Nature Challenge Newsletter

Dear Nature Challenge Champion,

I’m thrilled to see so many Canadians starting the New Year determined to make our world a better place. By taking the Nature Challenge you’ve shown an outstanding commitment to nature.

When you signed up for the Nature Challenge, you agreed to do at least three things over the coming year to conserve nature. This month, we’re focusing on reducing home energy use by 10 per cent. It’s actually easier than you may think – and it will save you money.

Let’s make 2003 the year all Canadians get involved in protecting the natural systems that sustain us. It’s the least we can do for Mother Nature. She’s been pretty good to us!

 

Contents:

1. Plugging electricity leaks in your home
2. Tip of the Month
3. Take action: Fax the Minister of Natural Resources
4. It’s getting hot in here: Reducing home heating costs
5. Champion of the month: Marie Van Dusen
6. Water, water everywhere: Cutting hot water waste
7. Famous Canadian of the month
8. Workplace tip of the month

Drip, drip, drip: Are you leaking electricity

Many people click off lights in rooms that aren't being used, but there are lots of other ways to plug the leaks and save energy.

USE ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHT BULBS

Cost factor: Medium
Energy savings: High
Technical difficulty: Low

Standard light bulbs waste 90 per cent of their electricity on heat. New compact fluorescent "spiral" bulbs are 75 per cent more efficient and fit in standard sockets. Check for the brightest light (measured in "lumens") with the lowest energy consumption (measured in "watts").

UNPLUG UNUSED APPLIANCES AND USE A POWER BAR

Cost factor: Free/low
Energy savings: Low
Technical difficulty: Low

You know those black boxes that power cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and rechargeable tools? Unplug 'em! As long as those transformers are plugged in you’re using energy, so plug them in when your electronic devices need charging. Another option is to plug TVs and stereos into power strips with on/off switches. Turning the powerbar off when your appliances aren’t in use will stop the electrical "leak."

USE YOUR CLOTHES DRYER LESS OFTEN

Cost factor: Free/low
Energy savings: Medium
Technical difficulty: Low

This one is also straight savings, but may be inconvenient for some. In the summer, consider using a clothes line. In the winter, set up a "drying rack" in a spare room to hang-dry your clothes. This helps clothes last longer too.

TURN COMPUTER EQUIPMENT COMPLETELY OFF

Cost factor: Free/low
Energy savings: Low
Technical difficulty: Low

A common myth is that computers should be left on all the time. Nope, that just wastes energy. Another myth is that the spike in energy needed to start up computers and monitors is so high that it saves energy to keep them on. Actually, that spike lasts a very short time. Use a power bar to completely shut off all your computer equipment when not in use and save electricity!

One more computer tip: New flat screen LCD monitors use 70 per cent less energy than standard monitors and contain 95 per cent less lead!

Where does your electricity come from?  Click here to find out! (PDF)

------------------------ ACTION OF THE MONTH ------------------------
THIS FAX ACTION IS NOW CLOSED. Letters sent to date: 344

Send a free fax to the Minister of Natural Resources Herb Dhaliwal, urging him to support a national building retrofit program to make all Canadian homes more energy efficient.

Read a background letter to Minister Dhaliwal on this issue.

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It’s getting hot in here . . .

So turn down the heat and reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Okay, maybe that doesn’t have the same ring to it as the original song. But you don’t have to huddle in the cold to curb energy waste, just be smart about home heating – it currently sucks up 60 per cent of the average home’s energy use! Try these steps:

INSTALL AN ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT

Cost factor: Low
Energy savings: High
Technical difficulty: Low

One of these gizmos costs about $50 from your neighborhood hardware store, installs in 20 minutes and can save you 10 per cent or more on heating bills. Program the thermostat to lower the heat while you sleep, increase it when you wake up, then go back down when you’re out of the house. Room temperature is usually considered to be 21 C, but experiment with different temperatures for your family. Many people are comfortable at 19 C and prefer to sleep under the covers at 15 C or lower!

KEEP YOUR FURNACE CLEAN AND TUNED

Cost factor: Low/Medium
Energy savings: Medium
Technical difficulty: Low/High

A properly tuned furnace burns cleaner and saves energy. Consult your local professional to do the tuning, but you can easily install new filters yourself. Dirty filters make the furnace work harder, wasting energy. They should be changed at least twice each winter.

INSTALL PROPER WEATHER STRIPPING AND CAULKING
Cost factor: Low
Energy savings: High
Technical difficulty: Medium

If you combined all the "heat leaks" in an average Canadian home, you would have a hole the size of a basketball! No wonder our houses feel drafty.

Proper weather stripping and caulking of doors and windows can reduce heating bills by a whopping 25 per cent. This investment can pay off faster than almost any other home improvement, even if your house is already well insulated. Visit the following sites for clear and easy-to-follow steps:
Buttoning Up Your House
Information on Caulking
Energy Efficiency Tips and Tools

The City of Toronto has a fantastic program called "Greensaver" to help people make their homes more energy smart. Contact your local municipality to see if such a program exists in your area. If not, ask why not?

INSTALL FULL BLINDS OR DRAPES

Cost factor: Low to high
Energy savings: Medium
Technical difficulty: Medium

Open drapes or blinds on south, west and east-facing windows during the day so the sun can heat up your house or apartment. Close them when the sun goes down to help keep the heat inside.

PLANT TREES AND BUSHES AROUND YOUR HOME

Cost factor: Low/medium
Energy savings: Low/medium
Technical difficulty: Medium
Plant life really can help ward off winter winds! Deciduous trees shade windows in the summer while letting sun shine through in the winter.

CONSIDER MINOR RENOVATIONS

Cost factor: Medium/high
Energy savings: High
Technical difficulty: Medium/high

Improving ceiling insulation can reduce energy use by up to 15 per cent; Insulating floors and basements? Another 15 per cent; Storm windows and doors? Ditto. And if your furnace needs replacing, try a high-efficiency model – look for an Energy Star label.

Water, water everywhere . . .
Heating water soaks up 20 per cent of an average home’s energy needs. Yet, much of that water is simply wasted, or cools before it can be used. Here’s how you can cut back on the waste, without crimping your lifestyle.

WASH CLOTHES IN COOLER WATER
Cost factor: Free
Energy savings: Low
Technical difficulty: Low

Better for your clothes, better for the environment.

TURN DOWN YOUR WATER HEATER TEMPERATURE
Cost factor: Free
Energy savings: Medium/low
Technical difficulty: Low

There's a thermostat on your hot water heater just like on your wall. Set it at the lowest temperature your family needs. Remember – most of the time, that water isn’t being used and you’re paying to keep in hot 24/7.

While you are at your hot water tank, wrap it with an extra layer of insulation, and wrap the first two or three meters of hot water pipe coming out of it too. (Insulation available at your hardware store.)

CHANGE YOUR SHOWER ROUTINE
Cost factor: Free/low
Energy savings: Medium
Technical difficulty: Low

Install low-flow showerheads and faucets. This easy step can significantly reduce hot water consumption by 20 to 40 per cent. For quick and easy steps to install a low flow showerhead, visit Energy Hawk.
To install water-saving aerators on your faucets check out this page

Also, try cutting back on the length of your showers.

CHOOSE AN EFFICIENT HOT WATER TANK
Cost factor: Low/high
Energy savings: Medium/high
Technical difficulty: High

When the time comes to replace your tank, look for one with an Energy Star label. On-demand hot water tanks are even more efficient, but cost more. We’ll talk more about energy-efficient appliances in an upcoming newsletter.

Celebrity of the Month: Ron MacLean

"I'm not an environmentalist but I am concerned about the environment. This Challenge gives us as Canadians a chance to make a difference and to be a front runner in reducing global emissions."

Workplace Tip of the Month:

Tell people at work about the Challenge and invite them to sign up. For this month, you can also advise people to turn off their computers (and monitors) when not in use - both at home and in the office.

More links:
A good place to begin learning about saving energy is the Office of Energy Efficiency
BC households can visit BC Hydro's PowerSmart website to get specific suggestions on home energy conservation.

Learn more about David Suzuki’s Challenge:

Read about the science behind the 10 steps. (Adobe PDF document)
Read the Green Guide, a comprehensive look at the 10 steps. (Adobe PDF document)