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Paper or plastic? Take a pass on both! – North Americans go through 110 billion shopping bags annually, each taking between 15-1,000 years to break down.1 Instead of paper or plastic bring reusable shopping bags with you and keep them handy in your car or on your bike so you’re more likely to remember to use them.

Think before you drink – If you found FilterForGood.ca then you’re already aware of the effects of disposable water bottles on our environment. Choose the greener solution by using a reusable bottle, like the FilterForGood bottle and fill it with filtered tap water.

Join the local food movement – Be conscious of ‘field to table’ food miles. Fruits and veggies are very healthy, but if they’ve travelled thousands of kilometers to reach you, they’re not so healthy for the environment. Make your meals more interesting by experimenting with new local and seasonal vegetables and fruits. Not only will this support the planet, but it will also support local farmers and economies.

Get your veggies on – Eating less meat, or even just going “meat-free” one day a week, can drastically reduce your ecological footprint. It takes 5 pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef.2 Plan your meat purchases carefully and only buy as much as you know you’ll need or use. The average person wastes more than 22 pounds of edible store-bought meat each year – that’s more than 100 pounds of grain and 55,000 gallons of water wasted per person.3

Get Unplugged – Reduce energy consumption around your home by unplugging electronics and appliances when they’re not in use. Energy is still drawn from outlets when they are plugged in. An easy solution to reduce energy consumption is to use a power bar and turn it off when not in use.

What’s Hot? Turning Cold – Washing in cold water can save you energy and money. According to Natural Resources Canada, 15 per cent of a typical energy bill goes to heating water.4 Making small changes in your household can make a huge difference to the environment and your energy bill. Try washing clothes in cold water, install a low-flow shower head or toilet, and fix those leaky faucets.

Use Renewable Energy – Want to go beyond simply saving energy? Get ‘off the grid’ and use renewable energy sources. If you’re not up to the challenge of installing solar panels on your home, you can purchase renewable energy from independent providers. Go to PollutionProbe for a guide to the green energy market in Canada, and if you live in Ontario, be sure to also check out Bullfrog Power.

Refill Your Cup… Again and Again – More than 8 billion disposable cups are thrown out every year in Canada. Switch to a reusable coffee mug and take it with you on your coffee runs.5

Go Paperless – Get online and help save millions of trees a year. Read your favourite paper electronically and switch to online banking and billing.

Pack a Waste-Free Lunch – When you pack a lunch, make it waste free. Eliminate plastic bags, utensils and brown bags and go with reusable containers, cloth napkins, silverware and a reusable lunch bag.

Say “NO” to junk mail – Say NO to junk mail and reduce paper waste by placing a sign on your mailbox.6

Take Action!
If you want to go further and get involved in “green” community groups, here are some great organizations and web resources: