While we wait for our leaders to fund public transit, stop urban sprawl and wait for emerging technologies from our scientist's. We must protect our air, water and land as much as possible. One day Mother Nature is going to rise up and bite us (you know where?)

1/ Save hydro by converting 1 - 15amp circuit at a time to 12 volts.
Then change to 12 volt lighting used for RV's.
Every appliance you can think of is available in 12 volts. (truckers use them for one) 12 volt TV's, stereos, desk lamps, electric blanket, even a 12 volt microwave.
A desk top computer can be converted to run on 12 volts, they already are. The power supply converts from 110 volts to 12 volts. Idea is to start with 12 volts, because you are converting at least a couple of bedrooms to  12 volts.
We are going here in the opposite direction of conventional solar and/or wind power at greatly reduced prices.
A converter to change from 110 volts to 12 volts costs from $5.00 to $75.00.
As opposed to an inverter from 12 volts to 110 volts, costs many hundreds of dollars, and up.
A costly inverter is always required for conventional solar, wind power.

2/ Purchase green technology through the use of CO-OP's.
Example: A pallet or container full of solar panels, is going to be far less expensive than buying one roof full at a time. This would apply to LED lighting as well.
I come from Alberta, they have a CO-OP Credit Union, Gas Station, Supermarket were customers become owners.
Surely Ontario can start a Energy or Green CO-OP? Preferably not for profit. (not difficult to set this up)

3/ Create wind turbine farms on the flat roof of industrial buildings. These turbines are small and cost a few hundred dollars.
They are designed to generate electricity in lower wind speeds. Can easily be assembled locally, using conventional low cost electric motors (generators)
For people on a tight budget, the blades can be made from 6" PVC sewer pipe. (cut in four pieces and very inexpensive)

4/ For conventional solar / wind systems, high cost deep cycle batteries are required. It maybe possible to use low cost, heavy duty transport truck batteries instead.

5/ Just saw the plans to make a pop bottle green house. (1500 2 Liter bottles required)
http://www.ehow.com/how_5880791_make-greenhouse-2_liter-bottles.html
Make a green house out of plastic pop bottles and heat with hydrogen, an individual can produce a limited amount of hydrogen themselves using Electrolysis and 12 volts of electricity.

6/ Similar technology is available to supplement your vehicle's fuel consumption with a little hydrogen added to the air intake. Can't replace the fuel, only supplement it.

Attention
Sue and Joe public. If you like these ideas and have others please add them in and let all the politicians know how important this issue is. There is no reason why all of these ideas can not be implimented in Toronto. Lets show case Toronto as being the greenest city in the Country and maybe the World!

 Mike Hepburn

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