Parent Time

Canadians are blessed with an abundance of land, resources and endless wonder. Maybe that’s why we’re so wasteful.

A 2005 study comparing Canada’s environmental performance against 29 other wealthy Western countries confirmed that we’re a nation of eco-hogs: We ranked among the worst four in nine critical environmental indicators, including energy consumption, water use and greenhouse gas emissions.

But the good news is that Canadians are taking climate change seriously. Over 700f those recently polled by The Globe and Mail and CTV News believe we are responsible for global warming, and 83aid the changes we are imposing on our environment could “harm future generations.”

So how can the average family turn anxiety into action? Clifford Maynes, executive director of Green Communities Canada, a Peterborough, Ont., national umbrella organization for non-profits that promote environmental programs, says to start at home with simple changes — buying energy-efficient lighting or turning the thermostat down.

In fact, the home front offers plenty of ways to preserve and protect the planet. We’ve divided your house into three areas — heating and cooling, lighting and appliances, and household waste — to show you how to turn your home green.

Originally published in Today's Parent, July 2007