The Nature Challenge

Your home is plugged into nature. Depending on the province where you live, your home electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, hydro-electric dams or nuclear power plants. Each of these sources has environmental consequences - from air pollution and global warming to habitat loss and nuclear waste. Find out where your electricity comes from.

Wasting energy not only hurts your pocketbook but nature as well. Choosing efficient appliances reduces electricity consumption. And that means lower energy bills and less pollution.

Essential Facts

• Check to see if homes meet R-2000 standards and appliances are Energy Star approved, and visit the Green Communities Canada website for more tips.
  
  
• Read the Nature Challenge newsletter for more tips on making your home and appliances more energy efficient.

• A home built to R-2000 standards uses just two-thirds of the energy of a conventional home. Your small investment in designing a home which saves energy will be paid back in utility bills and resale value.
  
  
• Shop smart by choosing energy efficient appliances. Newer models generally use less energy and actually save you money on electricity bills. A new refrigerator uses 40 per cent less energy than a model produced before 1993!
  
  
• Home energy use is increasing because the energy-saving characteristics of newer appliances is offset by increased use and the number of electrical devices in the home.

Download the Green Guide (PDF)
Download the Science of the Challenge. (PDF)