EcoHomes » What Can I Do?

BEGINNER - No Cost Actions

Energy Conservation

• If you’re not using it, turn it off!
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater as low 55°C (130°F).
• Select the energy saving dry cycle on your dishwasher.
• Hang your clothes outside to dry.
• Get rid of that extra fridge (or freezer) in your basement!
• Permanently lower your thermostat setting by 1°C (2° F) in the winter and raise your air conditioning setting by this amount or more in the summer

Water Efficiency

• Use a rain gauge to determine when you need to water your lawn.
• Be aware of how much water is running down the drain. Save some of the extra water when washing vegetables, washing hands, waiting for the water to run warm and use it to water plants.
• When brushing your teeth, turn off the water while you are actually brushing, instead of running it continuously. Use water from a mug for rinsing. (This reduces water use by about 80 percent.)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Reduce first, reuse second and recycle/compost third. Although recycling is preferable to disposal, it is still better not to generate the waste in the first place.
• Use cloth bags or grocery bins for your trip to the store.
• Use your green bin!
• Rather than throwing away household items, participate in the City of Pickering’s Materials Exchange Program. A few examples of gently used materials that can be diverted from landfill include bicycles, lawnmowers and computers.

Next Time you Buy Something 

• Encourage your local stores to carry the products you want to buy.
• Think about where products come from and where they go when you’re finished with them.

INTERMEDIATE - Low cost actions

• Replace lights with compact fluorescent bulbs   Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent with a 29-watt CFL can save you at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
• Install a programmable thermostat  A programmable thermostat can automatically change the temperature of your house to coincide with your household’s schedule. For every 1°C that you lower your thermostat overnight or when away during the day, you can save 2% on your heating bill. As mentioned above, consider setting your thermostat permanently lower by 1°C (2°F) in the winter and raise the temperature by the same amount in the summer over your normal setting when at home.

Water Efficiency

• Install low flow shower heads and faucet aerators to reduce your home water consumption as much as 50%, and reduce your energy cost

Lawn and Garden Care

• Choose drought tolerant plants and grass seed – they are generally native and naturally more pest resistant.
• Leave grass longer (6-8 cm / 2.5 to 3 in) to encourage longer roots, shade the soil, reduce soil evaporation and discourage weed growth.
• Consider alternatives to pesticides:
  o Use pest-resistant plants
  o Use pest-resistant grass seed varieties that contain Endophytic fungi, a naturally occurring type of fungus that actually resists disease and lawn pests
  o Dig weeds by hand
  o Plant onions or marigolds to ward off slugs, snails and parasitic worms.
  o Use sticky coloured barriers to protect trees.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Repair, refinish, or donate items that are en route to the trash.
• Buy food and other products with reusable, reduced and/or recycled packaging.

On The Road

• Carpool! Carpooling is a simple way to take part in the climate change challenge while saving money, reducing congestion, reducing stress and conserving energy along the way. See smartcommute.ca or carpool.ca for more information.

Consumption

• Purchase locally. Buy food, services and products that are produced, grown or raised as close to home as possible.
• Practice consumption without ownership through options such as leasing, renting and sharing.

EXPERT

Energy Conservation

• Replace your appliances with ENERGYSTAR® models.   Unlike EnerGuide labels that provide energy efficiency information on all models, “ENERGY STAR®” is added to EnerGuide labels to identify the most energy efficient products (e.g. appliances, windows and electronics).
• Air seal your house. For most homes, up to 30-40% of the heating bill is spent on heating cold air that has leaked into your home, because hot air has leaked out through the cracks around baseboards, windows and doors and electrical outlets. Weatherstripping and sealants will stop drafts, save money, improve comfort and protect the structure.