10 easy ways to go green in 1 weekend

Going green at the cottage does not have to be expensive or labour-intensive. You can lighten your impact on the environment without spending too much effort or money with the following 10 tips.

By Heather MacMullin

1. Buy greener soaps and cleaners

EcoLogo-certified products are best, but if you’re not buying those, be wary of overly sudsy soaps (full of surfactants), and antibacterial soaps. Antibacterial soaps and cleaners will kill both good and bad bacteria, so once they leave your house and filter through your septic system, they can halt the breakdown of waste in your holding tank. For more information on greener cleaners, click here.

2. Do not soap up in the lake

Even if you’ve bought green soaps, you still should not bathe in the lake. Even biodegradable products can take a long time to break down, impacting marine life in the meantime.

3. Lower your wattage

Decrease your energy usage by swapping incandescent light bulbs for fluorescent bulbs. They use only a quarter of the power, and last ten times longer.

4. Put away the lawn mower

You’re encouraging soil erosion at the shoreline, or introducing pesticides and fertilizers into the lake through water runoff when you keep a manicured lawn: You’re at the lake, why not put the mower in storage, kick back and let it grow? If this doesn’t appeal, try replanting the area with native plants to minimize runoff and erosion, or keep the grass at least 20 cm long, ending a minimum of 30 metres from shore.

5. Hang curtains or blinds

Curtains are a great way to aid in the management of your heat efficiency. Keep curtains open during the day so sunlight and heat can come in, and then close them in the evening to keep the heat inside. To keep cool, try the reverse on sun-soaked windows. To be even greener, use natural, sustainable fabrics—they’re resistant to stains, mould, and bacteria.

6. Switch over to a low-flow showerhead

Once in place, a low-flow showerhead reduces water flow by fifty per cent while managing to maintain good water pressure. They are easy to install and cost between $10 and $20.

7. Don’t be afraid to use your dishwasher

Trying to save water by hand-washing the dishes? With resource-saving dishwashers, or using efficiency settings like “air dry,” it is actually better to scrape your dishes and let the washer take care of the rest. However, if it’s quite a small load, or your dishwasher is ancient, you may end up pulling dish duty this weekend.

8. Unplug electronics when you’re not using them

Many electronics, like computers, stereos, and TVs will use electricity, even when shut off. Unplug them, or turn off the power bar when they’re not in use, to lessen your energy load.

9. Painting this weekend? Buy “low-VOC” or “VOC-free” paints

Volatile organic compouds (VOCs), toxic chemicals found in standard paints, can continue to be released into the air from a few weeks to months after that last coat of paint has dried. Choose an eco-friendly alternative—the results will benefit both the air quality and your health. Read more about greener paint choices.

10. Keep up with boat engine maintenance

Old engines can have smog-forming emissions that are big polluters. If purchasing a newer, more efficient, and environmentally-friendly engine is outside of your budget, here’s what you should do: Check and replace your spark plugs (carbon damages them), change the fuel filter, or add detergent to the fuel, which will flush out any carbon buildup. Keeping that old engine efficient will make your boat greener. For more information, check out our guide to outboard maintenance.