● No Cost - Reduce by 10%. Set a goal to reduce home and/or school energy use by 10%. The first step is to MEASURE your current energy use. Conduct a school or home audit using the EcoVoyageurs Energy audit. Then create a list of activities to save energy at no cost – turn off a few extra lights around the house every evening – turning off three 75 watt lights for two hours each night will save 2%; air dry your dishes in the dishwasher and save another 1%; only run full loads of laundry; place stickers near all the light switches and computers in your school or home as reminders to turn off electrical items when leaving for the day. Turn off air conditioners - use shade to cool your home or school. Keep room temperatures one or two degrees warmer in summer and one or two degrees cooler in winter. This is one of the most effective and simple ways to save energy. Use appliances in off-hours. Re-measure your energy use within four months to see if you have met your goals.

● Low Cost - Reduce by 10%. Set a goal to reduce home and/or school energy use by 10%. Replace 100 watt incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs; use dimmers and light sensors on your incandescent lights; strategically plant native deciduous trees or vines on the south and west sides of your school to provide summer shade, but still let the light through in winter; install programmable thermostats; wrap older models of water heaters with a water heater blanket; replace old appliances with energy-efficient (Energy Star) replacements; use manual versions of small appliances and other time-saving devices – manual can openers instead of electrical, push mowers instead of gas powered or electrical; defrost frozen food in the refrigerator instead of the microwave; insulate electric switch plates and sockets to prevent air leakages; use smaller appliances such as toaster ovens and electric frying pans instead of an electric stove or oven. Re-measure your energy use within four months to see if you have met your goals.

● Compact fluorescent lightbulbs. CFLs last 10 times longer than ordinary incandescent bulbs, saving you both money and energy. According to Energy Star, if every American homeowner replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR bulb, it would generate enough savings in a year to prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars. Have every family in your school buy and replace one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb.

● Outdoor Classroom. Design an outdoor learning space for those hot days when the school gets too warm to concentrate. Work with the Parent Council and principal to fundraise for outdoor seating, shade and curriculum materials specifically for use outdoors.

● Turn off your television set, gaming stations and computer. On average, Canadians spend about 22 hours a week watching the television. Why spend your time watching fictional lives when you could be out and about, enjoying your own? You won’t miss the commercials and your energy bill will go down. Wage a contest to see how long your class can stick to a "television-free" schedule. Note any changes in attitudes, energy levels or interest/boredom quotas.

● Sustainable Energy. In Alberta, Cochrane High School students wanted to encourage sustainable energy in their community and reduce their school’s dependence on fossil fuels. They actively fundraised for, and added solar panels and a wind turbine at the school. The students believe that their efforts prove that sustainability can proceed without government funding or assistance. They broke their project into two phases. Phase I raised money to install the panels and turbine in the school. This now supplies 1% of the school’s power, cutting down 1,600 kg of carbon dioxide emissions and saving $500 a year. The second phase of the program will be another fundraising campaign to install twelve more solar panels to charge an LED scoreboard in the gymnasium and a wall outlet. Check out www.sustainabledevelopment.ca for more information. The students have held an open house at the school with guest speakers; attended environmental events in the city of Calgary; applied for grants to fund the program; and presented a 20 minute powerpoint presentation at the Annual Calgary EcoLiving Fair.