Chris Winter of the Conservation Council of Ontario said, "The whole ability to adopt a conserver lifestyle depends on having that support structure there". Green infrastructure includes such things as auto-sharing programs, companies that sell green power and organizations that deliver or sell local foods. Government regulations on everything from energy efficient light bulbs to carbon taxes to offset green initiatives are also needed to act as a catalyst for the creation of a green infrastructure.
Winter is launching a new website, www.weconserve.ca, that asks Canadians to undertake a 10-point self-assessment test on how green they're living. "It's looking at 10 categories where we have our greatest impact and we can make the greatest change in terms of adopting conserver solutions" said Winter. Right now is a great time to asses your own green practices and decide what areas you want to improve on in the new year. I figure that I will likely never be perfect in this regard but I try to just improve as much as I can as I go along in life.
If you are looking to make real change in 2008 take heart that it doesn't all have to be about sacrifice. Experts say an environmentally friendly lifestyle can mean not only lower household bills but also improved mental and physical health when making a change like giving up driving to walk or bike to work.
Winter says not to worry if you score low on the weconserve test because the goal, "is not to become perfect, just to become better". Hopefully 2008 will see a shift from green talk to green action!
Take the conservation test and take action at http://www.weconserve.ca/
(All cited quotes & figures are from Environment tops for Canadians but experts hope people make real efforts in 2008 - The Canadian Press, Dec 18)
