
Neighbours for the Planet
Tackling Climate Change, One Action at a Time

PERSONAL ACTION
The table below consists of 100 personal actions that has been put together from scouring the internet and thinking of practices some of us are already trying to follow. No one is perfect and none of us at Neighbours for the Planet are claiming that we follow ALL of these recommendations ourselves. It is important that you do NOT feel intimidated by this list and that you feel proud of any action that you take.
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The general rule is the old adage – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in that order. Reduce by trying to cut down on waste for instance get your bills online. Reuse by trying to choose products that last and do not require a constant supply - coffee pods, floor wipes, etc. These single use items not only cause extra garbage but also contribute to climate change via their manufacturing, transportation and disposal. And finally, Recycle products or their packaging whenever possible, or better yet read here about ways to recycle less.
A lot of these changes will save you money over the long term. Some require no initial investment and you start saving right away, others require some up front costs.
We highly recommend reconnecting with nature via outdoor activities. It has been proven to help improve psychological health and it is hard to care for something if you never connect with it.
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Finally, we have tried to tag the actions below with some indicators to show relative impact in terms of reduced CO2 emissions, cost savings, initial investment, ease of adoption. It is quite unscientific, but we hope it helps you to choose which actions you might be able to undertake.

Category
Ease
Impact
Cost
Savings
029
Category
Description
Only wash or dry clothes with full loads
Energy Use
Ease
Impact
Cost
Savings
M
M
L
M
030
Category
Description
Dryers are energy hogs, so hang clothes to dry when you can
Energy Use
Ease
Impact
Cost
Savings
M
M
L
M
031
Category
Description
Install a programmable thermostat.
Energy Use
Ease
Impact
Cost
Savings
M
M
M
H
032
Category
Description
Look for the Energy Star label when buying new appliances.
Energy Use
Ease
Impact
Cost
Savings
H
M
M
H
033
Category
Description
Winterize your home to prevent heat from escaping.
Energy Use
Ease
Impact
Cost
Savings
L
H
M
H
034
Category
Description
Lower your heating by a couple of degrees and wear warmer clothes
Energy Use
Ease
Impact
Cost
Savings
M
H
L
H
035
Category
Description
Turn off your air conditioner when it's not needed