What can we do about Climate Change?

What can we do about Climate Change?

Wherever you are, in an office, a store, a factory, in the great outdoors or on the road, in schools, or at home, there are bound to be opportunities to save energy.

AT WORK

• Turn equipment off when it is not in use, including computers, photocopiers, cash
registers, and coffee makers, particularly overnight and on weekends.
• If your computer has integrated power management capabilities, ensure the system
is configured to use them. Where printers and photocopiers have an energy-saver mode, make sure it is operating (machines are often shipped with this feature disabled).
• Avoid using a laser printer for draft quality printouts. From an energy perspective,
the order of preference is ink-jet, dot matrix and laser.
• Use as little paper as possible. Printing, photocopying and faxing all use energy. Communicating electronically through e-mail and fax/modems is quicker, less expensive, more productive and healthier for the environment.
• Print and copy on both sides of paper. Double-sided printing or copying reduces paper costs, saves filing space and minimizes the amount of energy and fiber required for paper production.
• Use recycled paper (including unbleached paper) whenever possible.
• Encourage your employer to launch an awareness program to motivate employees to improve energy efficiency in the workplace.

ON THE ROAD

Vehicles are taking a heavy toll on the environment. The transportation sector is one of the largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

Reducing energy consumption by vehicles – including the family car – will be a big part of the climate change solution. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your fuel consumption, operating costs and exhaust emissions.

• Leave the car at home – walk or bike for short trips. For longer trips, take the bus. One busload of passengers takes 40 vehicles off the road during rush hour, saves 70,000 liters of fuel and avoids over 175 tons of emissions a year.
• Avoid idling your vehicle – ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting your engine.
• Keep to the speed limit. Driving at 100 km/hr burns 10% more fuel than driving at
90 km/hr. On the highway, maintain a steady speed to reduce fuel consumption.

ON SCHOOLS AND CAMPUSES

Since the early 1990s, campus greening initiatives have become common at schools and universities across the country. Although many of these initiatives may have been introduced as cost-saving measures, or as part of environmental education programs, they will help to reduce emissions in their communities. Types of initiatives include:

• Tree planting
• Alternative transportation programs (car pooling, use of school buses, etc.)
• Energy efficiency and alternative energy programs
• Waste management programs
• Green purchasing practices and policies

AT HOME

There are many practical things you can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and a great place to start is at home. Here are some ways to reduce emissions, make your home more comfortable and save money.

• Turn off lights, appliances, television sets and computers when they’re not needed.
• Check the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) label. When buying new household appliances, room air conditioner or vehicle, the EER label can help you select the most energy-efficient model that meets your needs. The higher the EER rating, the better.
• Use energy-efficient lighting products, like compact fluorescent bulbs. They last 10 times longer and use 75 percent less energy than regular bulbs.
• Install low-flow showerheads, which use up to 60 percent less water than conventional showers. Fix leaky faucets immediately. At one drop per second, a single leaky washer wastes the equivalent of 16 hot baths every month.

Source: www.climatechange.gc.ca