A popular buzz phrase these days. But what does it mean and how is it possible? Well for most it’s not very feasible: moving away from civilization and fast food; living off the land, no dependence on traditional means of electricity, heat, or communication. Would this mean no cell phones, no laptops, no MP3s, no SUVs? Maybe not the ideal life after all. However, most of us would like to live a more planet-friendly life but still have our technology. So, how can we change our daily routine to help our planet without adding stress?

TURN OFF YOUR CAR
Idling even for 10 minutes, while you run in to the store, or wait for someone, increases harmful fuel emissions. According to Environment Canada, if every Canadian motorist avoided idling their vehicle for just five minutes a day, all year, more than 1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide, along with other toxic substances, would not enter the air. This would be major progress toward reaching Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.


SPRING-CLEANING ANYTIME 
Think twice before throwing reusable items into the garbage. Contact local charities, some pick up used clothing, baby toys, books and other household items at your door. Some stores give discounts on your next purchase when you bring in donations. Not only are you saving landfill sites, you may be assisting a family in need.

So you don’t have to do anything as dramatic as selling your home and living on a mountain. We can all lead a more eco-friendly life. Start with a few simple changes to help save the planet and save you money.

REPLACE BULBS 
Next time a light bulb burns out, don’t reach for the regular 60 watt bulb, stock up on the curly, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). BC Hydro recommends, replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with CFLs to save in two ways:

1 Money 

• CFLs last about 8-10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, that’s 10,000 hours. They only need to be replaced every five to six years.
• Replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 25-watt CFL can save approximately $35 in electricity over the life of each bulb. Calculate your savings.

2 The environment

• CFLs use about 66% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to produce the same amount of light. Replacing one regular bulb keeps a half-ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb. can save approximately $35 in electricity over the life of each bulb. 

H&L