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Seven Ways to Green Your Life

In honour of Earth Day and the release of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s new Environmental Strategy Plan, Wendy Avis, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s manager of environment and sustainability, shares her expert tips on how to "green" seven areas of your life and keep more green in your pocket!

Green your workout

• Take it outside! Take advantage of hiking and biking trails in your area. Always interesting and 100 percent free!
• Carpool to the gym with your workout buddy. Better yet, bike to the gym and get your warm up done at the same time.
• Use your own water bottle. This will equal less waste in landfills and more money in your pocket.

Green your wardrobe

• Check consignment shops and yard sales for perfectly good "recycled" clothes.
• Choose organic cotton clothing, which is produced using few or no pesticides.
• Fabric made from fast-growing, low-impact hemp is being used in gloves, jackets, shoes and sandals, among many other fashion mainstays and accessories.

Green your laundry

• Wash your clothes in cold water. This can save you as much as 2,500 kilowatt-hours of power a year—more than twice the average household’s monthly energy bill.
• Grab clothes from the dryer right away and fold or hang while still warm. No ironing means more free time and a lower energy bill.
• Skip the dryer all together and hang your clothes to dry.

Green your commute

• Measure tire pressure monthly. Operating a vehicle with underinflated tires can reduce tire lifespan and increase fuel consumption.
• Walk, bike, carpool or take transit to get to work. Even leaving the car at home one day per week will help reduce carbon pollution.
• Consider going carless. The estimated yearly cost of driving a single-occupant car ranges from $4,826 to $9,685—while the average yearly cost of taking public transportation falls between $200 and $2,000.

Green your office

• If you must print, print double sided.
• Turn the lights off in rooms when not in use.
• Have at least one large plant in your office. Plants are not only green and pretty but great for recycling the air.

Green your lunch

• Choose foods that are local and organic whenever possible, and make the most of seasonal foods.
• Take care of your trash. Composting all organic waste—and recycling paper, cardboard, cans and bottles—will help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with landfills.
• Pack a zero waste lunch. Use reusable containers, include a cloth napkin and stainless steel utensils.

Green your vacation

• Take a staycation! With so many beautiful places to visit in B.C., it’s easy to give up the jet setting, and save time and money when you choose to sightsee close to home.
• Driving? Avoid peak travel times. Traveling on off-peak days can prevent you hitting congested highways. Don't spend your well-earned vacation sitting in traffic!
• Pack light. Extra weight causes airplanes and cars to lose efficiency and use more fuel to travel. Leave the kitchen sink at home.

Learn more about ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s green achievements to date and what we have planned for the future by checking out our Environmental Strategy Plan.