Pubdate:April 22, 2008
By Erika Engel
In honour of Earth Day today, The Hamilton Spectator has
gathered some tips for reducing your ecological footprint. There are
basic changes for newbies and more advanced tips for extreme
greens.
Eat local
Sarah Megens, project manager from the Hamilton Eat Local Project,
says local foods are fresher and tastier, and buying them
helps protect local farm lands and ensures access to sustainable
food sources.
Starting tips:
* Replace imported foods with locally grown products.
* Enjoy trips to the farmers' market (by bike or
car pool).
* Pick your own berries.
* Be aware of what foods are in season and
buy accordingly.
The next level:
* Shop locally all year round at the Ottawa Street
and downtown farmers' markets. Environment Hamilton provides a directory of
local farmers on its website and has maps available on
request.
* Start your own garden. If you don't have the
land for it, grow some herbs and vegetables in pots
on your balcony or by a window.
Waste not
Michael Gemmell, manager for Green Venture's EcoHouse, says the best
way to start reducing waste is by participating in the
city's blue box and green cart program.
Starting tips:
* Put several green and blue boxes throughout your home.
* Stick to the one-bag-a-week limit on garbage.
The next level:
* Start composting in your backyard.
* Use a worm composter. You can buy a worm
shack system from Green Venture.
Conserve water
Kathryn Gold, water co-ordinator at Green Venture, offers tricks for
curbing water usage.
Starting tips:
* Stop watering your lawn.
* Buy aerator taps for your showers and faucets.
* Purchase low-flush and dual-flush toilets.
* Do dishes and laundry only in full loads.
The next level:
* Plant clover or native plants instead of grass, as
it requires no watering and no mowing.
* Buy and use a rain barrel.
Be efficient
Green Venture executive director Pete Wobschall encourages people to be
aware of the sun.
Starting tips:
* In the winter, open the curtains and let the
heat in. In the summer, keep the sunshine out of
your home to keep it cool.
* Make sure all your lights are energy efficient.
* Before you buy new appliances, make sure they have
the EnerGuide and Energy Star labels.
* Draft-proof your home. The average home has enough leaks
and cracks to make a 60-centimetre-by-60-centimetre hole, Wobschall said.
The next level:
* Try making your own energy through solar panels or
wind turbines.
Go ride a bike
About 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from
transportation, according to Wobschall.
* Walking, biking, car pooling and taking transit are easy
ways to reduce those harmful emissions.
* Use EnerGuide for automobiles before buying a car. Make
sure to purchase a fuel-efficient or hybrid model.
* Plan your route before you leave the house. A
well-planned errand means fewer trips.
Special to The Hamilton Spectator
For more information and tips to reduce your ecological footprint,
and to see a list of Earth Day events all
week, go to thespec.com
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