The Power Pledge
Take the pledge to conserve energy in your home as part of Energy Conservation Week 2010.
This website is also a good source of information on energy conservation
and those who take the pledge are eligible for bonus Air Miles reward miles.

 

 

 

 

 

Although the federally-funded ecoENERGY Retrofit Homes Program has been cancelled, the provincially-funded Ontario Home Energy Savings program is still accepting applications. See their website for further details.

Cool Savings Rebate Program
This Ontario Power Authority program encourages people to replace old air conditioners and furnaces with Energy Star qualified/electricity-efficient ones.

 

This program from Summerhill Impact gives residents information needed to install solar energy systems.

 

Great Refrigerator Roundup
If you have an old, inefficient fridge or freezer, this program by the Ontario Power Authority will ensure it is taken away and disposed of properly for free. Old airconditioners and dehumidifiers can also be taken away provided you have atleast one fridge or freezer for removal.

 

Keep Cool Program
This Summerhill Impact program encourages people to retire and recycle old, inefficient room air conditioners and install cleaner, more efficient alternatives.

 

Veridian Connections offers homeowners a $25 incentive if they sign up to have Veridian temporarily power down air conditioners during peak energy use periods.

 

Take the "We Have the Power” pledge through Durham Sustain Ability! Durham Sustain Ability also has a wonderful wealth of information on how you can live more sustainably.

 

Ever wondered how much "nature” your lifestyle requires? The Ecological Footprint Quiz from the Center for Sustainble Economy estimates the amount of land and ocean area required to sustain your consumption patterns and absorb your wastes on an annual basis. After answering 27 easy questions you’ll be able to compare your Ecological Footprint to others’, post your results on Facebook, and join with millions of quiz users to learn how to reduce your impact on the Earth.

 

Be More Active
From volleyball to dancing to gardening and everything in between, sign up for one of the City of Pickering’s many programs.

 

Pack a Litter-free Lunch
Litter-free lunches are not hard, nor expensive to make. To learn some tips on how to pack a litter-free lunch, visit the link above.

 

Take some time to learn what is recyclable and compostable in Durham Region. Don't add more to your garbage bin than you need to.

 

Take part in the garden competition. Showcase your floral displays. Adopt-a-park or plant trees.

 

Donate some time to cleaning up a local greenspace, stream, trail, road or neighbourhood. The City can suggest some areas that need a helping hand.

 

This program from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources challenges groups or individuals to take part in tree planting.

Sign up for Paperless Billing
Reduce the use of paper by paying bills online. Contact your bank, utility, or service provider to find out how.

 

Find out which simple kitchen ingredients you can use for nearly every cleaning purpose.

 

As part of your garden this year, plant and grow an extra row of your favourite veggie to donate to a local food bank through the Grow a Row program.

 

Join Neighbourhood Watch
A community crime prevention program designed to reduce the threat of crime to neighbours and property, offered through Durham Regional Police Services. Participants receive lessons in crime prevention and learn about Operation Identification.

 

Volunteer Your Time

Many charitable organizations need a hand. Check out the list of Charitable Organizations & Social Services under community links on the City’s homepage. Also, look at opportunities through Volunteer Energy – Durham Region and Meals on Wheels Durham.

ecoENERGY for Personal Vehicles

Do you own a personal vehicle? Learn how to save money, use less fuel, and protect the environment on this website.

 

Learn the top ten tips for reducing your vehicle emissions and then put them into practice so we can all breathe a little easier.

 

CBC and The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos successfully mobilized Canadians to do One Million Acts of Green. The idea is that one small act can make a big difference. Although the program has reached its goal, you can still register one act – or more − and the green calculator will determine the impact of those acts on the environment.

 

Car Heaven Program
This Summerhill Impact program provides charitable tax receipts and free towing of retired vehicles to donors, and recycles vehicles in an environmentally sound way.

Exchange non-hazardous materials for free. Fill out the online form through our program page.

 

This Summerhill Impact Program rewards people for relinquishing old gas lawnmowers by providing rebates on new cleaner ones and recycles old mowers responsibly.

 

This program from Summerhill Impact encourages heating and cooling contractors to promote and install efficient programmable thermostats and recycle old thermostats containing mercury properly.

 

March: Earth Hour
Switch off your lights for one hour at 8:30 pm one evening every year in March to send a global message that we care enough about climate change to take action. On Saturday, March 27, 2010, Sustainable Pickering, in partnership with Pickering Town Centre, encouraged residents of Pickering to participate in Earth Hour by asking them to take the Earth Hour Challenge. To see pictures of thie event, click here. To hear about what some Pickering residents did to celebrate Earth Hour 2010, click here.

April: 20-Minute Pickering Makeover

Each April, give part of our community a makeover by picking up litter for 20 minutes. Since 2005 over 48,000 participants have taken part. Plan to join us in 2010 to clean up litter around you. Call 905.683.7575 to register.

April: Earth Week Events

Earth week in April offers many ways to get out, meet new people and improve your community. Visit the Event Calendar in March for details on current Earth Week activities.

 

August: Blackout Challenge
Power down on August 14 every year − the anniversary of the huge blackout that affected southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States.