Community Led Emissions Reduction Program

Municipalities play a key role in helping Canada meet commitments for both significant and long term greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions.  Actions taken by municipalities contribute to substantial and cost-effective GHG emission reductions. In January 2009, the Town of Virden passed a resolution to participate in the Province of Manitoba’s Community Led Emissions Reduction (CLER) four-year pilot program to develop a local solution to the global issue of climate change.

Understanding your carbon footprint

1. Most greenhouse gases are caused by the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation and transportation.
2. Deforestation is another major driver of climate change, responsible for more carbon pollution than the entire global transportation sector.
3. A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of carbon pollution produced.
4. Simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint include: walk more, use public transportation, only buy what you need and recycle.

Tips to living green

1. Purchase energy efficient appliances. They cut carbon pollution and save you money!
2. Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine are always full before you run them as this will save energy and money.
3. Weather-proofing your home is a great way to save energy. Caulk your doors and windows, add insulation or add shades to use in the summer!
4. Leaving your computer for a while? Put it on stand-by and it will take less energy than shutting down and restarting.
5. Fix leaking faucets. The constant drip wastes water, energy and money, so repair them as soon as possible.
6. Eat more veggies! On average, it takes nearly 10 times as much fossil fuel to produce animal protein compared to plant protein.
7. Unplug appliances and phone chargers when they aren't in use. If they're plugged in, they're drawing energy and costing you money.