CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL WEALTH Most people are likely unaware that Canada has enormous environmental wealth: 20% of the world's remaining undeveloped areas, 25% of the wetlands, 20% of the freshwater, and more than 10% of the forests. The David Suzuki Foundation in British Columbia has a list of 10 suggestions of ways we can conserve nature, and is looking for each of us to commit to a year to execute on 3 of them. They are:
- Choose an energy-efficient house and appliances (R-2000 homes use 30% less energy than standard homes, and new refrigerators use 40% less energy than models made a decade ago.)
- Don't use dangerous pesticides
- Don't eat meat for a day each week (grain production uses far less water and land)
- Buy locally grown food to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants from food transportation
- Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle (a typical SUV burns almost twice as much fuel as a modern station wagon)
- Walk, bike, carpool, or take public transit
- Choose a home close to work or school to cut down on driving
- Support public transit systems
- Learn more and prompt politicians to promote conservation
- Reduce home energy use by 10% (heating accounts for nearly 60% of energy consumption in the average Canadian home)
I've covered off a few of these myself. Namely, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 10. I recently purchased a new home and making sure that it was R-2000 was one of my priorities. I don't use any pesticides for obvious environmental benefits, and also to not harm animals (my dogs especially.) I'm trying not to eat meat at all these days, and have cut back significantly. I did choose the locale for my home to be much closer to work (shaved an hour off driving each day), although my office is about to move and that will increase it back to the original trek (which I'm not happy about in the least.) I've cut back on air conditioning use quite a bit this summer - only using it on days when the temperature is 26C and above.
Unfortunately I probably do a lot of damage by driving an SUV. I've been looking at the new Infiniti FX45 as a potential solution to cut back on fuel, and keep my SUV crack-habit in check.
9:36:24 AM 
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