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How to Get Involved - Individuals

Inside the House:

  1. Use dimmers on lights, it will allow you to better control how much energy you use. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lighting, it's more efficient!
  2. Home electronics typically continue to use energy even when they are turned off or on standby. Plug your electronics into a power bar so that you can turn off the power going to the equipment.
  3. Keep your blinds closed in the summer and open in the winter, this will help regulate the inside temperature by controlling how much sunlight enters your home.
  4. Install a programmable thermostat so that you can regulate your home temperature. Turn your heater down at night to about 18 degrees C.
  5. Use small appliances such as crock pots, toaster ovens and microwave ovens instead of larger, more energy consumptive appliances. Replace your old appliances with Energy Star appliances.
  6. If you have a fireplace, close the damper and cover the opening when not in use, this will reduce the amount of energy leaving your home.
  7. Replace your old furnace with a new more energy efficient model.
  8. Insulate your water heater and hot water pipes, this will reduce energy loss.
  9. Replace older toilets with a modern water-efficient model. In the meantime, place a displacement bag in the tank to offset the amount of water needed to cycle your toilet!
  10. Reduce your use of water by installing aerators on your taps and low flow heads on your showerheads. Take a shower instead of a bath, showers use less water!
  11. Use electric kettles instead of boiling water on the stove, they're faster and use less energy!
  12. When using a washing machine to clean your clothes, use cold water, and dry your laundry outside! If using a dryer, make sure the lint filter is clean, this will maximize airflow and increase efficiency.
  13. Be proactive and creative, list your currents efforts to reduce your impact, then think of ways to reduce your impact even further!


To learn more about how to make your home more energy efficient check out TRCA's The Living City Home Energy Clinic

Outside the House:

  1. Avoid watering your lawn and garden between 10am and 4pm. Watering your lawn and garden during the day can waste a lot of water to evaporation, and the sun can burn your wet greens! Don't forget, your lawn only needs about an inch of water per week.
  2. Plant hardy drought-tolerant flowers and shrubs, they'll last longer in the heat!
  3. When mowing your lawn, leave the grass clipping, as they will add moisture to the lawn and nutrients to the soil. Use a push mower to save energy and reduce emissions!
  4. Plant trees appropriately, deciduous trees on the south side, and coniferous trees on the north side, this will provide shade in the summer and a windbreak in the winter!
  5. Use permeable pavement on your driveway, it absorb less heat and helps reduce the amount of runoff entering the sewers.
  6. Install motion sensor light fixtures where constant light is not needed.
  7. Use a rain barrel to collect rain water and heavy dew from your roof, this can be used to water your gardens!
  8. Use a composter to recycle your organic kitchen and yard waste.
  9. If you use an air conditioner to cool your home, place it on the north side of your house, in the shade, and make sure that it has good airflow. Air conditioners should be tuned every two to threes years to run efficiently.
  10. Consider installing solar panels on your roof, they can supply clean electricity for heating your home.
  11. Install a retractable awning on your deck and windows, it will provide shade and help keep your house cool in the summer. In the winter pull back the awning, and let the sunlight heat your home!


To find out more about how to maintain a healthy yard check out TRCA's Healthy Yard Connect.

To learn more about government rebates, grants and incentives please check out the following link:
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/incentives.cfm?attr=4

The Good Life - WWF.ca

It's a community for Canadians who want to make simple but significant changes in their lifestyles that help fight climate change and reduce their footprint on the planet.

Click here to take action.
http://thegoodlife.wwf.ca/Home.cfm