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The small things we do add up. Although it isn’t always easy to change the way we do things, our efforts make a positive impact on our community today and for tomorrow.
In the fall 2007 edition of Inside Out and at Let’s Talk 2008, The City promoted ideas of ways people can make small changes in their lives. The City is working on a long-range sustainability plan to make Red Deer a model city, one that looks after the needs of today’s citizens and those to come.
What is sustainability?
Sustainability is a big concept that includes the environment, but also the social and economic culture of our community. Sustainability is a commitment to our community; a way to ensure our quality of life in Red Deer can be maintained for the long term – for today and for generations to come. Each of us has a part to play by the small steps we take.
Examples of small steps we can all take to be more sustainable:
Environmental:
- Recycle
- Buy reusable shopping bags
- Start a compost for your yard
- Walk, bike, take transit or carpool
- Make energy efficient improvements to your home; use:
- Low energy light bulbs
- Install a high efficiency furnace
- Install a high efficiency appliance
- Replace old windows
Social, economic & cultural:
- Volunteer in your community
- Become a child mentor
- Participate in community events
- Support a local charity
- Borrow books from the library
- Start making RRSP contributions
- Shop locally
- Throw a block party and get to know your neighbours
One action can make a difference in more ways than one. For example, your efforts to protect the environment by organizing a recycling program also makes a social contribution to the community by bringing people together.
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