The Environment
2022
- Replaced all Christmas lights with led
2021
- Replaced all indoor lights with led
- Putting washing machine on only at night
2020
- Completing all work from home
- No longer traveling
2019
- Using a convection oven instead of a wall oven
2018
- Replaced fridge with low energy model
2016
- Working more from home
- No longer flying
2015
- Visited a nature reserve
- Recycling all plastic wrap, ziplock bags, clear & frozen food bags
2014
- Received a new low energy tv
2012
- Visited an eco house
- Visited an environmental museum
- Attended an environmental conference
- Ended dishwasher use
2011
- Replaced a desktop computer with a laptop
- Replaced use of all plastic grocery bags for the green bin with bread bags
- Replaced use of bags with box inserts for garbage
- Visited a nature reserve
2010
- Attended the Green Living Show for the first time
- Commenced Time of Use Rates for hydro
- Replaced plastic garbage bin bags with leftover soil and seed bags
2009
- Shared residence with more people
- Installed recycled roof
- commenced bird study
2008
- Received the smallest size of the new city issued garbage bins
- Observed Earth Hour for the first time
- Reduced wasted energy by un-pluging electrical items that are not often used
- Reduced use of humidifier from every other day in Winter to only during very dry periods
- Reduced use of dehumidifier to only be used on damp days
- Reduced heat by turning the temperature lower
- Received new large blue recycle bin
- Increased weekly Recycle rate from 75-95%
- Reduced bags in garbage from 3-2 per week
- Began to recycle plastic bags & wrap
- Began to recycle take out food containers &
foam trays
- Began to ask for no bags at food & drug stores that have bags and also for a paper bag if possible at clothing stores
- Measured carbon footprint
- Began to let dishwasher air dry
- Replaced drafty side door with new sealed one
- Coordinated first shoreline cleanup
2007
- Reduced water use
- Reduced light use further by using only when needed
- Reduced use of washing machine & dryer to
4 uses per week
- Reduced use of dishwasher from 3-2 times per week
- Started to recycle paint cans & more plastic containers
- Reduced use of plastic bags in garbage
from 5-3 per week
- Reduced Air Conditioner use from 2-1 and only in use on very hot days
- Reduced use of fans
- Reduced waste garbage from one bag a month to one bag every other month
- Began restoration of the shed by painting the outside and patching holes
- Added a new section to the gas boiler tank to stop water leaking
- Installed heat reflectors
- Started to recycle batteries & ink cartridges
- Adopted a Polar Bear
- Reduced use of outdoor Christmas lights from 5-4 hours per evening & used more LED lights
- Had 49 trees planted in the Amazon Rainforest
- Saved 25 square feet of rainforest
- Saved 2,710.14 KG of CO2 emissions
2006
- Replaced a 1987 washing machine with a 2005 model
- Reduced plastic bags in garbage from 7-5
- Reduced water use
- Reduced newspaper delivery from 7-1 days a week
- Reduced use of all lights including turning them off more when not needed
- Reduced use of all outdoor lights
- Reduced heat use by keeping the furnace off till November
- Reduced use of dishwasher from 4-3 times per week
- Reduced use of kitchen vent fan to only use when there is an odor or cooking with grease
- Reduced use of washing machine & dryer from 6-5 times per week
- Now uses only tokens instead of bus tickets
- Reduced use of Christmas lights by one less string, and on less then one year ago
2005
- Reused old stones as part of a new water feature
2004
- Restored older swing chair with new seat
- Received green bin
- Began to recycle all food waste, tissues and soiled items in new green bin
- Reduced use of outdoor lights
- Began to turn out lights when watching evening TV
- Began to keep oven light off except when checking food condition
2003
- Installed new tiles on top of old basement floor
- Began to use cloth napkins
- Replaced dishwasher with new lower energy model
- Reduced use of washing machine & dryer from 7-6 times per week
- Began to use rechargable batteries
- Began to use LED Christmas lights
2002
- Installed new low energy shower head & taps
- Bought a new low energy air conditioner
2001
- Installed new lower energy basement lights
- Reused patio stones in new area
- Increased recycle by adding plastic containers
- Bought a digital camera
2000
- Reused old playground and turned it into a garden
- Used the water in the dehumidifier to water hedge
- Turned off computer when not in use
1999
- Used excess carpet from front steps for bathrooms in Winter
1998
- Installed new lower energy furnace
- Began to recycle milk/juice cartons & juice boxes
- Received a rain barrel to use rain water to water the grass & garden
- Replaced dead hedge with new evergreen hedge
- Planted an evergreen hedge around the back yard to reduce pollution from traffic
1997
- Low energy fridge was bought for basement
- Installed new metal back door
- Received grey bin, a seperate bin for papers
- Had a new bath tub fitted over the old one
- Installed new low energy toilet
- Installed old toilet in basement
- Began to recycle foil dishes
1996
- Began to use paper bags for lawn recycle to replace plastic
- Re-used old front fence in back yard
1994
- Began to clear out basement with most items being paper going right to recycle
- Created a flower garden in the front yard
- Bought a new lower energy grass cutter
1993
- Replaced dryer with lower energy model
- Replaced all basement windows with glass block
- Created a flower garden in the back yard
- Bought a low energy BBQ
- Created a basement kitchen using extra cabinets and leftover counter from the new main floor kitchen
- Re-used half of the old oven for storage of tools
1992
- Installed new metal front door
- Replaced older fridge, dishwasher, stove & oven with lower energy models
- Began to use cloth shopping bags
1991
- Installed new windows on main floor
- Installed first glass block window
- Installed weatherstripping around all windows & doors
1990
- Received a composter for food waste
1989
- Received blue box
- Began to put all papers, boxes, bottles and cans in blue box
- Held first annual garage sale and then donated leftover items to charity
1988
- Began to recycle leaves and sticks by using new clear plastic bags
Prior to 1988 :
- Reused plastic bottles & containers for storage
- Reused parcel bags & bubble wrap
- Reused boxes
- Reused gift paper, boxes & bags
- Reused clear bags from magazines for storage
- Reused old wood leftover from renovations
- Donated old toys, clothes, books, household items and furnicture to charity
- Used products right up till they are gone
- Used both sides of paper to write on
- Never used spray on lawns
- Never owned a car
- Always used public transport to get around
