“It Pays to Be Green!” was the focus of A Rocha Pembina Valley’s recent Dessert Fundraiser, held on September 24^th in Morden, Manitoba. The event introduced A Rocha to approximately 85 town residents and sought their funding support.  John Wiens presented the signature talk, “It Pays to be Green.” Wiens, an accountant and contractor as well as a Board Member for A Rocha Canada, explained how conservation efforts in one’s household bring both financial and social benefits.

According to Wiens, making five simple changes in our homes could save each household $370/year and reduce its impact on the environment.  His estimates of the personal and social benefits were based on the cost of hydro and water in Manitoba, which are among the lowest in the country.  In other locales, hydro and water cost more and the savings would be even greater.

1.      Save $50-60/year by installing a programmable thermostat. While such a thermostat costs $110, the savings would pay for the installation in just two years.

2.      Save $149/year by changing all the light bulbs in your house to energy efficient bulbs, which cost $3.50/ bulb.

3.      Save $43/year by turning off your computer when it is not in use (about 12 hours/day).

4.      Save $28/year and 2,700 gallons of water/year by using a low-flow showerhead, which costs $15.

5.      Save $90/year by installing a dual-flush toilet, which costs $450 (or retrofit your toilet at a cost of $85).  In five years the savings would pay for the new dual-flush toilet.

Wiens noted that only ¼ of 1 percent of the earth’s water is drinkable. If all the households in Morden, Manitoba, switched to low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets, in one year the town would save 40,000,000 gallons of water, or 17 percent of the water currently used. 

Myra Danielson was the concluding speaker of the evening, sharing with the audience why she gives both time and money to A Rocha. “It Pays to be Green” appeals to our self-interest, she said, but most people think beyond their personal needs and limited life span. “We work to make our communities and region a better place. We thank you for that and we thank you for your interest in the work of A Rocha. It’s a story that’s still being written…and we’re eager to make it a happy one.”