DRAFT PROOF YOUR HOME

50% of the energy used in your home goes to heating. Get ready for the colder weather by taking one day this week to weatherstrip or caulk drafty areas and/or put window film over single paned windows.

Did you know that combined, the number of holes that heat is escaping out of the average home is equal to the size of a football?

These quick fixes are inexpensive and the Natural Resource Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency website provides detailed instructions on tackling this job.

Often though, people seek professional help. Vancouver is participating in the Provincial Energy Savings Plan (ESP), where residents can receive grants and rebates for energy efficient renovations, including draft proofing - check out the website for information about the steps to take on this limited time offer.

To put it in perspective here is how energy use is broken down in the home:
Space heating 51%
Water heating 27%
Appliances 16%
Lighting 6%

OFFSET YOUR AIR
TRAVEL EMISSIONS

Air travel has a significant impact and releases huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Try to avoid flying if you don't need to. Drive, go on a rail adventure.

If you do fly, consider purchasing green house gas offsets which are essentially an inexpensive emission reduction credit.

People can purchase offsets through an organization like offsetters.ca or climatecare.org, who invest in projects that take greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere or stop them from being emitted in the first place.

If your work flies a lot let them know they can offset all the flights taken by employees.