The theme for this year’s Earth Day (April 22) is Invest in Our Planet.
And, with that in mind, the Better Business Bureau of the Lower Mainland is asking Tri-City residents to find ways to take care of Mother Earth and prepare for a greener future.
Here are some tips to help the environment:
- Bring reusable grocery bags when you go shopping: According to the Canadian government, Canadians use almost 15 billion plastic bags every year. Instead of loading your purchases into plastic grocery bags that you’ll simply throw away when you get home, bring reusable grocery bags.
- Improve your home’s energy efficiency: When it's time for new lighting, appliances, computers, televisions, audio or video devices, always look for the ENERGY STAR label before buying.
- Go solar: Replacing your roof or building a new home? This might be the perfect time to add solar panels to your roof.
- Avoid single-use products: These items don’t last long and according to Oceana.ca, Canadians produce an estimated 3.3 million tonnes of plastic waste a year, with 2.8 million tonnes ending up in Canadian landfills.
- Choose eco-friendly cleaning products: Using green cleaning products in your home can reduce toxins, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), that are bad for your health and the environment.
- Resell unwanted items: Your unused wares, such as clothes, furniture and toys could be someone else’s treasure. Swapping or donating used items is another way to reduce waste.
For more information, visit BBB’s Your Green HQ for more resources on how to navigate the choices that determine your carbon footprint and start going green.
