Keep up the heat this summer
on fighting climate change

It's BIKE MONTH in Toronto!

Get in the spirit with Toronto's Festival for Cycling Culture,
May 25-June 21
 http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/events/index.htm

Best cool tips at home and on the go

  • Put a bowl of ice cubes in front of your fan and enjoy the breeze
  • Pack a scarf with ice cubes and tie it around your neck!

Sign up for PEAKSAVER

Help the environment  with PEAKSAVER and get $50 credit ...
Any Toronto Hydro-Electric customer with central air conditioning is eligible to sign up for PEAKSAVER to receive a $50 credit and be entered in cool PEAKSAVER contests.  By participating, you'll join thousands of others who allow Toronto to reduce the strain on the electrical system during summer peak periods. It only takes a little effort to make a big contribution to conserve electricity and improve our environment.
 
Sign up at: http://www.torontohydro.com/peaksaver/

Air conditioning tips

We use our air conditioners to protect us from the effects of hot, smoggy days. BUT … by running our air conditioners, we are making these days even more likely. It creates a vicious circle of smog.

Air conditioners can put an enormous strain on our power supplies. They're the reason the risk of power shortages is greatest in the summer. 

There's a myth that leaving the A/C on all day uses less energy than cooling the house down when you get home. That myth is completely false. Your air conditioner has to work its hardest in the middle of the day when it's hottest outside. That's a lot of wasted energy when nobody's home. An air conditioner can cool a room noticeably in about 10 minutes. That's a much better use of power. 

  • Keep windows closed and pull the blinds or drapes closed to keep the house cool.
  • Use ceiling fans to supplement, or even replace, air conditioning.
  • Cool your home to 26 C (no lower!) Each degree you go below 26 C noticeably increases your electricity use.
  • Turn off unnecessary lights and equipment in the house - they produce a lot of heat and make your air conditioner work harder.

source: http ://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/myenvironment/home/ac.php

More summer tips

  1. Don't over-water your lawn — Even though the heat may seem unbearable, your lawn will only need one inch of water each week. If it rains, that means you don't have to water. Make sure to water early in the morning (before it gets too hot, but not if it's windy). Watering in the evening can cause lawn disease, as the ground will stay wet through the night. Watering mid-day is a waste since water evaporates
  2. Steer clear of disposable containers for your outdoor eating — If you don't have enough plates, bowls or cutlery, ask a friend to bring an extra set over or rent dishes from a party rental company. Refuse to use disposables, which can take more than 100 years to break down.

  3. Don't water your sidewalk and driveway — In an effort to keep their property looking its best, some people don't realize the true environmental cost of water consumption. Break the habit of hosing down concrete, and get out the old broom.

  4. Go easy on your air conditioner — Home cooling is one of the biggest energy guzzling behaviors we have. Try alternative cooling methods for those unbearable days. Using fans will reduce your air conditioner use in half. Close blinds and curtains on bright sunny days. Take a cold shower or lie in a tub filled halfway with lukewarm water. Fill a container with ice cubes and point your oscillating fan in its direction. Use a public pool or make an iced fruit smoothie to cool your insides. Sit in your lawn chair under the sprinkler! Get creative!

  5. Retire the gas lawnmower and leaf blower. They are murder ~ especially on poor air quality/smog alert days. — Gas-powered mowers and leaf blowers feed hungrily off fossil fuels, releasing 80,000 tonnes of GHG emissions annually in Canada. Try a push-mower instead and you can save 80 lbs of carbon dioxide per year. And no more gas or fumes!
  6. Wait until it rains to wash your vehicle. Or use a bucket of water and some elbow grease to do the job
  7. Use a clothesline to dry clothes. Set up an outdoor or indoor clothesline. It's easy, cheap and environmentally-friendly
  8. Leave the car at home and walk, ride your bicycle or take public transit. Combine your car-based errands diligently and carpool whenever possible. Try the train over air travel for long distance trips

source: http ://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewConsForum7.cfm?REF=20