What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is an annual international lights-out event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which asks individuals, businesses and governments around the world to turn off their lights for one hour to raise awareness about the need for urgent climate change action.

Last year, over 13 million Canadians turned off their lights for Earth Hour. This year, Earth Hour is happening on Saturday, March 23 between 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM.

Earth Hour is not just about switching off lights for one hour once a year. It’s about giving people a voice and working together to create a better future for our planet. Many participants are going beyond the hour to commit to lasting action for the planet. It’s a bit like an Environmental New Year, providing a chance to reflect on how our planet is faring and what we can do to help.

Not only is Earth Hour your chance to be part of a global phenomenon, it’s a great opportunity to look at what you can do reduce your carbon emissions. For example, you can:

• Use less energy every day by turning off your computer monitor when you leave your desk and unplugging the chargers for your cell phones and other devices when you’re not using them
• Use energy more efficiently in your home by washing your clothes in cold water and replace your appliances with Energy Star model when it’s time for a new one
• Use renewable energy to meet your household needs, like installing a solar water heating system or switching to a green power supplier

Info courtesy of wwf.ca/earthhour. Visit the website to learn more. 

Earth Hour 2013

Earth Hour 2013 is almost here! Join millions of people around the world and switch of your lights from 8:30 to 9:30 pm this Saturday March 23.

Wondering what to do to mark the occasion? Here are some suggestions on how to spend your Earth Hour:

• Host a party. Earth Hour is a great chance to spend time with your family, friends and neighbours. You can host a gathering in the dark. Encourage guests to bring “no cook” foods and eat dinner by candlelight. Pull out your favourite board games or have a poker tournament. Kids will love a chance to play with glow sticks or glow-in-the-dark stickers.
• Play hockey. Encourage your local community centre to hold a dimly-lit hockey game during Earth Hour. Hot chocolate in reusable mugs will keep players and their cheering sections warm. 
• Plan a community event. Whether it’s a “ghost” walk around a local historical centre, a block party featuring acoustic music or a guided stargazing tour, show your creativity and bring your friends together to enjoy the night. 
• Ask local businesses to join. Maybe your favourite restaurant could hold a candlelit dinner or your local yoga studio could host a yoga-in-the-dark event. Many businesses want to show their support for the Earth.

Learn more about Earth Hour at www.earthhour.org and stay tuned to our blog for more posts about Earth Hour in Canada. How do you plan to mark the occasion? 

How clean is your water?

Your home equipment is like a car's engine: it needs to be cleaned and maintained to work its best.

At National Home Services, we maintain our water tanks and never install and forget like some tank suppliers. Think about it— when was the last time your current hot water heater rental supplier: Drained and flushed your hot water tank to remove sediment and prevent scale and deposit build up?  Checked your venting system which should include; inspection of ventor motor, burner assembly, and flame rod and pilot, to make sure that everything is operating to manufacturer's specifications?  Took a carbon monoxide reading to ensure your family's safety?  Ensured that your entire system was working efficiently and safely to meet manufacturer's specifications?  If the answer to any of these questions is NEVER, contact us today!

Energy Explained

What is electricity?

Electricity is a convenient and controllable form of energy that we use every day to power our appliances, provide light and heat our homes. Electricity is a secondary energy source, meaning it is generated from the conversion of primary sources of energy, such as fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil), nuclear power and renewable sources (wind, hydro, solar, geothermal).

How does electricity get to your home? 

Where does electricity come from? 

There are 5 main sources of electricity: 

1. Fossil Fuels
• Power plants burn coal, natural gas and oil, producing heat. Heat combines with steam in the plant to generate electricity. 
2. Water and Wind 
• Dams and windmills harness water or wind to rotate machinery that creates heat and electricity. 
3. Geothermal 
• This form of energy is generated in the Earth's core which has temperatures hotter than the sun's surface produced by radioactive particles. 
4. Nuclear power
•  Power plants split atoms and harness the energy release to generate heat and electricity.
5. Solar
• The sun's heat is harnessed by panels and is converted to electricity. 

Which sources of electricity are green? 

Energy generated through renewable sources such as hydro, wind, solar and geothermal are green. Unlike fossil fuels, these sources of power do not deplete natural resources. They are also cleaner sources of energy that do not pollute the environment with carbon emissions.

Thanks to Just Energy for providing this information. To learn more about green energy, visit www.justenergy.com