Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
What actions are you taking to protect our quality of life?
Discover 30+ ways you can help take action on climate change. Join the movement to see actions based on your personal profile when logged in. Want to add an action to the spectrum? Contact us with your ideas.
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The spectrum of actions below is sorted by impact. This tells you how each action contributes to reducing Edmonton's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Actions rated * are actions submitted by residents. Impact currently unmeasured.
Did you know that when you do laundry, most of the carbon footprint comes from drying your clothes?
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In the summer, use a clothes line to dry your items within hours and they'll smell great. During the winter, or if you live in a condo or apartment, purchase a drying rack to save energy all year round.
Showering is one of the most significant ways we use water - it accounts for nearly 17% of the water used by an average family.
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Reducing your indoor water consumption is an easy, DIY installation. Pick up a low-flow showerhead at your local hardware store for the same price, or less as, a standard shower head. Look for the WaterSense label when making your purchase.
In a single season, a gasoline-powered lawn mower emits about 48kgs of greenhouse gases (GHG). By switching to a solar or push mower, you'll use no energy and emit no pollution or GHGs. A clear-cut decision.
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Solar and push mowers cost about the same as gasoline-powered mowers and are just as effective at getting your lawn in shape.
Hot water heating accounts for about 90% of the energy your machine uses to wash clothes. And unless you have heavy oil stains, washing in cold water is just as effective at getting things clean.
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On your next load of laundry, turn the dial from hot or warm to cold and you'll instantly cut your energy use. Make sure you're doing full loads each time. You can even purchase cold water detergent made specifically to help get tougher stains out without using warm water.
Have you heard of grasscycling? It's really simple. By leaving your grass clippings on the lawn after mowing instead of bagging them and having them hauled away each week in a garbage truck, you can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions every season.
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Remove the bag from your mower and let the grass clippings fall. The clippings are good for your lawn as they provide nutrients and reduce the need for watering and fertilizer.
Making small changes in the way you drive and performing basic maintenance on your vehicle will save you money on pollution-causing fuel. Plus, you'll reduce your greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
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Start by driving slower, getting regular tune-ups including oil changes and reducing your heating and air-conditioning usage. Remember that jack rabbit starts consume 50% more fuel than steady acceleration and low tire pressure can cause your car to use up to 5% more fuel.
Instead of turning on your oven to cook or reheat small meals, use your toaster oven. They use up to 50% less energy than conventional electric ovens and are quicker to heat up to the same high temperatures.
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If you already have a toaster oven, use it on tonight's dinner or try reheating leftovers for lunch. There are lots of brands of toaster ovens available in most major stores.
By programming your thermostat to reach a high of 21°C during the day and 17°C while you're away from home or sleeping, you could save about 2% on your heating energy consumption every month. It's that simple.
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All you need (and probably already have) is a programmable setback thermostat. Program it so that your temperature reductions start before you go to bed and end before your alarm goes off in the morning.
Our Home Energy Retrofit Accelerator (HERA) may have a rebate for smart thermostats.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
Privacy shades, blinds and curtains are more useful than you might think when it comes to conserving energy.
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During our hot summers, give your fans and air conditioning (AC) unit a break by keeping your blinds closed during the day. You’ll keep the sun’s rays out and the AC from running too much. In the winter, if you have south-facing windows, let the light shine in. The sun will help heat your home naturally, which takes some pressure off your furnace. For other windows, keep blinds and curtains close during the winter to keep heat inside your home.
Home composting translates to fewer bags on the curb every week, fewer trips to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre and a big reduction in the amount of garbage that needs to be diverted from landfill.
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If you have a couple hours to pick up a composting bin (or create your own) and read our helpful hints, join the growing number of Edmontonians taking part in composting. Grass, flowers, fruit, tea bags, egg shells – start learning what's compostable and make the switch now.
Leaky windows not only let outside air in, they also let heating and air conditioning out. Avoid big energy losses in your home by caulking and weatherstripping all your windows and doors.
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Whether you choose to DIY or hire a professional, you'll want to seal all gaps in your home. If you have old, inefficient windows, add window film before the heating season hits in the fall.
Need to know if you have a draft? First, move your curtains or blinds out of the way. Then, light a candle and put it in front of your windows and doors; if the flame flickers, there's a draft coming in.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
Drain water heat recovery (DWHR) units reduce the amount of hot water needed in your home by up to 60% through recovering heat that would otherwise be lost down the drain. That energy is then used to preheat cold water going to the hot water tank.
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Hire a professional to retrofit a DWHR unit into existing vertical drains or request them on new construction projects.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
Carshare services like Communauto (formerly Pogo) can help ease congestion, avoid wasted gas and reduce your GHG emissions by 10%. Plus, you'll save on all operating, parking, insurance and maintenance costs by only using a carshare vehicle when you need one.
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Choose from a fleet of cars available for you to drive and drop off anywhere within certain city zones. Easily sign up for Communauto in Edmonton online and be sure to sign up for local carshare services while you're travelling too.
Tankless (also called on-demand) water heaters provide hot water when you need it without the use of a storage tank. This means energy isn't wasted by keeping water heated when you're not using it. You'll also enjoy double the life expectancy along with lower operating and energy costs along with easily replaceable parts.
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For the greatest energy savings, hire a professional to install a tankless water heater at each water outlet in your home.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
LED lightbulbs can emit the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs and use a fraction of the energy.
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To experience the same amount of light as your old bulbs, choose 4 to 13 watt LEDs (available at major home stores). You can even purchase smart LED bulbs that can be controlled through your smartphone, further helping you conserve energy and manage your light preferences.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
If we all commit to commuting sustainably, we can save over 700,000 cumulative greenhouse gases (GHGs) every year.
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Walk: If you live close enough, save on gas and parking by walking each day instead of driving.
Bike: Discover and make use of Edmonton's bike lanes and paths for your daily commute and other trips.
Bus: Plan your route and get a bus pass. That way, you'll never have to search for change. You may even end up using it for more than just commuting, like getting to an Oilers game or to the mall.
Did you know that your basement can account for 20% of your home’s total heat loss? Whether it's uninsulated walls or leaky windows, keeping the heat in and the cold out conserves energy (and makes your home more comfortable while helping lower your monthly energy bills).
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Work with a qualified contractor when insulating your home.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
Whether you're a family of five or someone who only runs the washing machine every couple of weeks, changing how you do laundry will have a big impact on your carbon footprint. All you have to do is replace old with new when you're ready.
Plus, high-efficiency also means high performance. So, watch your whites get brighter alongside our city’s energy future.
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So how do you choose the best high efficiency washer and dryer? Look for washers and dryers with the ENERGY STAR label as these meet stringent energy requirements.
Induction cooktops are twice as energy efficient as gas versions, and they're much faster at simple jobs like boiling water so you can save energy while still getting top cooking performance.
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Induction stoves are a safe option, especially for families, since they only emit heat when they come into contact with a steel or iron element. Because of that, you'll need to update your pots, pans and utensils as well.
Did you know that air travel has a bigger climate change impact per passenger kilometre than any other mode of transportation? The onus is on us to limit the amount of flights we take every year.
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As Edmonton continues to grow, so does the number of activities for you and your family to enjoy locally. From the largest urban parkland in North America to the many museums and national parks all around us, there's so much to explore in your own backyard and in the Canadian Rockies just a few hours away.
If we all commit to commuting sustainably, we can save over 700,000 cumulative greenhouse gases (GHGs) every year.
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Walk: If you live close enough, save on gas and parking by walking each day instead of driving.
Bike: Discover and make use of Edmonton's bike lanes and paths for your daily commute and other trips.
Bus: Plan your route and get a bus pass. That way, you'll never have to search for change. You may even end up using it for more than just commuting, like getting to an Oilers game or to the mall.
Lower heating, cooling and lighting costs, improved performance, and a reduced carbon footprint from less energy loss. These are just a few of the benefits of installing energy efficient windows.
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Always hire a professional to install efficient windows for your home.
Look for triple-paned low-e argon filled glazing with vinyl or fiberglass casings.
U-Value is the amount of heat loss the window allows. In Edmonton, look for a 1.25 or lower. Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) is the fraction of solar radiation admitted through the window - look for a 0.4.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
Electric vehicles (EV) produce about 41% less emissions than internal combustion vehicles (gas/diesel) and improve air quality for all. While the initial cost of the vehicle can be a barrier, in the long run EV will save you money as they require less maintenance than an internal combustion engine vehicle, no oil changes, no gas and you can charge them at home.
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Electric vehicles are now available in a variety of models and are becoming more affordable. You can charge at home much in the same way as you would plug in your phone! Public charging stations are also popping up throughout the city.
To help reduce the upfront cost of the vehicle, the federal government has a $5,000 incentive. Check the list of eligible vehicles.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
Getting around accounts for more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions with cars making up a large portion. Make the move to a home that's closer to where you work, study or spend most of your downtime in order to reduce the amount you drive and lower your environmental impact.
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To make the greatest difference in lowering your GHG emissions, choose a home that's within a comfortable bike ride, walk or public transit ride to where you need to go every day.
Not sure how convenient a neighbourhood is? Get the walk, transit and bike scores for any location.
Much of the electricity grid in Alberta is coal based. An easy way to reduce your energy impact is to buy renewable or green offsets for your electricity consumption.
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Call your electricity provider to see if it offers an option to purchase green power. If not, check out Green Alberta Energy to find out what organizations offer this service. This list is recommended by the Utilities Consumer Advocate.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
Edmontonians are keen on solar and there are currently over 3,000 solar micro-generation sites in the city. Installing a photovoltaic (PV) system is getting more and more affordable. Solar panels can be installed on new or existing homes.
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The first step is to contact a solar contractor, provide him or her with your address and collect your utility bills from the last year. The contractor will take care of the rest. From there, the system and meter will be installed and you'll get connected to the grid.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
With Edmonton's colder temperatures, increasing the R-Value of your attic or roof's insulation will help prevent heat from escaping.
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The higher the R-Value, the better it will insulate. For optimal energy savings, upgrade or add insulation that's R40 or higher. It's always best to hire a qualified professional to install insulation.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
By insulating and air-sealing your windows and entrances, reduce the amount of energy escaping outside and limit the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling year-round.
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Retrofit your building starting now with these GHG emission reductions. The more you combine actions, the bigger the impact.
Find out how to make your home more energy efficient & comfortable year-round - book an EnerGuide evaluation.
Planting trees, lots of them, can help mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases. Trees capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and with younger trees capturing more, the effect will happen sooner than later. While it's not a total solution (after all, we still need to reduce our emissions), trees also have other benefits such as habitats and food for animals, clean air and shade from the sun.
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The City of Edmonton's Root for Trees has a number of programs, from tree planting events, advice on tree planting and more. Once you've planted a tree, be sure to add it to the yegTreeMap.
Growing your own food can be a rewarding experience, and it reduces the miles (or kilometers!) your food needs to travel to get to you. The environmental benefits of gardening also include increased biodiversity and animal habitat, and less use of pesticides and fertilizers than in commercial agriculture.
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You can grow edible plants on balconies, front yards, side yards and backyards, all without a permit. However, if you belong to a homeowners or condominium association, be sure to verify they allow you to do so. If you don't have space at home, there are also community gardens.
Learn more about growing Veg Instead!
From shopping bags and coffee/travel mugs, to lunch kits and food containers, there are reusable versions of many items we use on a regular basis, cutting down on the need for single-use bags and containers.
Many of us remember to use cloth bags for groceries, but what about when shopping for clothing and other merchandise? Get more use out of those reusable bags!
If you purchase bulk foods, a number of stores will allow you to bring in your own container, reducing the need for disposable plastic bags. Same with restaurants - ask the server to pack your takeout or leftovers in reuseable containers you bring yourself.
You may be using reusable lunch containers, but did you know that there are reusable alternatives for plastic wrap and sandwich bags too? And don't forget your reuseable cutlery!
Take another look at those items you use regularly and consider what can be swapped out for something reusable, and what reusable items can be used for other things.
Although there is a bylaw prohibiting vehicles from idling in designated areas outside schools and hospitals, there are many reasons not to idle elsewhere. Idling your vehicle less will save you money on fuel, improve air quality in your community and reduce emissions contributing to climate change.
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Reduce your "warm up" idling time to 60 seconds before driving away, making sure your vehicle's windows are clear first. And turn off your vehicle when you’re waiting for a train to go by or in a long fast food or car wash lineup.
For more ideas, check out edmonton.ca/beidlefree.
In Canada, almost 40% of all food produced is thrown away, resulting in food costs of 10-20% at the consumer level. Within Canada, Alberta wastes the most food per capita. Consider how much food you have thrown out in the past week - that is essentially throwing money away. Learn more at Taproot Edmonton's article, Taking a bite out of food waste in Edmonton.
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Make a food plan for the week, ensuring that you either make only what you need or you include using the leftovers in your plan. When purchasing groceries, buy only what you need or it may end up being wasted. Sure, it seems like a better deal to buy more, but only if you use it all.
With technology today, you can access webinars, online courses and other digital-based education tools, reducing or eliminating the need to travel for conferences and other training.
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A great place to start is the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which offers free online courses for anyone. The University of Alberta also offers MOOCs.
If you're looking for something specific, do a web search for the topics you're interested in and see what is available for online learning.
Interested in learning more about climate change? Check out The King's University tool, Design Our Climate simulation (DOCs) and Clean Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN)'s resources.
Many Edmontonians suggested eating less meat as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Whether it's meatless Mondays or going vegetarian or vegan, cutting back on meat consumption can reduce our environmental impact. The production, processing and distribution of meat creates greenhouse gas emissions that are in addition to the production, processing and distribution of plants (whether that be feed for livestock or food for human consumption). Also, consider checking where your food comes from - different farming practices affect the environmental impact of the food you eat.
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If meat is a regular part of your diet, start by replacing one or two meals a week with an alternative such as lentils. There are some great recipes online that you can try.
We tend to have a lot of stuff, and each item we own has an impact from production to disposal. (Check out The Story Of Stuff video for more info.) Before you purchase something, consider first whether you need the item, or whether you can borrow it, trade for it or make it from something you already own.
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A sharing economy allows people to borrow or rent items rather than purchase them - from books to tools to cars, there are a lot of variations.
If you do need to buy something, buy sustainably. Consider buying used, buying local and looking for eco labels. And consider the packaging. Choose something that has minimal packaging, or if possible, buy in bulk and bring in a reusable container for it.
Check out our Change Habits for Climate guide’s section on sustainable purchasing for more ideas.
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