Shades of Green

I am a strong proponent of making small changes that will put me on the road to living a much greener lifestyle. It is very easy to develop green habits at home and reduce my impact on the environment in a major way.

A 2007 survey commissioned by the Ontario Power Authority examined public attitudes towards energy conservation. They were interested in discovering the levels of commitment and engagement among individuals in the province of Ontario. Four types of individuals emerged:

Live for today people are not interested in electricity conservation or in taking any kind of action. (12% of the population)

Budget driven people are interested in easy-to-do, low-cost measures that will allow them to save money in the short term. (36% of the population)

Pragmatic conservers are willing to act as long as it does not mean a loss of money, comfort, or convenience. (28% of the population)

Green champions will conserve electricity even if involves some sacrifice because it is the right thing to do. (22% of the population)

How an you become a green champion?

• Install extra insulation.
• Use energy-efficient lights.
• Operate a high-efficiency furnace.
• Use a front-load washer.
• Adjust the thermostat.