Highlights

Energy conservation

1. More than four out of ten (42%) of Canadian households with a thermostat reported they had a programmable thermostat in their dwelling.
2. Of the households with a programmable thermostat, 84% had actually programmed it.
3. The use of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) by Canadian households increased in 2007, with 69% of households reporting that they had at least one. This is up from 56% in 2006.

Water conservation

1. Sixty-two percent of Canadian households reported they had a low-flow shower head.
2. Low-volume toilets were used by 39% of Canadian households.
3. Only 13% of households reported that everyone in the household left the tap running while they brushed their teeth.

Drinking water decisions

1. Thirty percent of Canadian households with municipally supplied water reported they drank primarily bottled water, while just under six out of ten (59%) reported they drank primarily tap water.
2. Thirty-five percent of Canadian households with non-municipal water supplies had their water tested, but 87% of those that tested did not find a problem.

Indoor environment

1. Forty-one percent of Canadian households had heard of radon gas and were aware of its impact on human health.
2. Biodegradable window cleaning products were used by 46% of households in Canada.
3. Two-thirds of Canadian households with a forced air furnace changed their furnace filters at least every six months.

Pesticides and fertilizers

1. Thirty-three percent of households that had a lawn or garden used pesticides.
2. Organic pesticides were used by 12% of these same households.
3. Just over half of households in Canada that had a lawn or garden used fertilizers.

Poor air quality awareness and responses

1. Thirty-four percent of Canadian households were aware of an advisory of poor air quality being issued in their area.
2. More than half of those aware of an advisory did not change their activities as a result.
3. Seventy-seven percent of households who changed their behaviour as a result of advisories of poor air quality stayed inside in response.

Purchasing decisions

1. Organic foods were always purchased by 5% of Canadian households.
2. Thirty percent of Canadian households always used a reusable or recycled bag or container to carry their groceries.