Canadians use more hot water per capita than almost any other country in the world. We use more water in general than most, but ask any Canadian and they will tell you that there's nothing like a hot bath on a cold day. Because we take water and energy for granted, it's no wonder that most of us are still using hot water tanks. Hot water tanks fill up with water and then an element inside heats the water and keeps it hot 24/7, even though you may only use that hot water in the morning before work and in the evening before bed. That's similar to leaving your kettle on all the time and just refilling it now and then in order to have an occasional cup of tea! In Europe and Asia they have been using tankless (or "on-demand") water heaters for 75 years already. These are simple devices that use electricity or natural gas to heat water as it runs through the hot water pipe. They switch on when you turn on the tap and switch off when you turn it off. This means that it can take a little longer for the hot water to reach you at the tap, but it also results in about 40% savings over a hot water tank on your energy bills. Also, while most hot water tanks are used up after about 10 years, most tankless heaters are guaranteed for much longer-some up to twice as long. In order to reduce waste, then, a tankless water heater might be a worthwhile investment. We could not find any tankless water heaters that are made locally (probably because their main markets are Europe and Asia), so we have linked to a few good information sources below. Home Depot has a relationship with Bosch water heaters, so we have listed them in Where to Buy. They may have to order one in for you. Be sure to do your research and get the right size of water heater for your needs. Many solar companies can also set up a solar hot water heater for domestic purposes. These units use the heat of the sun beating off your roof to heat water, thus using very little, if any electricity at all. That means even more energy savings over time!
soaker hoses made of 100% recycled tire rubber (made in USA)
Canadian-made reel and electric lawn mowers, and a participant in the Mow Down Pollution mower trade-in program. See the link to the Clean Air Foundation below.
Garden Gourmet composters, made in Scarborough of 100% recycled materials
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