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Bathroom
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me

Light P
s ain

Showe
r, etc.
T
ow
Toilet,
Health etc.
and
Beauty
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nk
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Bathr
me oom
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me ck

Cupb
oard
T
oil
Toilet
Paper Garb
age

Cleaning Floor
products ing
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Toilet,
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me ck

S
how

Shower
curtain

HA
BA
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Shower
ome , etc.
Ho
me
Bathr
oom
Ba
ck S
•Install a shower head that has an off button
and a low flow shower head or one with an
aerator.
•Off button will allow you the pause the
flow of water while you lather up.
•The aerator adds air to the water flow
(less water, same pressure).
•Use a fabric shower curtain instead of
plastic. Hemp is a good option for this.
•To see how much you will save (water and
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Ho
me
Bathr
oom
Ba
ck Toile
•Install an ultra-efficient (six litres per
flush) or preferably a dual flush toilet
(option of flushing with three litres or six).
•UPGRADE YOUR TOILET IF IT IS MORE
THAN TEN YEARS OLD! Toilets this old
use up to 20 litres per flush!
•If the above types of toilets are not
available to you, install a toilet dam. This
will save about five litres per flush and
cost around $10.
Wh
Toilet
Ho Bathr Ba
oom
me ck
•Use recycled toilet paper (meaning, made
from recycled paper not recycled toilet
paper)
•100% post-consumer is available at
Superstore
•Sobey’s, Safeway, and other
independent stores carry Seventh
Generation brand toilet paper which is
100% recycled, minimum 80% post-
consumer and whitened without chlorine
Wh
Ho
me
Bathr
oom
Kitch
en
Sink
•Install an aerator. The aerator adds air to
the water flow (less water, same
pressure).
• There isn’t much to say here. Conserve

Wh
Ho
me
Bathr
oom
Ba
ck Clea
•Norwex is a Norway-based company that
manufacturers all sorts of cleaning products. A
cleaning cloth from this company is all you need to
clean everything in your house.
•Sobey’s, Safeway, and other independent stores
carry a variety of Seventh Generation brand cleaning
products, such as carpet remover, toilet bowl cleaner
and many others.
•Clorox also has a line of eco-friendly cleaning
products available.
Wh
Ho
me
Bathr
oom
Ba
ck Health and
• There are many places nowadays where you can
buy environmentally friendly body products such as
body wash, shampoo, makeup, etc.
• LUSH (Winnipeg location in Polo Park) products
are handmade with organic fruit/vegetables.
They use minimal packaging and do not test on
animals.
•Aveda (Various spa, salon and store locations
throughout Winnipeg) takes many steps to
ensure they are earth friendly. See here for more
Wh
Health and
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oom
me ck

•Use recycled facial tissues (more


commonly known as Kleenex®)
•Sobey’s, Safeway and many
independent stores carry Seventh
Generation brand tissues which are
100% recycled, with minimum 80%
post-consumer and whitened without
chlorine bleach.

Wh
Ho
me Bedroo
Cleani
Light ng
s

P
ain
Bed,
etc.

Furni Floor
ture ing
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Bed, etc.
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me ck
•Buy an organic, untreated mattress.
•For your sheets and comforter…
•Organic cotton, bamboo fibre (mechanically not
chemically), hemp or linen. NO POLYESTER!
•Make sure they are non-chlorine bleached, heavy
metal free (SKAL certified), vegetable dyes or
FoxFiber color grown (bred to be beige, green or
brown) and have a chemical free finish.
•For pillows, buy buckwheat, wool, kapok, organic

Wh
Ho
me Family
Clea
Light ning
s

P
ain
Electr
onics
Firep
lace
Furni Floor
ture ing
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me
Ba
ck Fireplace
•Replace wood burning fireplaces. They emit
many chemicals that harm the environment.
•Install a fan in your fireplace. This will ensure
that the heat you want from the fireplace is
entering the room, instead of disappearing up
the chimney.
•One company that designs environmentally
friendly fireplaces is Ecosmart Fire. Their
fireplaces may be a little pricy, but they are

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Ho
me
Garbage/R Kitchen
ecycling
Cleani
Light ng
s

Fridge/Fr P
eezer ain
Sink
Stove/
Oven

Composti
Dishes/Dis Food Floor ng
hwasher ing
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and click on an
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or Ba
me
Ho
me
Kitc
hen
Family
Room
Clea
•Norwex is a Manitoba-based company that
manufacturers all sorts of cleaning products. A
cleaning cloth from this company is all you need to
clean everything in your house.
•Sobey’s, Safeway, and other independent stores
carry a variety of Seventh Generation brand cleaning
products, such as carpet remover, toilet bowl cleaner
along with many others.
•Clorox also has a line of eco-friendly cleaning
products available.
Wh
Ho
me
Kitc
hen Food
• Food is a very broad subject to address in one page.
Here are some general tips to help you learn more
about eating environmentally-friendly.
•Try the 100 Mile Diet. Some of the benefits are that
you’ll be supporting local farmers, and reducing gas
usage, among other things.
•There are many different labels on food. Good ones to
look for are:
•100% Organic/Organic (Minimum 95% organic)
•Bird Friendly/Shade Grown (Coffee grown under
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Ho
me
Ba
ck Fridge/Free
•Look for appliances with the Energy Star symbol. This
guarantees the machine is highly energy efficient.
•Keep your fridge and freezer full so they won’t use as
much energy trying to cool off empty spaces.
•Make sure the door is always properly shut, so the
cold air doesn’t escape.
•Don’t place your fridge/freeze near a stove or in
direct sunlight for obvious reasons.
•If the coils are on the back, make sure there is
enough space between the fridge/freezer and the wall
Wh
Ho
me
Ba
ck Stove/Oven
•Look for appliances with the Energy Star
symbol. This guarantees the machine is
highly energy efficient.
•Use the proper size element and lid for the
pot you are using when cooking on the stove
to save time and energy.
•Only use the lights in the oven/above the

Wh
y?
Ho
me
Ba
ck Dishes/Dish
•Look for appliances with the Energy Star
symbol. This guarantees the machine is
highly energy efficient.
•Don’t use
. ‘throwaway’ dishes. If you need

dishes for outdoors, invest in a basic set of…


plastic dishes.
•For dishwashers, use the lightest cycle and
let the dishes ‘air dry’.

Wh
y?
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me
Ba
ck Compostin

•Composting is an extremely beneficial


practice and easy to do. To learn about
composting and to find workshops in

Wh
y?
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me Extras
Insula
tion Washe
r a nd
Dryer
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me
Ba
ck Washer/
•Look for appliances with the Energy Star
symbol. This guarantees the machine is highly
energy efficient.
•Never use hot water. Cold water will clean
everything.
•Make sure you don’t use more water than you
need. Find a washing machine that using
minimal amounts of water.
•Always run a full load.
Wh
y?
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me
Ba
ck Insulation
•Look for insulation that has a high ‘R-value’
(higher the number = more energy efficient,
the standard R-value is 10)
•If you’re using fibreglass insulation, make sure
it’s formaldehyde-free.
•Liquid foam insulation expands, so it will fill in
all nooks and crannies.
•When it comes to insulation, you just need to
make sure is that it is highly efficient. It should

Wh
Ho
me Floorin
•There are many eco-friendly alternatives available for
flooring nowadays. These are a few good options:
• Bamboo
• Reclaimed wood
•Recycled glass (anything reclaimed/recycled is
good!)
•Linoleum
•Cork
•For carpet, try to buy carpet that is not made from
nylon or olefin. (Both of these are made from
petroleum).
Wh so it won’t have to be
•Maintain your flooring properly,
Ho
me
Bedr Family
oom Room Furnitur
•Anything made out of bamboo is great. From A Bamboo

e
Future, essay by Carol Steinfeld: ‘…fast-growing, quick-
maturing, hardy, flexible, strong and renewable…stability,
hardness, flexibility and strength are its most remarkable
qualities…’
•For wood furniture…Buy used from flea markets or antique
shops. Or wood furniture that has been certified by the
Forest Stewardship Council (visit here for more information).
Or if the furniture made of recycled wood.
•Look for furniture made from alternate materials, such as
post-consumer plastic or cardboard.

Wh
Ho
me Lightin
•Use LEDs for focused lighting (desk
lamps, closets, etc.)
•Use CFLs when the lights will be on
for at least 15 minutes
•Click here for important CFL
information!
•When purchasing light bulbs, make
sure to only purchase ones that have
Energy Star symbol!

Wh
Ho
me CFLs
•Use CFLs when the lights will be on for
at least 15 minutes
•CFLs are available for all types of
lighting like flood lamps, candelabras
and bathroom vanities.
•Many other shapes of light bulbs are
also available.
•Use yellow CFLs outdoors, they
won’t attract
•Recycle CFLs atbugs.
Home Depot.
Click here to return to lighting

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Ho
me Electronics
Bedr Family
oom Room

•Look for electronics with the energy star logo.


(Televisions, phones, DVDs, etc.)
•Minimize your use of batteries. Use solar powered
products or other alternate power sources.
•Turn off your electronics whenever you can. Even in
standby, they are using power
•If you have MTS, make sure the television is
properly turned off, not just on time and date
screen!
•Greenpeace has put out a report on electronic
Wh
Ho
me Garbag
•Before throwing something out…recycle it, repair it,
reuse it, redonateit, something. Nearly 100% of all
things thrown out can be recycled, repaired, reused or
donated (if you’re creative enough, I’m sure. Check out
make-stuff.com). Click here for recycling.
•Use biodegradable garbage bags when something must
be thrown out.
•Compostable and biodegradable bags with 80%
(30% post-consumer) recycled packaging are
available at Rona.
Wh
Ho
me Specialized

•Visit here for what is hazardous garbage and


information on free pickup.
•Visit here for a list of disposing of garbage that
needs special handling.
•For disposing of electronics, click [here].

Wh
Ho
me Electronics
•All electronics can avoid the garbage dump!
•Batteries and cell phones can be recycled at various places
throughout the city (click here for a list.)
•Donate computers, printers, VCRs, microwaves, faxes,
photocopiers, televisions and stereos to Computers for Schools
for use in schools, libraries, community access programs, and
other non-profit organizations. Products that don’t meet
minimum requirements can be picked up for a $5-10 fee. Visit
their website here.
•Drop off your computer and/or related products for free at
Powerland Computers (170 Marion).
•For information on recycling electronics through the
Wh
Ho
me Recycling
Recycle in your curb DO NOT recycle…
side blue
•Plastics box…
with a •Plastic bags,
on it cellophane, etc.
•Aluminum cans (Plastic is terrible!
•Tin food cans Minimize use)
•Milk/juice cartons •Hazardous waste
•Juice boxes containers (see
•Any kind of garbage for proper
paper/cardboard disposal)
including •Aluminum foil and pie
shredded plates (reuse!)
•Glass •Mirrors
•Jars/bottles •Window glass

Click here for more valuable


information on recycling.
Wh
Ho
me
Ba
ck Recycling
•Some blue box recycling tips from the City of
Winnipeg site…
•Don't tie materials together (processing facility
can't remove bags, wire, etc.)
•Leave lids on containers, caps on bottles, staples
in paper, labels on containers and windows in
envelopes.
•Give your containers a quick rinse to get rid of
bacteria and odors.
•Crush plastic bottles, milk jugs and milk and juice
cartons to leave more room.
Wh
Ho
me Pain
•Two decent brands are Sico Paints and Benjamin
Moore.
•DISPOSE OF YOUR PAINTS PROPERLY! Click here
to find out how.
•Try to avoid synthetic paint, but if you have to go
for latex (water based [latex] instead of oil/solvent
[alkyd]).
•Use natural based paints instead (no
petrochemicals, preservatives or biocides and
they don’t produce smog).
•Look for paints with Wh
low VOC counts.
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me
Bathr
oom
Kitc
hen W
•Helps save fresh water for use in the future
when demands are higher but supply is
limited. (less than 3% of the earth is
freshwater and much is inaccessible)
•Less wastewater
•Conserving water prevents pollution,
building of water dams, etc., destruction of
natural habitats and wasted energy.
•Energy savings (use less energy for heating,
This has both
water and
energy benefits!
Trees
Ho
me

Why save trees? Because


they…
•Moderate climate
•Provide beautiful scenery
•Increase biodiversity
•Improve air quality
•Provide natural habitat for
many creatures
Ho
me Conserve
•Save money
•Reduce pollution of all
sorts, like smog, acid
rain, etc.
•Less energy being used
means
less need for dams,
nuclear plants etc.
(Meaning less
Ho
me Paint
•Reduced toxins means
better health for
everyone
•Reduces landfill,
groundwater and ozone
depleting contaminants
•Low-VOC products
perform well in terms of
coverage, ‘scrubability’
and ‘hideability’
•Little/no hazardous
Ho
me Keeping a
Simply put, because
every living thing
needs a clean and
healthy planet to live.
More garbage and
chemicals and waste
means less living
space, more pollution,
more junk everywhere,
more destruction of
natural habitats, more

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