April 22 isn’t about a single action you can do to support a healthier environment. No, Earth Day is a catalyst for change and a day to renew a personal commitment to support a healthier environment.

To encourage further environmental action, Earth Day Canada’s EcoAction Teams program (the ecoblogist’s conservation program of choice) offers the Top 10 Actions for Earth Day to help you reduce their impact on the environment every day.

Haven’t registered your acts yet? Get on the EcoAction calculator today!

1. Smart shopping

• Buy what you need, not what you want
• Consider renting and borrowing things that are seldom needed
• Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand stores

2. Simple savers

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
• Use aerators on faucets and shower heads
• Weatherstrip windows and doors

3. Transportation alternatives

• Walk, cycle, car pool and use public transportation
• When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure
• Consider car sharing programs or renting

4. Food choices

• Choose local and organic foods that are in season and support local food producers
• Eat less meat

5. Washing and drying

• Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry

6. Heating and cooling

• For summer air conditioning, set your thermostat to 24°C or 25°C
• For winter heating, set your thermostat to 19°C or 20°C
• Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats

7. Close to home

• Vacation, travel and work as close to home as possible

8. Bathroom basics

• Take short showers instead of baths
• Close water taps while brushing your teeth

9. Careful cleaning

• Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products
• Make simple, natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water

10. Don’t discard

• Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash
• Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc. should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers

p.s. What did you do for Earth Day this year? Send me your comments and highlights…

Following on the heels of the  Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ announcement to its members to take action against bottled water, the University of Winnipeg has become the first university campus in Canada to ban the selling of bottled water.

“While plastic bottles are not environmentally sustainable, they also undermine the quality of public water,” said Vinay Iyer, University of Winnipeg Students’ Association President (pictured in red). “We encourage our students to drink safe and free public drinking water as an alternative to expensive bottled water.”

Located in downtown Winnipeg, UWinnipeg is a progressive, liberal arts-minded university with a history of supporting ecological and social activism. [It also happens to be the ecoblogist's alma matter...]

During student elections held last month, The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association held a referendum on campus asking students if they would support the elimination of plastic water bottles. Almost three quarters, or 74.8 per cent, of those who voted said, “Yes”.

Each year, approximately 38,400 plastic water bottles were being sold in the cafeterias and vending machines on campus. Now, the Students’ Association will partner with the University to provide all first year students with free reusable bottles in their orientation package.

The water-bottle ban builds on other important green initiatives including the campus-wide composting program introduced last August. Now, with its recycling program, UWinnipeg is diverting over 70% of materials that would otherwise be lost to landfills as waste.