Do we always need a law? When the NDP government announced its plans for controlling carbon emissions in Alberta this weekend, the oilsands giants were unanimous in their support. They say it has simply become good business that government does its part in protecting our shared environment in order for them to do theirs. In a world where perception is everything, the Keystone pipeline fiasco is proof enough of what can happen if people rightly or wrongly, believe Albertans are falling short.
If the province’s projections are correct, the cost of going cleaner will hit the average family for about $470 a year. That may be cause for concern for some, and for the truly needy help has been promised, but let’s hope this added financial burden will prove to be a wakeup call for most of us. It is about time we start paying for our wasteful ways. It was not that long ago when cities thoughtlessly pumped raw sewage into rivers for downstream communities to enjoy. However, these days few would balk against the need for treatment plants. The air we breathe should not be treated differently for a host of reasons from health to climate change.
That’s why it is truly aggravating to continually witness people who don’t seem to care. Notice the lineup of huge vehicles with engines pumping their fumes into the air as their drivers wait to buy a coffee or hamburger. One can only guess why they don’t they park and go inside? Or think of all the traffic caused each day as families transport students from one end of the city to the other to go to that special school. Do any of these parents weigh the environmental price when a perfectly acceptable school may be within walking distance? Or what about homeowners who insist on turning on every light in the house, whether they are in the room or not.
If a carbon tax is going to make people pay more for these behaviours, then perhaps it is a good thing. And when people see the direct cost, maybe we will also find someone willing to change. Despite a lot of initial grumbling, we’ve adopted seatbelts and the metric system while rejecting smoking in the past half-century.
For those ready to take the plunge, there is plenty of information on small steps that will not only help reduce your burden on the environment, but also now save a few bucks. Over the past several months, Gazette reporter Kevin Ma has written a series called Carbon Challenge that contains all kinds of green ideas along with comparisons of costs and savings.
For instance, it’s not news that insulation works, but did you know that increasing its efficiency from R20 to R50 and can result in a 20 per cent energy saving and 21 tonnes of carbon over the life of the roof? The payback period for the initial cost may be decades, but besides making a home more comfortable, a more efficient abode will certainly come with a smaller carbon bill. Other ideas at least think about installing a drain heat recovery system or solar panels. Did you know that replacing your 12 L/flush toilet with a 6L/flush model would save you 24.6 kilograms of carbon a year? If you want to save more than 319 kilograms of carbon from your footprint each year replace 10 incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents or LEDs. Or instead of rushing to the mall for something to do on a Sunday afternoon, go for a walk. You won’t burn any gas.
These may all appear to be minor savings, but small change adds up. Just ask anyone with a healthy bank balance. Let’s hope that when we all start paying for our carbon, our new bills will detail that cost. A little awareness can go a long way.
