The Boy Scouts motto says it all: Be Prepared.

It's Emergency Preparedness Week May 5-11 and what better time to make sure you're ready for any emergency to protect your family, your home and your business.

Just think of the devastation from hurricane Katrina. Not only did it cause billions of dollars in property damage but it also resulted in the tragic loss of human lives, as well as years of rebuilding lives and communities.

If you make a conscious effort to treat every day as Earth Day, you will be doing your part to save the planet and will save some money along the way.

There are some simple things you can do to help reduce energy consumption and reduce your household expenses. 

Here are some tips offered by BMO Bank of Montreal, a company dedicated to becoming a leader in environmental sustainability.

You’d think that with all the controversies surrounding the transportation of oil recently, companies would be careful about how they present themselves to the public. You’d also think that companies would realize they can’t get away with half-truths as easily as in the pre-Internet days.

Lesson #1 for oil companies: Try not to look evil. After the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, a new generation has once again seen what a failure of oversight and a lack of public interest can result in. So, it seems baffling that Enbridge has allegedly tried to get away with something as easily discovered as an altered map.

Even though quite common in the United States, tollbooth is a four-letter word to most Canadian motorists.

The underlying idea is simple enough – if roads are considered "free," then motorists won't use them wisely. A toll on the major highways during peak hours will make us think more about living closer to work, telecommuting or travelling the highways at non-peak times

And this view seems to be gaining traction.

The majority of urban drivers say they're willing to pay for alternatives to commuting on congested roads five days a week, according to a new study of GTA drivers who face a daily commute of at least 30 minutes each way.

While well over half of the drivers were willing to pay a road toll, sales tax or parking fee, 69 per cent said they would be more supportive if they knew the funds would go directly to expanding rapid transit in the region.

Everyone talks about buying socially and environmentally superior products. But, when they're alone in the shopping aisle and it’s just them and their wallet, it seems people rarely fork out more for “green.”

In a recent survey, nearly half of the respondents (46%) say they're more inclined to buy a product if it's  eco-friendly, but 59% admit they'd be unwilling to pay a higher price for an eco-friendly product or service over one that is not eco-friendly.

The problem seems to be that most consumers believe organic and eco-friendly products are good for the planet, but they aren't certain how big a difference these products actually make. And they certainly don't feel like paying more for them.