Vacation Magazine

Going green is the topic du jour for many people these days. Environmental disasters, toxic products that cause catastrophic diseases, climate change, and the rising cost of natural resources has spurred individuals and families in the U.S. to reduce, reuse, and recycle. But although we have a reputation for creativity and innovation in the world, when it comes to being at the forefront of the environmental movement, we are sorely lagging behind.

Efforts to go green in the United States are inconsistent at best. Some states, such as Washington State, California, Vermont, and Colorado, have become the leaders in the environmental revolution and made going green an integral part of the state’s culture. For example, Washington has an aggressive recycling program in place that has seen a steady increase in the recycling of reusable materials since 2000. In fact, Seattle calls their green residents Metronaturals to describe the commitment the city has to living in balance with its beautiful natural surroundings.

But as a nation we are trailing behind and can learn from other countries about going green including our sister nation to the north, Canada. From recycling programs to Earth-friendly financial products, Canada has got going green down to a science.

Canadians Going Green

* According to a survey conducted by Decima Research, 2/3 of Canadians are going green in the grocery store. Out of 1013 people surveyed, 92% are choosing locally grown fruits and vegetable, 81% try to purchase products with less packaging, and 65% have switched over to natural and organic foods.

* An Ipsos Decarie survey found that 90% of Canadians recycle and 65% use reusable shopping bags.

* In 2007, 84% of Canadian households were using energy efficient light bulbs, 62% have low flow shower heads, and 42% have programmable thermostats.

* 22% of Canadians have green financial services. For example, green auto loans and insurance which feature lower rates for energy efficient vehicles are popular.

* According to the Households and the Environment Survey 27% of Canadian households compost their waste which is up 4% from 1994.

Businesses Going Green

* The Powered Right Program offered in partnership by Nova Scotia Power and Clean Nova Scotia helps businesses go green by replacing their incandescent lighting with compact fluorescent lights. So far, they have saved over 44 million KwH of electricity.

* Out of 1049 Canadian small businesses surveyed, about 46% had a green plan in place with another 6% looking into creating one. 63% were concentrating on reducing energy usage while 31% were focused on incorporating environmental standards into the production of their products and services.

* 26% of Ontario’s small businesses produce or sell green products or have plans in the works to do so.

* 82% of small businesses in British Columbia are committed to recycling.

* Penn West Energy Trust is reusing CO2. The company pumps CO2 underground to help bring oil to the surface for use. They have manage to store over one million tons of CO@ (the equivalent of taking 222,000 cars of the street for one year) and have culled 4 million barrels of oil that otherwise would have been lost. The company anticipates being able to store as much as 25 million tons which is the equivalent of taking 5 million cars off the roads for one year.

* The Canadian energy company TransAlta Corporation in Calgary, Alberta is the biggest investor of wind energy contributing over 154 MW of electricity generated by their wind farm to the grid. They have plans to add 66 MW to their Summerview Wind Farm in Alberta.

Government Green Initiatives

* In an effort to reduce emissions, the Canadian government set stringent new regulations in 2005 to reduce the sulfur levels in diesel fuel that is used for rail, marine, and other off road machinery.

* Called the eMobility program, the federal government is investing $3 million into 14 projects that will support the creation of eco-friendly transportation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

* In 2002, the Species At Risk Act (SARA) went into effect to protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats.

Tips for Going Green

Although Canada is going much to go green, there is always more everyone can do to be a little more eco-friendlier. Here are a few tips for bringing more green into your life:

* Save paper by paying bills online. Over 16 million trees would be saved if everyone in America alone would stop getting paper statements and pay their bills online.

* Avoid preheating your oven for more than 10 minutes to save energy.

* Sell, donate, or recycle electronics you do not want anymore.

* Set outside lights to be motion sensitive rather than leave them on all night.

* Unplug appliances, such as computers and televisions, when not in use. Billions of dollars in energy is wasted every year on standby power.

One simple way to save time, money, and be greener is to shop online for your household needs. Not only will you be able to find eco-friendly alternatives to the everyday products you know and love, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint because you won’t be wasting gas driving around town. Many of FedEx’s and UPS’s delivery trucks have been converted to energy efficient vehicles.

For those of you looking for ways to generate income, the green movement has opened up a multitude of opportunities to make money in a green business. My husband and I are involved in an eco-friendly business opportunity that combines two industries that continues to grow and offer immense profit opportunities, the environmental movement and online shopping. To learn how you can earn green while you go green, visit my online business tour or contact me. Saving planet is can be profitable.

Debbie Russell is a marketing veteran who’s sudden job loss made her appreciate that she had developed a profitable Plan B for just such an occasion. If you believe life favors the prepared, go to her website http://www.debbie-russell.com for tips and tools to help you create a Plan B that finances your dreams. To find out how you can generate a full time income working in your spare time, visit my online business tour.