Take Action - Individuals

All Canadians contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the actions of individual Canadians account for about 28% of Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions.

That's almost six tonnes per person per year. Every time we turn on a light, hop in the car, start up a computer, or do anything that uses energy, we are responsible for producing greenhouse gases.

But if we're part of the problem, we also can be part of the solution. At home, on the road, and at work, there are simple things we can do to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions - and save energy and money in the process!

How You Can Take Action Now

Some Simple Ways to Reduce Your GHG Emissions:

• Don’t Idle
  Idling for 10 minutes a day can produce about a quarter tonne of CO2 emissions each year and cost you about $70 in wasted fuel. Visit Idle-Free Zone at www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/idling/home.cfm
• Use Public Transit
  One city bus filled with passengers can take 40 vehicles off the road and keep about 50 tonnes of GHGs out of the atmosphere each year.
• Organize a Car Pool - passenger seats are not meant for briefcases and lunch!
• Ban disposable coffee cups - i.e. less waste, idling, and line-ups at the drive-thru!
• Choose Active Transportation - Walk, Bike, Skate, Ski, Snowshoe, to reduce your carbon footprint and live a healthier lifestyle at the same time!
• Check your vehicle’s tire pressure once a month
  About 70% of cars and light trucks on the road have at least one tire that is over or under-inflated which can reduce the life of the tire and increase fuel consumption. By maintaining proper tire pressure, you could reduce your GHGs by at least 1/8 of a tonne each year and save at least $50 in fuel costs.
• Get an Energy Efficiency Home Audit - Click here to visit Efficiency NB’s website to set up an energy assessment and learn about energy efficiency improvements to a home like yours.
  
• Use ENERGY STAR®- qualified appliances
  A 2002 model EnergyStar qualified refrigerator uses less than half the electricity of a unit built ten years ago, and can reduce your GHG's by 1/10 of a tonne each year.
• Using caulking and weather stripping to seal all leaks around doors, windows, and cracks where heat escapesfrom your home can save up to 20% on your heating bill and reduce your GHG emissions by up to half a tonne. All of the cracks and gaps in the average house, added together, are equal to a 1.5 square foot hole.
• Use ENERGY STAR® -qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs
  They last 10 times longer and use 75% less energy than regular incandescent light bulbs. Replacing five regular light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent lightbulbs will reduce your GHG emissions by 1/8 tonne and save about $30 each year.
• Turn it Off! when not in use
• Recycle or compost as much as possible to reduce solid waste going to landfills.
• Reduce your Speed.
  Driving at 100 km/h burns 10 per cent more fuel than driving at 90 km/h. On the highway, use cruise control to maintain a steady speed and reduce fuel consumption.
• Plan a vacation in the Maritimes - avoid costly and carbon intensive travel.
• Use teleconference / webconference instead of travel to meetings
• Install low-flow showerheads and fix leaky or dripping facets to conserve hot water. A low-flow showerhead uses 60% less water than standard fixtures.
• Grow your own or buy local produce instead of buying food that has a large carbon footprint (travelled a long distance).

For other ideas, visit the Conservation Council of New Brunswick's website - All Things Efficient.

Participatory Sensing A citizen-powered approach to illuminating the patterns that shape our world