Tague's Story of Change
May. 17/19
Change for Climate is a climate change initiative from the City of Edmonton.
May. 17/19
Change for Climate is a climate change initiative from the City of Edmonton.
A couple of years ago I came to the realization that I didn’t need a 3 bedroom house as a single 28 year old. I was needlessly paying property taxes and heating a house that was more than I would ever require. All of this extra space simply meant that I would accumulate consumer goods and I was filling rooms, just so they wouldn’t be empty.
I decided to downsize to a downtown condo which cut my mortgage in half and gave me the freedom to spend my weekends with friends and allowed me to enjoy the mountains on a regular basis as opposed to worrying about my lawn or shoveling walks.
My building is very efficient and even when it is -30 C outside, I can leave my heating off and live comfortably, which has significantly reduced my carbon footprint. Living downtown has allowed me to leave my car parked as I can walk to the grocery store or hop on the LRT to get to the shops or meet up with friends for a show.
My fuel bill and auto insurance has dropped, which allows me to spend money on things I actually desire. With the creation of the protected bike lane network, I started biking to work. I have mastered the art of layering, so I even bike when it is as cold as -25 C. My 10 km commute by bike takes me about 7 minutes longer than driving and when I get to work I am energized and ready for my day, not stressed out about traffic or vehicle maintenance. On a nice day, I will take a longer commute through the river valley and get even more health benefits from the additional exercise.
Living sustainably doesn’t require great compromises, it can be fun and will likely improve your physical and mental health while saving you money.
This post was submitted by Tague Chisholm, an Edmonton community member. If you live in Edmonton and have a climate change story to tell, let us know! Your story could be shared here too.
