There have been a lot of comments on this blog recently about environmental concerns in Alberta, related to the oil sands. Unfortunately I’m no expert on what’s going on up there other than a lot of trees are being cut down, a lot of water is being used, and a lot of greenhouse gasses are being released into the atmosphere.
Since this is a real estate blog though, and I majored in Ecology in University, I can comment on other environmental issues related to how we live here in Alberta. Here are some very simple suggestions to conserve that you may not have thought of:
- Drink tap water. Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic each year and takes 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce. It is estimate 80% of these bottles are thrown away and not recycled (Source: Lighterfootstep.com). Add to that the fact that water is very heavy, and gets trasported across the country and in some cases from across the ocean (think Evian) and there is a very heavy environmental toll to drinking bottled water. Besides, most bottled water is just tap water anyway – Pepsi takes municipal water from Mississauga and Vancouver, bottles it and rebrands it as the purest of waters" (a.k.a. Aquafina) (Source: Macleans). Visit a high end restaurant in California, Toronto or a growing list of other cities and you won’t even be able to get bottled water – many restaurants are installing their own tap water filtration units. For your home, you can even install a "healthy home system" much like the owners of this beautiful home in Parkland have (shameless plug….I know).
- Clean or replace your air conditioning filter. Depending on where you live, air conditioning filters can get dirty in a matter of days. An air conditioner with a clogged filter has to work harder, which means higher power bills and the creation of more greenhouse emissions. Running clean, you can save up to $150 each year. You’ll also enjoy the benefit of fewer allergy causing particles in the air, and a more comfortable home or office.
- Unplug idle appliances and electronic devices. Just because that cellphone charger doesn’t have a phone attached to it doesn’t mean it’s not drawing energy. Devices such as televisions with standby modes can use up to half the power they would draw when turned on. Don’t just turn something off: unplug it. The average household can save up to several hundred dollars a year just by pulling the plug on silent energy vampires.
- Don’t idle your car. I can’t believe how many people I see in this city that leave their cars running! I can (sort of) understand doing it in the winter (even though the colder it gets the more greenhouse gasses your car puts out, especially when idling) but what is the deal with cars idling, with the windows open on a beautiful day? Starting your car uses 10 seconds worth of gas, so if you’re sitting for more than 10 seconds turn it off. While you’re at it use your cruise control on the highway for up to a 15-percent improvement in mileage. Driving less aggressively is the single most effective way to save gasoline: accelerate out of lights more gently, avoid rapid braking, and only drive as fast as you must. Skip the drive-through window, park, and walk your business inside whenever possible.
So there you have it, 4 simple things you can do that will have very little impact on your day to day life and can help you make a smaller impact on your environment. (See www.Lighterfootstep.com for more ideas).
Oh, and one last thing, we love getting comments but lets not turn this into a pissing match about the oil sands or anythingn else or we’ll have to close the comments.
