. Wash in cold water & save energy! Agitation cleans your clothes, not heat!

• Get Picky on phosphates
  Pick laundry detergents without phosphates which deplete the oxygen in water and as a result kill aquatic life. And while you're at it, buy only powdered detergent in cardboard packaging as opposed to a liquid in plastic packaging. The liquid contains water, which you already have, so it takes more fuel to ship that heavier container of detergent and water, not to mention the energy and petroleum used to manufacture the plastic container. The cardboard container also requires energy and resources to produce, but many are now made from post-consumer recycled paper and the trees they originate from are a renewable resource.

• Unclogging Drains
  Pouring a pot of boiling water down drains weekly keeps them unclogged. No chemicals added.
  If you do have a clog, pour a bit of baking soda into the drain, followed by vinegar. Stand back as it'll start fizzing.

• More Efficient Shopping
  Cut greenhouse gas emmissions by combining all your shopping & errands into one trip. Buy less. Buy bigger. If you buy large sizes, you save money, reduce waste, and help the environment. Look for products that come in containers that you know you will be able to recycle when the products are all used up. Buy reusable and long lasting products; rechargable batteries, cloth napkins, chamois cloths to replace paper towels, cloth napkins, sponges, commuter mugs, etc. Take your own bags with you to shop.
  Earth 911

• Use Reusable Cloth Shopping Bags
  Use reusable cloth or canvas bags. The hard part is remembering to take them with you. But they are sturdier and carry a heck of a lot more stuff, saving you energy in trips from the car to the house, plus the bonus of a little upper-body workout. Have a couple of sets and leave one in your vehicle at all times. Paper may be slightly better than plastic because it holds more per bag, but baggers also frequently double bag. Paper bags can be easily reused in many forms and have a better chance of being recycled. If you happen to get a few plastic bags, reuse them as much as possible until they can be used no more. Small trash can liners, doggie waste bags, take lunch to work in them, cover your hair should you get caught in the rain. Keep one bunched up in your handbag for those impromptu purchases.

• Carpool
  Canadians’ reliance on the single occupancy vehicle (SOV) as their preferred choice of transportation continues to contribute to global warming. According to Environment Canada, overall transportation represents the largest single source of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 27% of the total.
  Carpooling has many benefits. Ride-matching* can put you in touch with others who are interested in sharing the daily commute. If you are considering carpooling for the first time, guidelines and tips are available to ensure that your carpool stays a happy one.
  Carpool.ca

• Teleconference, DON'T travel
  Today's technology expands the definition of face-to-face contact, making a quick meeting with a client or colleague across the country, or the world, possible. Online professional development options abound, as well -- from Web seminars to entire conferences being held virtually. The planet is spared CO2 and other emissions caused by travel.

• Commute Smart
  That means walking or biking to work or the classroom if practical, or the ever-promoted public transportation option. Car and van pools are possibilities, too. Only 31 percent of children who live less than a mile from school actually walk there, and only 2.5 percent of students who live within two miles of school get there by bike. Half of all students go to school by car.

• Use Recycled Paper
  Compared to other paper, it takes a lot less energy and water to make. And thanks to increased demand, manufacturers have been able to match quality and performance. Speaking of paper, it's got two sides, so when possible, use them both.

• Use Refillable Pens
  Pens are often tossed into the garbage and not recycled or reused. Their components and packaging are made from nonrenewable resources and can contain environmentally damaging chemicals.
  Little Things Mean A Lot
  Keep reuse in mind with desk supplies. Refillable pens and pencils help reduce waste, and items such as paper clips, folders and binders can be saved and reused. The key is staying organized, collecting used supplies of like kinds in the same spot and keeping them within easy reach.

• Fax Smart
  Sending faxes directly from the computer avoids using paper altogether. But if a traditional fax is the only option, either avoid using a cover page or create a reusable cover by laminating the page and using an erasable marker. In addition, avoid the automatic activity report function to save another page.

• Save Energy when you Leave your Computer
  Turn your computer monitor (just the monitor) off when not in use. Screensavers still take up energy and monitors quickly refresh the picture when turned back on. Or use a power bar. Plug your monitor, speakers, desklamps, etc into one poer bar, so one switch does the trick when you leave your desk.

• Use Blu-ray Discs
  Blu-ray discs are half made of paper, so they can be shredded, making them easier to dispose of and recycle than CDs.

• Filter Your Water
  Buy a water filter for your kitchen faucet and put to good use yet another way to do away with those plastic water bottles that are clogging landfills and burning up energy in recycling plants. About 1.5 million tons of plastic are used on the bottling of 89 billion liters of drinking water each year.

• Don't Run Water While you Brush
  Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. You'll conserve up to five gallons of water per day -- which could add up to 1.5 billion gallons that could be saved across the country each day -- more than enough for all of New York City.

• Tap the Tap
  Each year, 89 billion liters of water are bottled, using about 1.5 million tons of plastic. Encourage your school or workplace to get a filtration system for the faucet instead, and it will be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Besides, many bottled-water companies use tap water anyway.

• Insulate
  Boosting attic insulation gives you the most value for your dollar. Shoot for a rating well above the recommended minimum of R-22. Seven inches of fiberglass or rock wool insulation and 6 inches of cellulose insulation are equal to an R-value of 22. In all but the mildest climates, the agency recommends adding more. While you're at it, insulate your hot water heater. Precut "blankets" are available at home improvement stores and are easy to install on electric heaters.

• Check for Leaks
  Check for leaks around windows and doors, baseboards, around window-unit air conditioners, outside pipes, fireplace dampers, electrical outlets, switch plates, and faucets. Also look for cracks in the home's foundation or siding. Most leaks can be remedied with caulking or weather stripping, although old windows may need to either be replaced or fitted with storm windows. If existing caulking and weather stripping isn't in good condition, repair or replace it. Leaky outlets can be sealed with an inexpensive foam insulation insert. Seal any leaks around electrical fixtures in the attic, and make sure all attic vents are unobstructed.

• Recycle Electronics
  Be conscious of other recycling methods that may be available. Some towns collect computer monitors, televisions, fridges, stoves, air conditioners, scrap metal, hazardous waste, etc. for recycling through ongoing and one-day collections.
  If you know when your community collection dates are, add them to the calendar of your local DeClutterize list.

• Pack a Waste-Free Lunch
  Eliminate plastic bags, plastic utensils, disposable containers, paper napkins and those brown bags. Instead use a lunchbox, reusable drink container, cloth napkin and silverware. Find odd pieces of used silverware at a second-hand store so you don't lose parts of your good set. Sandwiches, fresh fruit, vegetables and treats packaged in reusable containers are healthy alternatives to cafeteria and prepackaged foods. They can also be bought in larger quantities, saving money and packaging.

• Save Packing Materials
  In other words, what comes in should go back out. When having to buy boxes and other packing supplies, look for products made from recycled material or those that are biodegradable.
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