Electricity & Energy: Unplug appliances when not in use, turn off lights when leaving the room, replace all light bulbs with low-burning eco-brand bulbs, cover your windows with plastic in the winter and turn down the heat.

Water: Toilets use up to 5 gallons of water per flush, so only flush when its necessary (if its yellow, let it mellow); re-use water by collecting vegetable water from cooking to water plants or grey water from the shower to fill your toilets reservoir.

Foods: Where possible, grow your own food on the balcony, rooftop or other urban spaces; also, commit to buying foods at a nearby farmers market or sign up for a share in a local Community Supported Agriculture initiative.

Organic Wastes: Put vegetable refuse in a bag or container in the freezer for use in vegetable stock, invest in a vermicompost system or take part in a collective compost in your
neighbourhood.

Plastics: Decrease your use of plastics instead, choose produce that is not packaged; use cloth or biodegradable shopping bags; instead of indulging in the heavily packaged foods you love, try making your own versions from scratch!

Cleaning Products: Use natural, biodegradable cleaning products (such as vinegar and baking soda) or buy locally made products in refillable containers. Look for products that are phosphate-free, nitrate-free and enzyme-free, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free; odourless or naturally scented detergents.

Above all, do your own research! Become literate in ecological
habits: read labels, talk to friends and colleagues, look for the Ecologo of Canadas federal Environmental Choice Program, ask your local merchants where their products are from and what is in them (for example, are the ingredients genetically modified or supplied by worker-friendly businesses?).

Once you know which products and services deserve your support, advocate for them by contributing your consumer dollars there.

At ascent, we took this challenge to heart. Find out what were doing to curb consumption at www.ascentmagazine.com.

Electricity & Energy: Unplug appliances when not in use, turn off lights when leaving the room, replace all light bulbs with low-burning eco-brand bulbs, cover your windows with plastic in the winter and turn down the heat.

Water: Toilets use up to 5 gallons of water per flush, so only flush when its necessary (if its yellow, let it mellow); re-use water by collecting vegetable water from cooking to water plants or grey water from the shower to fill your toilets reservoir.

Foods: Where possible, grow your own food on the balcony, rooftop or other urban spaces; also, commit to buying foods at a nearby farmers market or sign up for a share in a local Community Supported Agriculture initiative.

Organic Wastes: Put vegetable refuse in a bag or container in the freezer for use in vegetable stock, invest in a vermicompost system or take part in a collective compost in your
neighbourhood.

Plastics: Decrease your use of plastics instead, choose produce that is not packaged; use cloth or biodegradable shopping bags; instead of indulging in the heavily packaged foods you love, try making your own versions from scratch!

Cleaning Products: Use natural, biodegradable cleaning products (such as vinegar and baking soda) or buy locally made products in refillable containers. Look for products that are phosphate-free, nitrate-free and enzyme-free, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free; odourless or naturally scented detergents.

Above all, do your own research! Become literate in ecological
habits: read labels, talk to friends and colleagues, look for the Ecologo of Canadas federal Environmental Choice Program, ask your local merchants where their products are from and what is in them (for example, are the ingredients genetically modified or supplied by worker-friendly businesses?).

Once you know which products and services deserve your support, advocate for them by contributing your consumer dollars there.

At ascent, we took this challenge to heart. Find out what were doing to curb consumption at www.ascentmagazine.com.