BY AMANDA BLOYE, FW Writer

The issue with living green has been increasingly
pressing since the turn of the millennium. Global
warming, greenhouse gases and an Inconvenient
Truth are all words circulating through the media
and our minds on an increasingly urgent basis.
Sadly, only a fraction of the North American
population has chosen to devote themselves
to helping prolong the sustainability of our
environment.

For some it is a cost issue, changing light
bulbs and buying tote bags for groceries is much
more expensive than simply sticking to their
concrete routines. For others it is simply an issue
of being lazy. These individuals recognize that
something needs to be done but would rather
remain in their ecological rut than take the time
to do their part to help the environment. Well
have no fear because Fashion Weekly is here
to help you turn your rut around and make a
positive effort to help our planet. Here is a foolproof
guide to helping even the laziest of the lazy
go green and feel great about it.

The first step in going green is to remember
to turn off all lights when leaving a room.
Another method is to unplug appliances,
especially refrigerators and freezers, when they
aren’t in use. With the flip of a switch individuals
will be able to lower their hydro bills and reduce
unnecessary energy use. A Canadian study
released by the Pembina Institute found that the
“electricity demand [in Ontario] could be reduced
by 40% against business-as-usual projections by
2020 through the adoption of currently available
technologies and practices.”

The second way to go green without much
effort is to replace plastic grocery bags with
tote or canvas bags. The bags are not only
cost efficient and great for the environment but
they offer a stylish way to get your goods from
the store to home. According to CNW Group,
a leading Canadian news and information
resource, “66 % of Canadians say environmental
considerations have had an impact on their
grocery shopping habits.” These bags are
available from grocery stores such as A&P,
Dominion and Loblaws for a cost of 89 cents to
$1.99 per bag.

Another great way to reduce your ecological
footprint, the mark that your habits and waste
leave on the environment, is to become aware of
what can be recycled. Cards listing all products
that can be recycled in the city of Toronto are
available in PDF format from http://www.
toronto.ca/garbage/publications.htm#cards. The
city has also introduced a new green bin system
which allows fresh items such as fruit rinds, egg
shells and vegetable remains to be composted and
therefore reduce the amount of waste produced
by each home.

A great way to reduce energy costs is to
exchange regular 60-watt light bulbs for compact
fluorescent lights (CFL). CFL’s are decently
priced but buyers should be aware that it is in
their best interests to pay for quality. It is also
important to be aware of any restrictions and
cautions when using them. Like anything else,
being properly educated before purchasing a new
product will reduce the amount of wasted funds,
time and effort. According to electricitychoices.
com, by replacing just 10 of the 60W bulbs in a
home with CFL’s an individual can save $78.57
per year. Imagine the difference you could make
by giving all the bulbs in your home a makeover.

Finally the simplest and most beneficial
way to go green is to leave your keys at home
and walk. Toronto is a great city full of sights,
sounds and beauty that can’t be fully enjoyed
from the confines of a vehicle. By taking the
time to walk, you are doing your part to reduce
greenhouse gas caused by C02 car emissions.

Whatever road to green you choose remember
that eventually there won’t be a tomorrow to
make a change. By taking green living into your
hands you are ensuring a better, healthier future
for generations to come. After all, it is better to
give than to receive and by going green you are
giving future generations the greatest gift of all:
clean air and the chance for a full, healthy life.