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Water
Energy use
Recycling and composting
Pesticides and fertilizers
Small gasoline engines
Transportation choices

Water

"Canadians are concerned about how the environment affects their health, thus about the quality of the water they drink."¹ Public perception, as a determining factor driving public policy, can be as persuasive as empirically based evidence. In consequence, it is important to understand how Canadians perceive the quality of their drinking water supply and the behaviours that respond to those concerns. [Full text]

Energy use

In a country of climate extremes such as Canada, spending on energy to heat and cool homes makes up a significant portion of household spending. With the increasing cost of energy, householders are naturally conscious of the energy they consume and they therefore take steps to conserve energy. For example, of those households with a thermostat, programmable or not, 53% lowered the temperature of their dwellings before going to bed at night. [Full text]

Recycling and composting

When Canadians are asked about the environmental actions they take, waste diversion—in the form of recycling or composting—is probably what springs to many minds. [Full text]

Pesticides and fertilizers

The use of lawn and garden pesticides and pesticide–fertilizer mixes has been the subject of public debate for some years. Some municipalities and provinces have restricted the use of these chemicals or have banned them altogether because of concerns about possible health effects on humans and animals. Few national data have existed until now on the use of these substances and the frequency with which they are applied by households. [Full text]

Small gasoline engines

Emissions from small gasoline engines, such as those that power snowblowers, lawnmowers, leafblowers, boats and snowmobiles have an impact on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Gasoline-powered yard maintenance devices are preferred where the area to be dealt with is large. Although less polluting options exist, convenience makes gasoline engines the choice for many households where yard work is concerned. Boats and snowmobiles provide recreation but their operation is a discretionary use of gasoline. [Full text]

Transportation choices

The personal transportation decisions made by Canadians impact the environment through emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gasses as well as use of land for roads and streets.  It has been estimated that the transportation sector accounts for 24% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and that 54% of these emissions is due to passenger transportation². [Full text]

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