- Don’t be a host for power-sucking ghosts: appliances and products left plugged in still use electricity, even when not in use. Unplug products when you are not using them. An easy way to do this is by plugging them all into a power bar: conveniently only having to switch the bar off after use. Kilowatt meters can be signed out from the Mount Allison library – these can be used to determine how many kilowatts of electricity your appliances are using.
- Reduce water consumption: take shorter showers, or shower less frequently. Fix any water leaks (taps, toilets, etc.) immediately, or report to your landlord. If you have a dishwasher, wait until it is completely full before running it. Don’t leave the water running while brushing your teeth. Install (or urge your landlord to install) low-flow faucets and showerhead fixtures.
- Minimize furnace use: put on a sweater before turning up the heat; consider purchasing space heaters to heat just the room you are in to your preferred temperature, rather than the entire house.
- Re-think the way you do laundry: wash clothes in cold water, and hang to dry. Construct your own clothes line, purchase a drying rack, or take advantage of all the chairs, railings and lamps in your house!
- Turn off your lights! Whether it’s turning them off when you leave a room, or turning off your outdoor light once you’re home in the evenings. Reconsider the placement of lamps and large furniture to maximize light in each room and avoid the need for multiple sources in a single area.
- Make an effort to understand the Wet/Dry system: not only will you be less frustrated, but landfill diversion and increased recycling will only improve if efforts are made to understand the system. If it’s something that could potentially be recycled or used again (papers, plastics, metals) it belongs in the blue. If it something you wouldn’t want to see or touch again (i.e. food waste, used Kleenex) it belongs in the green.
- Invest in renewable energies: offset your energy bill by paying a little extra each month for renewable energy such as through Bullfrog Power. Look into investing in renewable energies for your home to lessen its reliance on “the grid” such as solar panels or solar hot water heaters – groups such as EOS Eco-Energy Inc. are working on bulk purchasing to increase the feasibility of such additions to homes.
- Connect with your food: grow your own food either in your own backyard, or rent a Community Garden plot for the spring and summer months. Purchase local food from the Sackville Farmer’s Market every Saturday on Bridge Street, or sign up for a CSA share.
|
|
 |
