Live Green

How You and Your Family Can LIVE GREEN

Our environment is in a delicate state, and there are many more things we can be doing to “be green.” Here are some tips for creating an environmentally friendly home for you and your family.

1) Cut down on utilities by unplugging appliances when they are not in use. Unplug things like toasters, hair dryers, and lamps to save energy.    

2) Replace all lights inside and outside your home with energy efficient light bulbs. This will not only save on energy, but it will save you money! Ottawa has several locations which allow you to properly dispose of your used CFL’s; click here for more information.

3) Get rid of old energy-draining appliances. Did you know that most municipalities have programs in place to pick up and properly dispose your old appliances? Ottawa too has an appliance removal program; for more information, click here.

4) Be conscious of the way products are packaged. Reduce waste by avoiding a lot of pre-packaged food and choosing fresh foods instead. Avoiding plastic bottles and bags by using re-usable bags and water-bottles is another great way to help eliminate waste.

5) Recycle! Today we are able to recycle so much more than cans, plastic and paper. Electronics, ink cartridges and old toilets can all be recycled. Think twice before sending old and broken things off to the landfill.

6) Conserve our water supply. Don’t leave the faucet running while brushing your teeth or defrosting food. If there is an alternative to using water, such as sweeping your driveway as opposed to hosing it off or taking shorter showers, do so!

7) Become a “Peaksaver” with HydroOttawa. If you are a Hydro Ottawa customer and have a central air-conditioning system in good working order, HydroOttawa will install, for free, a programmable thermostat. Click here for more information.

8) Receiving and paying your bills online is a great and efficient way to help limit the use of paper, while saving you time and money.

9) Did you know that many times the air indoors is actually more polluted than the air outdoors? One way of decreasing your homes’ toxic emissions is by using low volatile organic compound (VOC) paint when painting your home.

10) Get outdoors! Spend quality time with your family doing outdoor activities such as a trip to the park, an afternoon at the beach, or a bike ride through city trails. This gets your family out of the house and away from sources that use energy such as lights, electronics, and kitchen appliances. Save money on utility costs by having fun with your family!