Reducing Greenhouse Gases

The average Canadian’s lifestyle adds around 5 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere each year. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your organization’s carbon footprint, we can help you take action on climate change and set you on the path to become Carbon Neutral or Climate Friendly with Offsetters.

Here are some simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint:

Drive less, and drive smarter: Keep your car tuned up. Make sure your tires are inflated. Be sure to change your oil regularly. Stick to the speed limit and be gentle when you accelerate and brake. All these tricks will save on fuel, and on emissions.

Cut back on consumption: Opt for retro clothes or slightly used furniture—you’ll save money and prevent the creation of more stuff.

Give low impact gifts: Buying, wrapping and shipping create emissions at each stage. Gift certificates and gift cards can lower the impact of gift giving.

Eat less meat: You don’t have to go vegan, but try cutting back on meat one day per week.  Researchers at the University of Chicago calculated that if Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 20%, it would be as if the entire country switched from a standard sedan to an ultra-efficient hybrid vehicle.

Say no to junk mail: Each year almost 19kg of junk mail stuff up our mailboxes. That equals up to 70 kg of greenhouse gases, or the equivalent carbon footprint from burning 30 litres of gasoline! ¹

Fly less: Teleconference or video conference into your next board meeting. You’ll save money, time and emission-producing travel.

Improve your workplace efficiency: Switch your printer defaults to double-sided, black and white printing and use recycled paper. Install motion sensitive lights in bathrooms or copy rooms. Program computers and monitors to ‘sleep’ or shut off when not in use. Attend more of your off-site meetings by phone.

Ride your bike or walk to work one day a week: Avoiding your car just one day a week, according to the World Wildlife Fund, can save 270kg of greenhouse gas emissions per year.  

Hang dry your clothes: Dryers use loads of energy. Hang dry your clothes and you’ll reduce your emissions. If you do use a dryer, clean the lint trap to help it run more efficiently.

Turn down your thermostat: By programming your thermostat to 20 degrees (Celsius) when you’re at home and 17 degrees when you’re out or asleep you can save up to 15% on your home heating bills, and roughly 500kg of greenhouse gas emissions per year. That’s like cutting out a 2,360 km drive – from Montreal to Winnipeg! ² 

Offset: Once you’ve done everything you can to reduce your footprint, it’s time to offset.

¹ Source: Environmental Defense Fund paper Calculator and EPA Equivalency Factors
² Sources:  Terasen Gas and National Resources Canada.