Canadian householders are making changes to be greener, but still engage in many practices that have a negative impact on the environment, a new study suggests.
found some good habits on the rise in recent years:
- Almost six in 10 households now use compact fluorescent bulbs;
- About four in 10 have a programmable thermostat;
- More households composted;
- More had water-saving showerheads and toilets.
But other aspects of household behaviour have not changed much since the mid-1990s, the use of chemical pesticides on lawns and gardens, which was down only slightly in 2006 from 1994.
Only Quebec saw a significant reduction of pesticide use -- from 30 per cent of households in 1994 to 15 per cent. The drop is attributed to strict regulations imposed in recent years.
While vehicle emissions contributed largely to Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, according to the federal government, most motorists travelled to work alone in a car or truck.
Some 83 per cent of households had at least one motor vehicle in 2006, while more than 10 per cent had three or more vehicles.
The survey also examined drinking water habits. Almost three out of every 10 households drank bottled water predominantly in 2006, whether they had a municipal or private water supply.
The remaining households drank tap water, but half of those homes treated the water in some way. While the majority used devices to improve the taste or appearance of their water, 40 per cent did so over concerns about possible bacterial contamination.
The study found a large increase in the number of households with water-saving devices. In 2006, 60 per cent of households had a water-saving showerhead, compared to 42 per cent in 1994.
About 41 per cent had a water-saving toilet, nearly triple the 15 per cent who had one in 1994
Household recycling rates have climbed significantly, the study found, but detailed data won't be released until Friday when it's presented in the inaugural issue of EnviroStats, Statistics Canada's new publication of analysis on environmental issues.
The survey showed households are taking advantage of new power-saving devices. Between 1994 and 2006, the proportion using at least one compact fluorescent light bulb more than tripled from 19 per cent to 59 per cent.
Composting rates have grown slightly, up to 27 per cent of households from 23 per cent, with the initiative most popular in Atlantic Provinces.
Electronic waste, such as old computers and gadgets, is a growing environmental problem, the survey found. Almost 20 per cent of households threw the devices in the garbage, not at special waste depots.
The Households and the Environment Survey polled more than 28,000 households by telephone in early 2006.
With files from The Canadian Press
