Earth Day turned 20 in Canada and 40 years old in the United States this year. And, with the recent Earth Day celebrations taking place all over North America, it seems fitting that the TD Canada Trust Green Home Poll that was recently released shows that “green” means a lot to Canadians – either that means the green stuff in their wallets or going green for the planet.
According to the poll, for the third time in a row the amount of Canadians who think spending money on green home features boosts its value has increased, and this year it’s almost three-quarters of the total respondents. Seventy-seven per cent of the poll’s respondents cited saving money as the primary motivation for lowering their energy bills rather than being more environmentally friendly, up 12 per cent from the year prior.
The poll also found that over half of Canadians want to make use of the government energy-efficiency rebate programs, such as the provincial Ontario Home Energy Savings Program.
Other highlights from the poll include:
- One-third of Canadians are switching out their older appliances for newer, energy-efficient appliances.
- Almost half of Canadian homeowners appreciate the health benefits of going green.
- One-third of Canadians are increasing the amount of weather stripping and sealant around windows or doors to increase heating efficiency.
- Over half of Canadians have stopped using pesticides, and over half of Canadians are switching over to energy-efficient light bulbs.
- Twenty-nine per cent of Canadians are interested in participating in an energy efficiency renovation program, but they don’t know how to start.
For those who don’t know how to start in Ontario, visit the Ontario Home Energy Savings Program site here: www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/energy/conservation/ohesp/
