How Eco-friendly Are You?

Take our 20-question quiz to find out if you’re BFFs with the planet, just fair-weather friends, or possibly even frenemies

 

1. Where do you buy clothes?

1. From whichever stores have the latest ripped-from-the-runway trends.
2. From retailers that have an eco-friendly ethos.
3. From second-hand stores, or for free at clothing swaps.

 

2. How do you dry your laundry?

1. I let my dry cleaner worry about chores like that.
2. In the dryer.
3. On a drying rack or clothesline.

 

3. When you stay in a hotel, how often do you have your towels changed?

1. Every day, of course! That’s what the hotel staff are there for.
2. Every second or third day.
3. Once a week.

 

4. How do you usually get around?

1. In my own vehicle.
2. On public transit or in a carpool.
3. Walking or by bike.

 

5. What kind of car do you drive?

1. Gasoline-powered.
2. Hybrid or electric.
3. I don’t own a car.

 

6. Do you grow your own food?

1. No, that’s what grocery stores are for.
2. Yes, I have a container garden.
3. Yes, I have a garden that provides me with much of what I eat.

 

7. How often do you buy organics?

1. I never notice. I buy whatever looks tasty.
2. Whenever I’m getting something from the “dirty dozen” list of foods grown using the most pesticides.
3. Almost always.

 

8. How often do you eat what’s local and in season?

1. I never notice. I eat whatever I want.
2. As often as possible.
3. Almost always, especially from local farmers’ markets.

 

9. How often do you eat meat?

1. Whenever I feel like it. It’s delicious!
2. Sometimes, but not every day.
3. Never, or almost never.

 

10. What do you use to carry home groceries?

1. Single-use plastic bags.
2. Bags made from recycled paper.
3. Reusable fabric bags that I brought from home.

 

11. How do you wash dirty dishes?

1. Wash? I just throw out the paper plates!
2. By hand or in a really old dishwasher.
3. In an energy-efficient dishwasher that I cram full before using.

 

12. How often do you use disposable utensils, cups or containers?

1. Whenever I get takeout meals or drinks, which is all the time.
2. When I’m desperately hungry or thirsty and nothing else is available.
3. Never. I always have reusable ones stashed in my bag.

 

13. How often do you drink water from a single-use bottle?

1. Every day.
2. Only when nothing else is available.
3. Never. I always carry my favourite glass or stainless steel water bottle with me.

 

14. How often do you let the water run while you’re brushing your teeth?

1. Always. It’s a hassle to keep turning the water on and off.
2. Sometimes.
3. Never.

 

15. How long is your typical shower?

1. Until the hot water runs out.
2. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes.
3. Five minutes or less.

 

16. How often do you print out anything?

1. Whenever I want to. It’s nicer to read on paper than on a screen.
2. When I have something really important that I need a hard copy of, but I print on both sides of the paper.
3. Never, or almost never.

 

17. What kind of light bulbs do you use at home?

1. There are different types of light bulbs?
2. Mainly old-fashioned incandescents.
3. Halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs).

 

18. What happens to the lights whenever you leave a room?

1. They stay on, in case I come back to the room later.
2. I try to remember to switch them off.
3. I always switch them off.

 

19. How do you keep warm in the colder months?

1. I crank up the thermostat in every room of the house. I love being cozy!
2. I turn up the thermostat a few degrees, but just in the room I’m in.
3. I put on an extra layer of clothing and grab a blanket.

 

20. What do you do with appliances that aren’t being used?

1. I leave them plugged in. It’s convenient.
2. I try to remember to unplug them from the wall or turn off the power strip they’re plugged into.
3. I have power strips with built-in timers, to ensure that unused appliances aren’t wasting power in standby mode.

 

MOSTLY A'S

If you chose mainly A’s, then you and Planet Earth are not on speaking terms. It will take dedicated effort on your part to patch up this relationship.

MOSTLY B'S

If you chose mainly B’s, then you’re sometimes a friend to Planet Earth but you could do better. Read through the articles on Environment 911 to discover ideas about simple things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.

MOSTLY C'S

If you chose mainly C’s, then you and Planet Earth are besties forever. We applaud your devotion to this relationship.