MAKE YOUR PLEDGE TODAY!

Please fill in your contact details and checkmark all 4 pledge sections below, participants must enter all contact information to be eligible for the draw. Personal Information is collected by DSA solely for Contest purposes and stored in accordance with applicable Canadian and Provincial Privacy Legislation. Should you have further inquiries please contact DSA at 905. 427.0061.

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Energy Savings Actions-

Turn off lights when not required - a family challenge!

Use cold water wash for laundry. Most laundry detergents are now formulated for cold water wash.

Place computer and entertainment systems on power bars and switch off when not in use - saves "phantom" loads.

Tune-up water heater - check with local utility for programs.

Install & use programmable thermostat - turn heat setting down 4-6°C below your regular temperature at night and when no one is home during the day.

Change 5 high-use light bulbs to compact fluorescent or LED lights.

Install a heavy duty timer for outdoor lights, block heaters, pools and hot tubs.

Install solar assisted water heating system. Book an ecoENERGY audit to access federal and provincial grants to install this system.

Install weather-stripping & caulking to windows, doors, etc.

Dispose of your old inefficient refrigerator in basement (check the Great Refrigerator Roundup Program on your utility's website) or plug it in only when needed for special events/holidays.

Only enter one checkmark per line.

Sustainable Transportation Actions-

Drive the speed limit. For every 10 kph you go over 100, fuel efficency drops by 10%.

Check tire pressure once a month. Just one tire under-inflated by 8 psi can reduce fuel consumption by 4%.

Commit to be idle free. Just ten seconds of idling uses more fuel then restarting the engine.

Combine trips, short trips can increase fuel consumption by up to 50%.

Carpool as often as possible to reduce the amount of cars making the same commute. Check out www.carpoolzone.ca.

If you are looking to purchase a new vehicle, consider a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Take public transit to work or school. In fact one transit rider creates one third of the Green House Gas emissions compared to a person in a car.

Walk or cycle as an alternative to those short gas-guzzling errands. In 20 minutes the average person can walk 2km or bike 5km.

Telecommute. Work from home just once a week and cut your commuting emissions by 20%.

Travel light. An extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 2%, unless necessary keep your trunk empty at all times.

Only enter one checkmark per line.

Waste Reduction Actions-

Pack a litterless lunch. Use reusable mugs and / or water bottles and plastic containers.

Buy products that are made from recycled material and use recyclable packaging or no packaging.

Avoid purchasing individually wrapped items and buy in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging that ends up in the garbage can.

Repair, refinish, or donate items to local Goodwill or thrift shops.

Recycle electronics and hazardous materials responsibly. Visit www.dowhatyoucan.ca to find your closest drop-off location.

Use cloth/reusable bags or grocery bins when shopping.

Use the green bin or backyard composter.

Prepare a list of items before you go shopping. By doing this you reduce impulse buys by only purchasing items you need.

Use the blue box for diversion of paper products, glass, metal and plastic containers.

When having guests over for a special occasion/holiday use china plates, glasses and china mugs, metal cutlery and cloth napkins. Avoid using disposal paper and styrofoam items.

Only enter one checkmark per line.

Water Conservation Actions-

Purchase a front loading EnergyStar washing machine. They use 40% less water then top loaders.

Wash your car with a bucket and a sponge. This uses 100 liters of water opposed to using a hose at 400 liters.

Install low flow showerheads. They use 70% less water and the cost of heating the water drops 15%.

Install low flow toilets, which use 70% less water.

Use low angle pulsating sprinklers with a timer if there is an absolute need to water lawns and gardens.

Install low flow aerators in kitchen and bathrooms.

Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.

Insulate hot water pipes and water heater (for safety reasons, electric tanks only). Less time for the water to heat up = less use.

Install rain barrels to catch rain water for watering on the property.

Dishwasher is much more water friendly than traditional hand washing. Using an EnergyStar dishwasher instead of hand washing saves up to 5,000 gallons of water, $40 in utility costs, and 230 hours of labor annually.

Only enter one checkmark per line.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR COMMITMENT:

already doing.

immediate pledges.

pledges within the next 6 months!

Tell us how you had the power to make a change,

share your environmental successes with us:

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Make sure you write down your actions to track your commitments!