Formerly Clean Calgary Association

Green Calgary

Top 20

The road to greening one’s lifestyle can seem long and daunting, but Green Calgary is here to provide several short cuts.  Utilize this list to accelerate your journey to green!

Eat Thoughtfully
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1. Eat more consciously – eat less meat, choose local and go organic.

2. Grow your own

  • Plant a garden or join a community garden. It doesn’t have to be big. For more information on community garden and workshops on creating your own garden visit the Calgary’s Horticultural Society.

Eliminate Toxins
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3. Rid your home of toxic cleaners and replace them with “green” alternatives.

  • Green cleaners are widely available throughout Calgary: the Green Calgary EcoStore, Community Natural Foods, Sunnyside Market, Planet Organic, Amaranth Whole Foods Market, Canadian Tire & The Real Canadian Superstore.
  • For a list of trusted brands see Green Calgary’s “Less Toxic Alternatives-Brands to Trust”.

4. Eliminate artificial fragrances & Antibacterial products.

  • A label containing the word “fragrance” or “parfume” is likely alluding to a concoction of as many as 100 synthetic chemicals. The specific details are protected as trade secrets, making it nearly impossible for shoppers to make informed decisions about the products they purchase. This is deeply troubling as many fragrances contain phthalates - a hormone-disrupting chemical suspected of contaminating breast milk and causing damage to the kidneys, liver, lungs and reproductive organs. For more information click here.
  • Antibacterial products often contain Triclosan - an FDA regulated pesticide. Triclosan has recently been found in the breast milk of healthy mothers, as well as in aquatic environments around the globe. Its overuse is shown to contribute to the proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria and this has broad implications for public health. According to Dr. Stuart Levy of the Tufts University School of Medicine, antibacterials like Triclosan are being added to household products, "even though an added health benefit has not been demonstrated.” For more information click here.

5. Go pesticide free!

  • Dandelions are not dangerous. Pesticides, by their very nature, are dangerous. In fact, they are the leading cause of poisonings in Canada. For more information, visit the Coalition for a Healthy Calgary.

Minimize Energy Use
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6. Hang Your Clothes to Dry

  • Hang drying clothes, either on an outdoor clothes line or on an indoor rack, can save you a hundred dollars or more per year on your electricity bill. Hang drying is easier on your clothes, meaning they will last longer, and it also adds moisture to our terribly dry air.

7.Sign up for an ecoENERGY audit .

  • Find out where the energy is being lost within your home by a certified auditor.  Albertans who participate are eligible for a provincial rebate.

8. Cut your phantom loads

  • Phantom loads are the energy that is being drawn while your electronics and appliances are turned ‘off’ or in stand-by mode.  This can account for 10% of your monthly electricity bill. Kill your phantom loads by putting your electronics, like TV entertainment systems and computers, on power bars and switching the power bars off.  Alternatively, use a Smart Strip Power BarTM which does the turning on and off for you.      

9. Support renewable energy

  • Sign up for Bullfrog Power with Green Calgary’s Promo Code: GC and get one month FREE.

Spend Consciously
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10. Shop locally – support green businesses and shop fair trade.

11. Look for recycled material in new products.

  • Recycling is not a one-way trip.  Everyone enjoys recycling but unless we are purchasing recycled products the loop remains incomplete.  Select products that have a high percentage of recycled material, preferably post-consumer recycled content.

12. Buy less stuff.

Travel Lightly
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13. Plan your vehicle trips and multi-errand.

  • This will save you time, money and cut down on the impact associated with driving.

14. Go Idle Free

  • Idling wastes fuel, produces more harmful emissions than normal driving, damages engines, and contributes to climate change. Pledge your commitment to go idle free here.

Waste Less
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15. Compost

  • Composting is a great way to give back to the earth.  It puts valuable nutrients back into the soil and can easily be done in backyards and apartment buildings. Remember that decomposition is slow in a landfill, wastes valuable and essential nutrients, and produces methane – a green house gas (GHG) 21 times a potent as carbon dioxide. For more information, check out Green Calgary’s Compost Guide.
  • If you live in an apartment or you don’t have a yard, consider vermicomposting (composing with worms) or Bokashi (composting by means of fermentation). For more information, check out Green Calgary’s Vermicomposting Guide or click here for more information about Bokashi.

16. Optimize your recycling

  • Make sure you are not contaminating your recycle bin with items that do not belong, as contamination can lead to greater waste. For a complete list of accepted items for recycling, visit The City of Calgary's website.
  • Although recycling is extremely important, it is more important to reduce the amount of waste or recycling that we produce in the first place.

17. Lug your mug & drag a bag.

  • Millions of disposable cups end up in the land fill every year. Simply remember to bring your mug with you when you go to the coffee shop. It’s easy and many coffee retailers offer a discount if you bring your own mug.

Water Wisely
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18. Install a rain barrel.

  • This is a perfect opportunity to capture water off the roof of your home and reuse it to water your garden, trees, and grass.

19. Test toilets for leaks and replace water guzzling toilets with low-flow or dual flush models.

  • A leaky toilet can add up to 28 bath tubs of wasted water a month. Either use a toilet tablet - available at the EcoStore - or simply add food coloring to the toilet tank. If the dye appears in the bowl after 5-10 minutes, your toilet has a leak.  Often times all you need to do is replace the toilet flapper. This costs less than $10 and can save you $100s per year.
  • Take it Out, Cash it In. Receive $50 back per low flow toilet installed with the City’s Toilet Replacement Program.

20. Go low flow

  • Replace your tap aerators and shower heads with low flow models (<1.5 gpm or 5.7 lpm). Each devise installed will save up to 10,000 liters of water a year.