November Challenge: Reduce Home Energy Use

posted by: Sandra

One of my 6-year-old's favourite things to do is remind me that he's going to save the world. He loves to follow me around the house and loudly declare: "Don't forget about global warming, Mommy" whenever he's caught me leaving a room without turning off the light. We can all join my adorable-but-know-it-all son by turning off the lights to save the environment in November's BlogHers Act Canada eco-challenge to reduce home energy use!

This month we invite you to reduce your home's eco-footprint. Between now and November 20th, write a post filled with your fabulous ideas on how to save energy. Tell us what is hard. Tell us what is easy. Tell us about how you watch McSteamy and McDreamy in the dark just because it is good for mother earth. Heh. Then we'll do a round up of all your great posts to share with everyone. Let's blog this one loudly!

To start you off, here are some great ideas on how to be energy efficient while doing my three least favourite things around the house: cooking, dishwashing and laundry. Who knew that we could make such an impact while doing chores?

Or what about becoming an eco-terrorist like the MommyBlogsToronto gang did on our eco-trip to Chicago. I have a big box of energy-efficient light bulbs for the first person willing to photograph or video themselves in a series of covert operations to secretly change bulbs all over the land.

Blogging is good. Eco terrorism is cool. But what else can we do to show our commitment to reduce home energy use?

We can also join FLICK OFF, which is a movement to fight climate change by getting Canadians to use less energy. Their site has some awesometastic suggestions on how to make a difference in dozens of different ways. So "Go Flick Yourself"!

And if you haven't already, sing up for the David Suzuki Nature Challenge. Many of their challenge items support the idea of reducing energy use.

Their site is full of resources on choosing energy efficient appliances and on how to reduce home energy use by at least 10 percent. Suzuki really is like the poster boy for Canada's environmental movement. (Well, not that kind of poster boy - even though he does have that hot science-guy thing goin' on).

So this month, spend your energy reducing it! Make a sizzlin' You Tube video or write a post between now and November 20th and let's get some buzz around November's challenge!

Comments

[Eli van der Giessen]

For more tips on how to reduce home heating costs check out this month's edition of David Suzuki's Nature Challenge newsletter.
It's got links to grants that reduce the cost of home upgrades, and a video showing just how easy it is to weatherstrip your doors (hosted by Randi, head of the program and several months pregnant!)
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/newsletters/nov2007_heating/default.asp

--
Elijah van der Giessen
Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
David Suzuki Foundation

Make a difference. Take David Suzuki's Nature Challenge.
http://www.davidsuzuki.org