CFL's

Compact Fluorescent lamps (or CFL for short) are gaining popularity , and for good reason. They use aprox 75% less energy then a regular incandescent light bulb and can save $40 over the lifetime of the bulb. Because they last up to 10x longer then traditional bulbs, the savings over an entire house can really add up. The average Canadian home has 30 fixtures which runs the home over  $200 a year to run. If you switched just 5 of these to CFL’s you would save upwards of $30 per year. This would pay for the bulbs in 2 years, yet they last for around 5 years. 

Now- consider the savings if you switched every bulb in your home to CFL’s. A lot of people think of the spiral bulbs when they picture CFL’s , however they now come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as multiple colours. 

It is important to note that CFL’s do contain mercury so they require careful handling and disposal- They should not be put out in the regular trash. Your local Home Depot has recycling programs for your convenience.

THE HOME ENERGY AUDIT EXPLAINED

The Provincial government removed their funding for the Home Energy Audit program on March 31st, 2012 however there are still many good reasons to have this audit performed on your home. The main benefits to the energy audit program are that it could:

• reduce your annual energy bill by up to 30 per cent
• improve your home’s resale value
• make your home more comfortable year round
• do your part to make Ontario’s environment cleaner

The auditor will visit your home and do a top to bottom assessment of your heating system, water heating system, insulation, windows & doors, and toilets. He or she will do a blower test to detect any leaks you may have within the home and then follow up their visit with their recommendations on how you can make your home more energy efficient. They will provide you with a number (energuide)- which is a ranking between 0-100 showing how energy efficient your home is. Once you have completed the work they suggest, the energy auditor will return and do another blower test to assess the change in your home since their first visit. You will get a new energuide number and can guage how much more energy efficient your home now is. Keep in mind that even though the government may not be handing out the large rebates like they once were, there are still many rebates available from other organizations. Visit http://www.ecorealtor.ca/rebates.htm for a list of some of the rebates currently available.

Home Depot Hybrid Vehicle Parking

I was at Home Depot in the north end today and noticed they have reserved parking near the front of the store for Hybrid vehicles.

Very cool  Home Depot ;)

Phantom Loads

I’m sure many of you may have never heard the term phantom load. I know before I started looking into a greener way of life I had never heard of it. Basically a phantom load is the amount of electricity your appliances are using even when they are not turned on. For example, your TV while it waits for you to turn on the power button, or your computer and printer as they await you booting them up. The next time you switch these machines to off- think that you are actually switching them to stand-by.  These phantom loads can account for aprox 6% of your electricity bill which for the average consumer adds up to aprox $120 per year.

What can you do to combat the problem, save energy and money?

1-  Plug your electronics into a power bar and after shutting everything off, turn off the power bar. This will ensure that your devices are actually turned off and no longer draining energy.

2- Unplug appliances that are not used on a regular basis, and do not leave chargers plugged in after your phone or iPod is done charging.

3- Lastly, for appliances that can not be unplugged or turned off, ensure they are energy star rated so at least they will be draining less energy while they are on stand-by.

The importance of CSA’s

Community Supported Agriculture is vitally important to our health, our environment and our economy. 

By choosing to purchase produce from a local farm you not only get a fresher product, but you support a local business / farmer and our local economy. The average food product travels 2400 kms to our plates in Canada, being picked well before it is ripe. You can imagine how much better produce tastes that is picked the day you eat it, or at most a few days before consumption.

Here is how it works- 

First, find a farm that is close to you and grows the type of produce you and your family are interested in consuming. For a list in Ontario follow this link: http://csafarms.ca/CSA%20farmers.htm Most Farmers offer a few choices of baskets, those for single people or couples without children, and another for families. You choose your size and pay for your share and enjoy local, delicious produce all summer long.

12 ways to reduce your carbon footprint

Nowadays just about everyone is interested in helping preserve our environment. The problem is that a lot of people do not know where to start. Here are twelve simple tips to get you started in reducing your carbon footprint.

1. Install a programmable thermostat (and set it!) Adjust the temperature for when you will be away or sleeping.

2. Turn down the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees.

3. Use your dishwasher only when it is full and run the cycle during off peak hours to not only reduce energy strain during peak hours, but save money on your hydro bill.

4. Install a water filter on your kitchen sink and use a reusable water bottle instead of plastic water bottles.

5. Install low flow shower heads, faucets and toilets

6. Switch to CFL bulbs

7. Use white vinegar as an all around household cleaner. (if you’re like me and always get streaks in your windows… this works as a GREAT alternative with no streaks!)

8. Plant a tree on your property. (trees can store up to 400 lbs of carbon dioxide annually depending on their size and also provide shade when planted smartly which will reduce the need for air conditioning)

9. Hang laundry instead of using the dryer

10. Stop receiving unwanted catalogues by contacting the companies and asking to be taken off their lists

11. Turn off (an unplug or turn off power bar) your electronics when not in use.

12. and the most obvious would be to limit auto emissions by walking, riding a bicycle, or using public transit whenever possible.