NCWC Healthy Environment Survey

Knowing that water and energy use are closely linked and our wise use of both plays an important role in ensuring a healthy environment, the NCW Education Fund and the National Council of Women of Canada are seeking input from Canadians about their use and conservation of water and energy. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey, which will tell you how well you are doing and assist us in advising all levels of government on the actions they need to take to help us all do better, and to protect our Canadian fresh water resources and the environment.

All radio button selections are required fields. Be sure that you have completed all questions before you submit.

If you missed any areas that were required, use your browser's back button to return to your incomplete survey.

1. When bathing, I

5) take brief showers and turn off the shower while I lather.
3) take a five minute shower, or use a partially filled bath tub.
0) fill the bath tub and soak.

2. When doing a job that requires water e.g. preparing or cooking vegetables, bathing, I

5) often reuse the water for another job e.g. watering plants, washing items of clothing.
3) sometimes reuse the water.
0) never reuse water.

3. When watering my trees, bushes, vegetables or flowers, I

5) use water from my rain barrel, or left-over water from another use.
3) water only when necessary and limit the amount to just what is needed.
0) water every day, unless it is raining

4. When thirsty at work, meetings, school, events, or at home, I

5) carry my own stainless steel or glass refillable water bottle, or drink from the tap.
3) sometimes use a disposable plastic bottle of water and sometimes the tap water.
0) always carry a disposable plastic bottle of water.

5. When shopping, I

5) refuse to buy products that are over-packaged.
3) sometimes refuse to buy products that are over-packaged.
0) pay no attention to over-packaging

6. When shopping, I

5) take cloth bags to carry my purchases.
3) take plastic bags but reuse them as many times as possible.
0) always use new plastic bags from the store.

7. When disposing of recyclable & compostable (non-dairy/meat) household waste, I

5) use recycle depots & a composter, or put out recyclables & compostables for municipal collection.
3) recycle as much as possible but don't use a composter or set compost our for collection.
0) toss everything together with non-recyclable and compostable garbage.

8. If an article stops working, I

5) think of how it could be repaired, or how the parts could be reused.
3) attempt to have it repaired and if it still doesn't work, throw it out.
0) throw it out.

9. When packing a lunch, I

5) use reusable containers.
3) try to use reusable containers as much as possible.
0) wrap everything in disposables.

10. When traveling to work (business or volunteer) or for pleasure, I

5) always walk, use public transit or bicycle.
3) sometimes use public transit, walk, use a bicycle, or carpool.
0) always use the car and drive alone.

11. When running errands and making visits, I

5) always plan ahead to combine them in one trip.
3) sometimes plan ahead to combine them in one trip.
0) use the car whenever I need to.

12. When (if) next buying a car, I

5) will buy the most fuel efficient vehicle.
3) will buy as fuel efficient car a I can afford.
0) will buy the kind I like, regardless of fuel efficiency

13. When buying food, I

5) buy as many foods grown as close to home (in season) as possible.
3) sometimes buy locally grown foods.
0) buy the cheapest no matter where it is grown.

14. When using electricity for lights, TVs, computers, I

5) turn them off when not in use.
3) sometimes turn off when not in use.
0) never worry much about how much electricity I use.

15. When looking around my home, I see that I have

5) many energy saving items, e.g. fluorescent bulbs, water saving toilets, 3R windows.
3) a few energy saving items.
0) no energy saving items.

16. When drying my clothes, I

5) always use a clothesline or rack.
3) sometimes use a clothesline or rack.
0) always use the clothes dryer.

17. When looking for new appliances, I

5) look for the energy seal and buy the most efficient.
3) sometimes buy the most efficient, sometimes the cheapest.
0) buy the cheapest.

18. When keeping my home cool in very hot weather, I

5) open windows at night, close them in the morning and also close my curtains.
3) turn my air conditioning at a high setting to keep it off as long as possible.
0) keep my air conditioning on at a low setting which allows it to come on frequently.

19. When next signing an energy contract & installing energy efficient systems, I will

5) sign up with an alternative energy provider & install an alternative energy source system or equipment.
3) seriously consider alternative energy sources or equipment.
0) continue with my traditional energy source and equipment.

20. When housekeeping, I

5) always use non-toxic products such as baking soda and vinegar.
3) sometimes use chemical cleaners and disinfectants.
0) always use chemical cleaners and disinfectants.

21. Total your scores from each question (5, 3 or 0). Total: 70-100 = Making a Difference; 50-69 = Trying; 0-49 = OOPS! What is your score?

Let's Hear from You!

Over and above all of my answers to the survey questions, I try to save water and energy by: I would do better but:

Your Opinions on Government Plans, Policies, Programmes

1a. To achieve water and energy conservation, I support Building Code changes that require plumbing that allows for water reuse.

Yes
No
No Opinion

1b. To achieve water and energy conservation, I support targets by sector (e.g. municipal, commercial, industrial, governmental) for energy and water use reduction, with consequences if these targets are not met.

Yes
No
No Opinion

1c. To achieve water and energy conservation, I support an increase in the cost of water to municipal users so that the cost of treating water, waste water, municipal water & waste infrastructure improvements is sustainable, and water use reduced.

Yes
No
No Opinion

1d. To achieve water and energy conservation , I support funding for combined research on water and energy soft paths (water conservation, fewer pipes and sewage plants and more renewable forms of energy e.g. solar).

Yes
No
No Opinion

2a. To help protect Canada’s water resources and our environment generally, I support a national water policy, with legally binding national goals, but with most implementation at the provincial / territorial level.

Yes
No
No Opinion

2b. To help protect Canada’s water resources and our environment generally, I support federal legislation designed to keep water within its major natural river basins, so that energy and other large water uses can be managed predicably and in an integrated way within those basins.

Yes
No
No Opinion

2c. To help protect Canada’s water resources and our environment generally, I support a national public debate on energy use, and the development of federal legislation and policies to ensure that large scale energy sources e.g. the tar sands, mega dams and nuclear power, do not negatively impact water resources and the environment generally.

Yes
No
No Opinion

3a. To combat climate change/global warming , which will severely impact our fresh water resources, I support government limits (caps) on greenhouse gases for major industries, but permission for industries exceeding limits to pay for credits (trade) earned by other industries who are below the caps.

Yes
No
No Opinion

3b. To combat climate change/global warming , which will severely impact our fresh water resources, I support government taxes on industries that produce greenhouse gases, with the money raised going to reduce individual taxes or into programs that promote renewable energy sources.

Yes
No
No Opinion

3c. To combat climate change/global warming , which will severely impact our fresh water resources, I support a legislated quota of electricity from renewable sources.

Yes
No
No Opinion

3d. To combat climate change/global warming , which will severely impact our fresh water resources, I support government subsidies and/or tax breaks for producers, retailers, the public for green energy production and use.

Yes
No
No Opinion

Comments My age

up to 30
31 to 59
60+

I live in the municipality of... (REQUIRED) In

a large urban centre
a small town
a rural area

In the Province / Territory of... (REQUIRED) I live in...

an apartment
a condominium
a house
other

If Other, please specify I receive most of my information from: (select all that apply)

Magazines
Books
TV
Radio
the Web
Government brochures
Newspaper