Taking the reins.

Thank you, everyone, for the warm welcome in the last post's comment section.  I was so pleased when Sandra contacted me to see if I was interested in taking a more active role in the BlogHers ACT Canada initiative.  My name is Amy, but around the internet I’m known as “Assertagirl”.  I’ve always been a big believer in green living, and my husband Graham and I make daily efforts to reduce our carbon footprint, so naturally, I told Sandra and the other writers here at Mommy Blogs Toronto, “Of course I’m interested!”  I am proud to join in, since BlogHers ACT Canada is a terrific initiative that I’ve been participating in since we voted this past summer to use our collective Canadian blogging power to make positive environmental change.

I want to mention to you here in my first post, that although I am neither a mommy nor any longer a resident of Toronto, I am definitely a Canadian who places green living rather high on her personal list of priorities.   This November, in particular, our challenge to reduce home energy use has been top of mind.  I find myself constantly turning out lights, unplugging unused appliances, and making an effort to run heavy duty appliances during off-peak hours.

I have a little bit of research to do when it comes to a couple of appliances that we have in our home.  I want to find out, for example, if our garbage disposal is doing the environment more harm than good.  I promise to report the findings!

In the meantime, I encourage you all to take a look at this video.  This Green House Tour was conducted by Olivia Chow, Member of Parliament for the Trinity-Spadina electoral district of Toronto.  Olivia’s husband is Jack Layton, leader of the NDP and MP for Toronto-Danforth.  Together, Olivia and Jack have transformed their downtown home into a green house.  One of the ways they've accomplished this is by utilizing solar energy to contribute to the power grid, reducing the cost to heat and cool their home.  Although this may not be feasible in all neighbourhoods, or in all of our homes, I find this video really inspirational, and I hope you do, too.

Comments

[mamatulip]

I'm a bit late to the party, but welcome! Glad you're here with us!

[Don Mills Diva]

Welcome - look forward to reading more!

[renee]

Hooray Amy!!

[renee]

Hooray Amy!!

[niloc]

Welcome! You touched on one aspect that I am eagerly waiting to see more from Hydro One about. Running large appliances during non-peak hours. Over the next few years they want to switch to "Smart Meters" which would reward you for not running your dryer in the middle of the day. While many have already been installed there is no monetary reward for those who understand the benefits of not adding to the daily peak demand.