Going green......10 ways to make a difference

The David Suzuki Foundation has researched the 10 most-effective ways to help conserve nature and improve our quality of life. Here's how you can make positive changes:

1. Reduce home energy by 10 per cent: Many people click off lights in rooms that aren't being used, but there are lots of other ways to plug the leaks and save energy.

2. Eat meat-free meals once a week: Meat production requires a tremendous amount of resources such as water and fossil fuels, while runoff from livestock operations may pollute rivers, lakes and even drinking water.

3. Buy a fuel-efficient, low-polluting car: Driving is the most polluting thing that most of us do. Burning gasoline, or any other fossil fuel, releases pollutants that cause smog, global warming, and water pollution.

4. Choose energy-efficient home appliances: Depending on the province where you live, your home electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, hydro-electric dams or nuclear power plants.

5. Stop using pesticides: Insects and pesticides are designed to kill organisms such as weeds, bugs and fungi. By using dangerous chemicals, you can kill many forms of life and leave residue to accumulate in the food chain.

6. Walk, bike or take transit to regular destinations: Vehicles are the largest source of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants.

7. Prepare your meals with locally produced food: Buying locally grown fruits and veggies helps conserve precious farmlands and wildlife habitats. Keeping these areas in production conserves fertile land and preserves biological diversity for the future.

8. Choose a home close to regular destinations: Stay out of the car and create a stronger sense of community by living where you work, shop and/or go to school.

9. Support alternatives to the car: A healthy, sustainable community needs to expand, upgrade and build the infrastructure for alternatives to cars. This includes public transit systems, bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly streets and neighbourhoods.

10. Get involved, stay informed: Our elected officials make the laws that can affect our health and quality of life, so it's important to tell them how we feel

(Source: Vancouver Sun)