Karin Papier

Organizations have a responsibility to make sustainable business decisions. To understand how to improve sustainable practices, it’s important to start with understanding the current impact. I will share the Tradewater Business Carbon Calculator with my organization.

Individual actions are important, but people and organizations working together can make a real impact. I will share a carbon calculator with a friend and invite them to calculate the carbon footprint of their household.

I will take a walk for 45 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will spend at least 30 minutes finding out if my city, region, province, or country offers incentives for retrofitting existing buildings.

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

I will learn about and update the power saving settings on my computer to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emission

I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

I will set up an in-person or virtual tour of a green roof in my city, and ask about the codes and process for installing a green roof.

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

I will spend 20 minutes a day outside practicing or playing sports.

I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 11 liters of water per faucet every day.

I will work with my community to retrofit my local arena to be more energy efficient.

I will spend 25 minutes learning about how to make my local arena, community centre, sports complex or home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home or office and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will research what it would take to replace my arena's fossil fuel powered zamboni with an electric or renewable energy zamboni.

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 30 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.