https://www.footprintcalculator.org/. The earth’s ecosystem is more fragile than we can imagine and we all need to do our part to help the planet. Here are 5 ways you can be more green for your home.
1. Don’t buy bottled water
Canada has 9% of the world’s freshwater resources. In the Greater Vancouver Area, tap water is actually regulated and checked more frequently for contaminants than bottled water. This basically means, that drinking tap water is actually healthier than bottled water. Plus, when you drink tap water, you don’t have to worry about recycling plastic bottles.
2. Turn off the lights
Unless you’ve developed some kind of time warp machine where you can be in more than one room at the same time, there is no need to have the lights on in a room other than the one you are in. Just by turning off the lights can save you a pretty penny on your electric bill. This is definitely a big step in reducing your carbon footprint.
3. Get unplugged
Unplug devices that are not being used. Even if you think “hey, it’s not a significant amount of energy,” the truth of the matter is that all devices plugged in will bleed some energy. And over time, this can add up. But it doesn’t just affect the environment, it will also add to the amount of your bills. The same applies for your chargers. Even when a device isn’t charging, having an empty charger plugged in will still draw out some energy.
4. Recycle smartly
Metro Vancouver is ever searching for ways to support and help the environment. There are over 1,300 recycling locations around Metro Vancouver. Find the one closest to you and get familiar with the recycling system. You could either donate, recycle or appropriately dispose of unwanted items and you don’t have to go far to do it. You may also want to become familiar with the recycling schedule in your neighbourhood and understand the recycling rules. Check out the City of Vancouver’s guide to recycling here: https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/recycling.aspx. For plastic recycling, check out how to dispose of it properly at the Plastic Recycling Depot located at Kitsilano’s Community Center. https://kitscc.com/plastic-recycling-depot-2/.
5. Bring in some plants
Even elementary school students know that plants are healthy for any living environment. You could go wild with it and fill every corner of your home with a different kind of plant, or just bring in a few nice plants to compliment a few rooms. Instead of buying an electric air filter, you can use Mother Nature’s natural air filters to help purify the air in your home.