Sustainability for Individuals

Form a culture in yourself and your family.

Teach your family about their environmental footprint and how they can improve, such as school with litter-less lunches.

Change to LED lighting.

Use reusable water containers.

Compost your own food waste (non-meat) during the warm months.

Use setback thermostat in winter.

Only use air conditioning in the summer when necessary.

Sustainability is an individual action. Accept that you have control over your life and the world you live in. Recognize that you can make a difference and that you can shift away from the status quo.

The average Canadian family spends at least $9000 a year per car, and about 13% of Canada's carbon dioxide emissions are due to cars and light trucks on our roads. The average car emits one tonne of carbon dioxide every 5,000 kilometres and for those of us who drive, about half our personal greenhouse gas emissions come from driving. The good news is that there are many ways to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, through driving habits, vehicle maintenance, choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle and considering alternatives to driving.

Pack a reusable mug and cutlery to reduce the use of disposable cups and cutlery.

Do not use automatic door openers unless necessary.

Fill watering cans for plants while waiting for shower/bath water to warm up.

Think about the items that you use every day ... consider where they come from and where they go when you are finished with them. Awareness is the first step towards a sustainable lifestyle.

Savings in a bank account/in a box under the bed/in a mutual fund or RRSP are diminished in their purchasing power every year by inflation. Consider a vehicle, such as gold or silver, that does not lose its purchasing power when compared with other goods and services.

Information provided by BASE³ - please click here for more details.