Working Towards A Greener Home

Amidst the onset of global warming (the harshest implications of which we have yet to experience), constant pleas from the federal and provincial governments to conserve energy, and predictions of a bleak global outlook should we fail to change our ways (see Al Gore, Jared Diamond, Daniel Quinn and Linda McQuaig), my family and I recently took steps to reduce our household consumption and make our home more environmentally sound. Our decision to do so was not, in my opinion, reactionary. Over the coming years, most of the steps we have taken in our own household will likely become standard/mandatory across Canada and hopefully across the world, especially if humanity as a whole decides to take effective action against climate change.

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The measures we collectively agreed upon include the following:
 
- Retrofitting the entire house with low-energy light bulbs, which are now subsidized by the government. For example, a Philips brand that costs $5.97/bulb only costs $0.97/bulb after rebates. These bulbs allow you to reduce your energy use (on average a 12-watt bulb emits 60 watts and a 20-watt bulb 100), and subsequently save money on your energy bills (roughly $15.00-$20.00 per year).

- Composting unused (and seedless) fruits and vegetables, which – in addition to providing extremely fertile soil - reduces the number of garbage bags we use by roughly 1 bag per week.

- Installing low-flow showerheads and low-flush toilets. Apparently, a five-minute shower with a regular showerhead uses 100 litres of water, while a low-flow showerhead uses only 35. I’m unaware of how many litres of water you save using a low-flush toilet, but I know regular toilets are some of the biggest household water consumers. And of course, these showerheads and toilets inevitably save you money on your water bills.

- Buying bins ($4.99 each at Loblaws) and reusable shopping bags ($0.99 each at A&P) to reduce the number of plastic bags we consume, which in turn reduces the number of garbage bags we use.

- Using reusable water bottles and filtered water (whether this is done through the tap or a water filter and jug is up to the individual) as opposed to bottled water. We decided to do this after hearing that most recycled bottled water ends up in landfills anyway, and because the quality of bottled water is often spotty (think Dasani). Moreover, drinking water from the tap and occasionally buying filters is much cheaper than buying bottled water - at $5 a pop - weekly.

- Using biodegradable garbage bags, which, if the name didn’t give it away, biodegrade faster than regular garbage bags and thereby take up less space on our landfills. These bags are considerably more expensive than the regular ones, but because we’ve reduced the number of bags we use through composting, recycling, and using the aforementioned bins and reusable shopping bags, it evens out.

- Setting the air conditioner a few degrees higher in the summer (74 degrees instead of the “ideal” 68-72) and the furnace a few degrees lower in the winter. According to the good old government, if everyone did this, we would significantly reduce energy consumption while avoiding another blackout, and people would reap yearly energy savings of 10-20%.

- Only purchasing EnerGuide or EnergyStar appliances and products, which meet or surpass energy efficiency standards previously set by the federal government. Unfortunately, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government recently scrapped this program, but I’m pretty sure the implementation of this measure does not involve retailers stripping the stickers off their remaining EnerGuide/EnergyStar appliances (so if you’re in the market for one and find it, grab it!). As well, these appliances tend to cost much more than their inefficient counterparts (especially the air conditioners), and this is an obvious problem for students or young homeowners who want to, but can’t afford to, buy responsibly.
 
Then there’s the no-brainer, cost-free things like opening the windows at night instead of using the air conditioning; turning off all lights and appliances when you the leave the room; and avoiding archaic (but all too common) habits like falling asleep with the TV on or leaving the computer on all day/night.
 
And so what’s the point? Well, the point is that living and buying green doesn’t always have to be expensive and/or reserved for elitists. With the exception of the low-flush toilets and some – but not all – of the EnerGuide/EnergyStar appliances, most of the measures outlined here are simple and inexpensive and can actually save you money in the long term. It should also be noted that this model works for a modest-sized home with a backyard, and things like composting can become tricky if not undoable with an apartment. I don’t live by myself, but a part-time job enabled me to buy the bulbs, bins, bags, showerheads and bottles discussed here with no significant dent on my wallet (to me “significant” would be spending hundreds of dollars up front).
 
We have reached a point where, with the daily barrage of scientific reports regarding the existence and projected impact of climate change, we should be asking ourselves what if any of the above steps (and others) we can take to make our homes more environmentally sound. And doing so should no longer be viewed as reactionary – merely practical. I encourage everyone to share any steps that they have taken to make their own homes greener, especially in terms of low-cost or cost-free measures, and measures that can save you money in the long term.