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WHAT IT MEANS TO BE GREEN (part 4)
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Water
Works
Canadians are the second-largest consumers of water in the world,
using 250 l of water per person per day in their homes. The
good news: conserving water is as easy as replacing your shower
head with an aerator head, which reduces water consumption by
more than 60 per cent, and replacing your old toilet with a
low-volume version, which typically uses 80 per cent less water
than a regular model.
Low-volume toilets range in price—from about $100 to $500—depending
on make and model, so you can purchase one for about the same
cost as a standard model. The difference: you’ll lower
your water and hydro bills, reduce municipal water demands
and, for those in rural areas, extend the life of your well.
| EASY
FIXES |
Going
green can be as simple as replacing light bulbs.
Here are a few other ways to keep it green in your
home:
• Install
large, south-facing windows, which provide natural
light and heat from the sun.
• Wire
your lighting so that individual lights can be dimmed
or turned off.
• Lay
down tile or hardwood in place of carpeting to raise
indoor air quality.
• Use
water-based latex paint instead of oil-based paint.
• Install
a low-volume toilet, which uses 80 per cent less
water than full-flush models.
• Install
an aerator shower head, which cuts back on water
usage by more than 60 per cent.
• Use
compact fluorescent light bulbs for a 75 per cent
reduction in energy costs.
• Seal
gaps around electrical boxes to eliminate drafts.
• Add
a restricted-flow tap to your kitchen faucet to
reduce water usage by 60 per cent.
• Install
skylights for natural light and heat.
• Upgrade
old appliances with energy-efficient models.
• Build
a compost bin in your backyard for kitchen waste.
• Store
odour-producing cleaners, toiletries and garbage
in sealed containers.
• Get
rid of the pile of old paint cans in your basement;
they pollute your air.
• Seal
underneath your countertops, vanities and other
exposed engineered wood. |
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Another easy way to conserve water: install an Energy Star dishwasher.
According to a recent study conducted at the University of Bonn
in Germany, the average handwasher uses 103 l of water and 2.5
kilowatt-hours of water-heating energy to clean 12 complete
table settings, while an energy-efficient dishwasher uses 15
l of water and one to two kilowatt-hours. Wait until the machine
is full before running, and let the dishes air-dry to reduce
power usage further.
What it’s Worth
Turning green has never been easier or cheaper. As fuel prices
increase and the threat of global warming continues to dominate
news headlines, it makes sense, fiscally and otherwise, to consider
conservation when renovating your home. Of course, nobody likes
to be preached to, so educate yourself on what’s worth
it and what’s a marketing ploy.
Crawford suggests casting a weary eye toward quick fixes and
products that, upon a closer look, will prove to be a bad choice
for your particular home. “A salesman will tell you that
a heat-recovery ventilator is good; but, if your home is drafty,
why would you want one?” he says. “If you’re
in doubt about the validity of a green product, call a government
agency such as CMHC or Natural Resources Canada or the Office
of Energy Efficiency.”
CMHC, for example, offers a free online download of its Know
Your Home series, which covers 70 topics.
While the amount of green products on the market can be bewildering,
sorting through the hype can be good for both your pocketbook
and the planet.
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1.
Energy-saving products | 2.
Retrofitting your home
3. Improving Indoor Air Quality
| 4. Conserving Water |
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