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Green Deals 
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Posted on
Jan. 15, 2008
@ 11:57am
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Green Tip Tuesday: Breaking Bad Habits
Being proactively green or environmentally conscious is great. We can all make the extra effort to buy green products like compact fluorescent lights, locally grown food products, or taking public transit, but what about breaking some everyday bad habits that we often don't give a second thought? Here are some common bad habits that we should all look to break:
- running the water while brushing your teeth or shaving
- buying copious amounts of bottled water instead of refilling with tap water or filtered water
- idling your car for minutes at a time
- leaving your computer and monitor on when they are not in use
- doing half loads of laundry when you could wait and do full loads
- unnecessarily printing out emails or reports when you're doing electronic presentations
- using and throwing out plastic utensils instead of washing metal utensils
- accepting plastic bags each time at the supermarket instead of simply reusing bags
- using paper or styrofoam coffee cups instead of a mug
Got more ideas on some bad habits we should look to break or avoid? Share them in our green forums!
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Posted on
Jan. 8, 2008
@ 1:22pm
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Green Tip Tuesday - 8 Ways to Make 2008 Greener!
We're back with the first installment of Green Tip Tuesday for 2008. In this edition, we'll take a look at some simple and accessible ways you can make 2008 much greener.
- Forgo harsh cleaners, detergents and solvents and switch to some inexpensive and natural alternatives. With readily available and safe products like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and borax, you can clean just about anything around the house.
- Install low-flow shower heads to conserve water.
- Lower your thermostat by a few degrees. It's simple, effective, and gives you a great reason to wear that new sweater or to get warm and cozy under a blanket with a person of your choice!
- Walk, jog, rollerblade, and bike more often. Your New Year's resolution to get fit and active ties in very nicely with a green lifestyle.
- Ease up on the plastic shopping bags. Use reusable alternatives, or at the very least, reuse your existing plastic shopping bags instead of throwing them out.
- Turn off your computer and or monitor when it's not in use!
- Buy only as much as you need, and where possible, buy in bulk! These two may seem slightly contradictory, but shopping smart is the best way to be green. Don't buy so much as to be wasteful, but if you can buy in larger quantities that you will use, do so! It'll help save money and packaging.
- Rechargeable batteries - use them!
For more green goals that you can work toward in the new year, check out this feature from Green Living Online.
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Posted on
Dec. 18, 2007
@ 3:09pm
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That's it for now, enjoy the holidays and stay green until next Tuesday!
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Posted on
Dec. 13, 2007
@ 2:18pm
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New Feature Article: Dreaming of a Green Christmas
For many online shoppers, the idea of a green Christmas no longer merely stirs up the image of sad children and a depressing weather forecast for the holidays - far from it, in fact. With environmental concerns at the forefront of current events and social consciousness, it comes as little surprise that consumers and retailers alike are responding. Since this is the heaviest shopping period of the year, many are indeed hoping for a "green" Christmas. In this new feature, staff writer Jessica deMello takes a look at the uptrend of ecologically-aware shopping and how it is starting to impact the consumer landscape.
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Posted on
Dec. 11, 2007
@ 2:31pm
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Green Tip Tuesday - Easy Ways to Reuse
Everyone has heard the the 3 Rs, but there's little doubt that sometimes applying these principles to daily life can take a some extra effort and work. Is it worthwhile and commendable? Absolutely, but in today's Green Tip Tuesday, we'll be taking a look at some easy ways to reuse that pose minimal hassle. When green meets convenience, we're really getting somewhere. Here's are some regular household items that are easy and convenient to reuse:
- Milk bags - Cut open 1 side, give them a quick wash and rinse while you're doing the dishes, and let them dry. You'll have a steady supply of tough and sturdy plastic bags that are useful for storing, well, anything that fits!
- Scrap paper - Everyone has it, use it for anything from doodles to making notes to printing out draft copies instead of wasting clean paper.
- Reuse envelopes and boxes for shipping - Open packages and envelopes gently and when it comes time to send rather than receive, cover the existing address with a label or stamp.
- Gift Bags - these things certainly pile up over time, and especially at this time of the year. Skip the wrapping paper this year and reuse a perfectly serviceable gift bag.
- Plastic Food Containers - Why buy tupperware when any number of regular grocery items come in perfectly reusable containers already? Margarine containers, tofu containers, pre-made salad containers, the list goes on and on.
- Paper Towels - a paper towel that has just been used to dry clean hands or the like can easily be dried and reused later for a dirty job like wiping plates before washing. Better yet, check out this thread in our green forum and learn about using shop towels instead of paper towels. They're inexpensive, super durable, and highly reusable.
- Sponges - Don't clean things with a dirty sponge, but don't toss it out either! 2 minutes in a microwave can effectively destroy 99% of bacteria and other harmful buildup in a sponge and prolong its usefulness (make sure the sponge is damp before you microwave it).
- Newspaper - wad it up and use it as a packing material instead of relying on foam peanuts or styrofoam.
- Coffee Tins and clean Egg Cartons - Think of the children! Schools, day cares, day camps, and kids anywhere can always use such items for arts and crafts. Keep some around the house for a rainy day children's activity or check if a if local school or daycare wants to take them off your hands.
Some resources with additional tips easy reusing, check out RecyclyingNearYou.com and this article over at AssociatedContent.com. Have some of your own ideas to share? Let us know in our green forums.
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Posted on
Nov. 27, 2007
@ 1:06pm
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Green Tip Tuesday - Grocery Shopping
Welcome back to another round of Green Tip Tuesday. Today, we'll take a look at being eco-conscious while grocery shopping. There's more to it than just "buying organic", so here is a selection tips including some seen on Earth911.org and TreeHugger.com.
- Buy seasonal and local produce. Locally sourced foods cuts back on the environmental impact associated with transporting foods.
- Farmer's markets can offer great prices, great atmosphere, great people, and great, locally produced food. Take advantage!
- Buying in bulk can save packaging and money. Staples like cereal, sugar, flour, rice and toilet paper are among the easiest items to buy in large, usable quantities.
- Eat a little less meat. The amount of resources required to bring meat to your table (ie. raising and feeding the animal) is higher than any other food.
- Consider grocery shopping with a neighbour or friend. Taking a single car cuts down on pollution and resource consumption and gives you some company!
- As we've mentioned before, shop with reusable bags or bins.
- Buy organic. It's not always cheap or convenient, but when circumstances allow, avoiding products that support pesticide use, factory farming and other such practices is a great green practice.
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Posted on
Nov. 24, 2007
@ 12:17pm
Expires on
Nov. 30, 2008
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1799
(Ontario) Provincial Sales Tax Exemption For Bikes & Related Safety Equipment
From December 1, 2007 to November 30, 2008, the Government of Ontario is offering a sales tax exemption for bicycles and related safety equipment. This is part of an initiative to help Ontario residents get more active and lead healthier lives.
The exemption will be available on the purchase of new or used bicycles that have a purchase price of $1,000 or less. Elegible safety gear includes bicycle helmets, reflectors for bicycles bicycle lights (including generators, battery operated lights bells and horns for bicycles mirrors for bicycles. Things not eligible for this exemption include labour for bicycle repairs, bicycle parts, bicycle accessories (such as carries, pumps, drinking bottles), oil and grease, and tube repair kits. Learn more about this offer here.
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Posted on
Nov. 23, 2007
@ 1:16pm
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3703
Free Subscription to “CheckerSpot” Climate Change Magazine
CheckerSpot is a hefty bi-annual magazine from the Canadian Wildlife Federation, available in glossy or digital format for free. Sign up here for your free subscription. If you want more than one copy, perhaps as a stocking stuffer or classroom tool, you can contact them with that special request and the CWF will do its best to accomodate. So what can you expect from this publication? Well, online there is an eco-blog and a free "closet eco-audit" on top of everything else you'd find in print, like tips for ensuring you support green companies, reviews of carbon-thrifty products, and feature stories.
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Posted on
Nov. 20, 2007
@ 1:34pm
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Green Tip Tuesday - Green Offices & Workspaces
So far, we've looked at a some ways to make our homes a little more environmentally friendly. Today, we'll have a look at the office space. Here's a sampling of ideas to "green up" your office including some culled from websites such as EnvironmentalDefense.org and the World Wildlife Fund.
- Turn off all monitors, printers and computers where possible when leaving the office for lunch and in the evening
- Replace those old CRT monitors! LCDs on average use at least 50% less power than our old CRT friends of equivalent size.
- As mentioned last week, don't bother with screen savers. They don't save energy - just turn off your monitor instead.
- Publish or distribute documents electronically wherever possible. If you have a web site, make your publications available for viewing and download. Send email versions instead of hard copies of documents. An added benefit is that emailed publications can readily be distributed by the recipient to additional recipients - much easier than making another photocopy and taking a trip to the 14th floor.
- If you're going to make electronic presentations, don't make hard copies for everyone unless it's really necessary.
- Before you print a document, always use the spell check and print preview functions (it saves paper and ensures your work looks professional).
- Avoid using disposable cups for water dispensers or coffee - take a mug or glass instead. While you're at it, avoid using loads of plastic knives and forks.
- Replace tungsten filament lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
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Posted on
Nov. 6, 2007
@ 11:44am
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Posted on
Nov. 1, 2007
@ 1:19pm
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1050
PeakSaver: Lower Energy Use & Bills in Ontario (Free Programmable Thermostat & $25 Credit)
The Ontario Power Authority, in cooperation with many local electricity distribution companies (LDCs) is offering the Peaksaver program - an initiative to reduce electricity usage and costs. When you sign up for Peaksaver, a programmable thermostat or load control switch will be installed (free of charge) to control your air conditioner, electric water heater and/or pool pump (this varies by local distribution companies). Your power company will then be able to cycle down your air conditioning or other applicable appliance temporarily at select times. It will help reduce the strain on the electricity system on summer days when electricity use is at its peak. LDCs will only do this when necessary, and not on weekends or holidays. You can leave for work during the day, save energy during the afternoon, and come home with minimal, if any noticeable difference in the temperature or comfort level of your house. Some LDCs offer this program for businesses as well.
Eligibility restrictions are that you are homeowner of a single-family home or a business owner with a central cooling system, although LDCs may offer the program if you rent property and have permission of the owner. Your LDC will do all the work at no expense to you, and you will receive $25 from the Ontario Power Authority just for signing up.
Policies may vary between LDCs, and some may offer extras like wireless internet control of programmable thermostats while others don't. Contact your LDC to find out more. A full list of participating LDCs can be found here. To get you started, here are a few LDCs and their information pages for their individual promotions of the Peaksaver program:
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Posted on
Oct. 30, 2007
@ 11:56am
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Green Tip Tuesday - Reusable Shopping Bags
Today's Green Tip Tuesday topic started in the Green forums in this budding thread on the subject. Reusable shopping bags are about more than just cutting down on the use of disposable paper and plastic bags - they're efficient, sturdy, durable, comfortable to carry, and have even gone on to become something of a fashion statement. Some handy ideas from the thread include using these bags as book bags and using shopping bins as individual laundry hampers. Don't forget these can be great bags for trick-or-treating as well!
TheStar.com has also published an article on the subject that includes a listing of reusable bags from major grocery stores and retailers and even includes a comparison of their price, size, features, extra incentives, "eye appeal", and more. Comparison shopping for shopping bags? Believe it! Just be sure heed the advice in TheStar.com's article to actually remember to bring your reusable bags with you.
Have opinions about reusable shopping bags and their uses? Share them in our Green Forum!
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Posted on
Oct. 26, 2007
@ 5:06pm
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539
Starbucks: Save $0.10 By Bringing Your Own Cup
This isn't exactly a new promotion, but it certainly bears repeating. If you bring in your own cup for use in Starbucks coffee shops instead of using one of their paper cups, you will be given a discount of $0.10 for your beverage each and every time. On top of a little bit of ecological conservation, you'll save money, and you can use a nice insulated mug to keep your coffee hotter for longer! This might not be everyone's cup of tea (or coffee), but for folks who frequent Starbucks, this is a nice little money saver.
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Posted on
Oct. 23, 2007
@ 10:27am
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Posted on
Oct. 17, 2007
@ 12:34pm
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Energy-Efficient Home Mortgage Incentives @ CMHC
If you're in the market to purchase an energy-efficient home or looking to renovate your home to be more energy efficient, The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation may be able to offer you a 10% refund on the mortgage loan insurance premium when you use CMHC insured financing (mortgage loan insurance allows you to buy a house with a smaller or no down payment). You might also be eligible for extra flexibility on the time required to repay your mortgage (amortization) from 25 years to a max of 40 without surcharge, thereby reducing your monthly payments. For details on how to qualify and restrictions on this offer, visit CMHC's page here.
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