Green Guelph

I’ve been doing my own research regarding the public spaces recycling initiative that Nestle brought forward to the City of Guelph several months ago, and apparently hasn’t heard anything from the City yet. ( Nestle’s words, not mine). I found this release from Sarnia and how they are launching the program there.

Remember how Guelph was suppose to me a “leader” for the environment? Or the City to watch for anything “green”. Well I guess Sarnia is taking that title with this particular initative. The Mayor has some strong words that maybe the leaders in this City need to listen to. Check out what he said…

“Rather than sit on the sidelines and do environmentally symbolic but ineffective actions that do not address the recycling issue – like banning the sale of bottled water in municipal facilities, Sarnia Council decided to take a leadership role. By doing so, Sarnia will help Ontarians to achieve
considerably higher recycling rates by hosting the province’s first pilot public spaces recycling program.”

Here’s some more comments from Nestle in the same release regarding this program:

“It is our objective to collect 100 percent of the plastic beverage containers we produce,” explained Gail Cosman, President, Nestlé Waters Canada. “If the results we’ve seen in Quebec are any indication, the introduction of public spaces recycling in every province will go a long distance towards helping us to achieve that goal.    “It is our intention to support pilots across Canada that help todemonstrate the effectiveness of public spaces recycling – in the hopes that local and provincial governments will partner with us in the establishment of this program in every community across this country.”

Do you read that? 100% collection rate. And Nestle would not only be collecting their own plastic water bottles but also the pop plastic bottles and other refreshing liquids that are contained in plastic bottles. You know, the ones that seem to be totally okay with the fringe anti-plastic activists.

This is upsetting me folks. I am against the plastic bottles, but I also can’t turn a blind eye to a company wanting to help our communities with this issue.

Let me introduce you to a new business here in town called Guelph Solar Hot Water. This is a fantastic company and they can help you obtain hot water through a solar panel setup. They do more than just that though, please call them for further details. If you’re thinking of building a new home, think about solar as an option. You can work with Guelph Solar Hot Water to install what’s needed during the construction process. This is the way to go folks.

Guelph Solar Hot Water specializes in using solar energy to reduce water heating costs. Hot water is the second largest energy cost in residential homes, and solar hot water systems can provide year round savings.

Benefits of Solar Hot Water systems:
- Reduce Green House Gas Emissions
- Cut hot water heating costs in half
- Provide excellent return on investment
- Reduce fossil fuel usage
- Insulate owner from Peak Oil transition costs
- Are an investment that appreciates tax deferred with your home
- Use local and renewable energy
- Have a 20 to 30 year life expectancy
- Are eligible for grants and credits and incentives

Guelph Solar Hot water has the experience required to put the sun to work for you. From simple residential applications or larger commercial projects each solar thermal opportunity is evaluated to ensure long term durability and efficiency.

Steve Dyck
Guelph Solar Hot Water
519 994 4749

I saw this letter, sent to both the Guelph Mercury and The Guelph Tribune, this week and I must say that the letter writer does make some good points. I have found some hypocrisy within the anti-bottled-water movement that they only target those filling plastic bottles with water and have no problem with plastic bottles filled with any other kind of liquid. If you’re against plastic bottles, then be against all plastic bottles. That just makes more sense. Obviously, the issue is that they (The big evil water bottling companies) are taking a “natural resource” and that’s what’s upsetting those heavily opposed to the industry. Remember, I’m not a fan of bottled water either. Don’t get me wrong here, I bought a SIGG reusable bottle last year and my whole family now tries it’s best to use it. But be consistant Mr. and Mrs Activists, don’t buy any other liquid in plastic bottles if you are so dead against it. I have found myself looking in the mirror and trying to challenge myself to not do that but it’s hard to do. When I do buy bottled water (yeah i do sometimes folks, I’m a normal human being that likes choice and I’d rather buy a bottled water 4 times a year on a long road trip than pop.) I at least recycle it. And this is were there’s a huge problem with us humans, we aren’t recycling these things! If the stats as indicated by the letter writer are true regarding the program in Quebec, than shouldn’t we be doing everything we can to recycle these things? Especially if Nestle would be willing to provide the infrastructure to do it! Well, here’s the letter below for you to read. A response from the City of Guelph would be nice. What are your thoughts?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: GUELPH TRIBUNE JULY 8TH, 2009

I read with interest the article about banning the use of bottled water in Riverside Park on Canada Day that appeared in the June 30 edition of the Guelph Tribute entitled, “No plastic water bottles at park.”

Beyond the fact that neither the Rotary Club of Guelph nor the City of Guelph has the authority to ban the use of a legal, healthful product like bottled water in a public park, the effect of that effort was the trading of one piece of plastic for another piece of plastic. As evidenced by the contents of the garbage cans on Canada Day (and we monitored them), most visitors to the park purchased other beverages found in plastic bottles when bottled water was eliminated as a hydration option. Given that soft drinks outsell bottled water by a 2:1 margin, one would expect that there would always be more pop cans and bottles found in the garbage — or a recycling bin — than water bottles. Those beverages weren’t targeted by those concerned about plastic beverage container waste. Yet, bottled water was.

This matter could have been avoided. Last October, Nestlé Waters Canada proposed a pilot public spaces recycling program to the city for the Sleeman Centre. The city asked us to revise our proposal in January to include the Guelph Lake Sports Complex. We did and submitted the revised proposal in February.

That proposal would have seen the implementation of a highly successful methodology that captures recyclables typically found in Ontario’s Blue Box program that are abandoned by consumers in park spaces, recreational facilities like arenas, streetscapes, transit stops, bars and restaurants, elementary and secondary schools, convenience stores and gas stations. Those recyclables include aluminum, plastic, glass and newsprint.

Established by Nestlé Waters Canada and its industry partners in Quebec a year ago, public spaces recycling is achieving recovery rates as high as 85 percent. Through public education campaigns and citizen participation, the initiative is augmenting the province’s existing curbside program by increasing recycling rates. Ontario’s first pilot is now underway in Sarnia.

We would have funded the cost of purchasing recycling bins for both the Sleeman Centre and Guelph Lake Sport Complex as part of the pilot. We would have been responsible for the overall management of the project. There would have been little or no cost assumed by Guelph taxpayers. If asked, we would have considered extending the program to include Riverside Park so that a meaningful environmental initiative could be demonstrated there on Canada Day, rather than the environmental symbolism and highly questionable community policy we witnessed last week.

We await the city’s response to our proposal.

John B. Challinor Nestlé Waters Canada

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ_FIEsBtFI&NR=1

This is a good resource folks! Check it out!

You can then contact the business or organization or visit its website for hours of operation and information about the accepted materials and drop-off procedures.

Most of the organizations require the material to be dropped off. Some organizations will pick up material, while others allow you to mail material to them.

Check out Anything and Everything for a list of online exchanges. These websites allow you to post items you want to give away or sell as well as search for materials you need or want.

Waste minimization is a key focus of the Solid Waste Management Master Plan. The Take It Back directory is one of the waste minimization initiatives the City is undertaking to help reach the waste diversion targets outlined in the Master Plan. The goal of the Take It Back directory is to provide convenient, alternative disposal options to prevent items from going to landfill.

Looking for more waste reduction ideas? Check out the links below for tips and information on the 3 Rs

Sorry for the late notice…. Green Drinks is tonight at 6:00 pm at the Woolwich Arms.

Some tips from a new business on how to lessen the impact that your home has on this lovely planet of ours:

For those of you who don’t know, I’ve recently started my own business offering eco-renovations. What’s that you ask? Well, an eco-renovation offers you the opportunity to make improvements to your home or business in a manner that protects the health of all the occupants, improves water and energy efficiency, pays attention to the global impacts of material choices, uses resources efficiently, saves you money, and allows you to take pride in your home and the difference you are making. I can tackle almost any kind of renovation, or can come in for a consultation about how you might make your home a greener place.

With the recent announcement in the federal budget of the Home Renovation Tax Credit, now is the time to jump on that renovation project you’ve been thinking about! You could receive a tax credit of up to $1350 for renovation work completed before February 1, 2010. I have some openings in my schedule coming up in February and March, so if there’s a home project you’ve been thinking about, get yourself in there before the spring rush!

Earthbound Eco-Renovations
improve energy efficiency – green building materials – enviro-friendly paints – consulting – renovations
Zack Benson
benson.zack@gmail.com
(519) 830-4412

The Green Home Files – Issue #1 – Saving Energy

Did you know that more than 17 per cent of the energy consumed in Canada is used to light, heat, and power our homes? Over the past 15 years, Canada’s energy use increased by nearly 22%, resulting in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are a whopping 29% above Kyoto targets. The good news is that education, efforts at conservation, and new standards for energy efficiency in home heating and appliances are making big savings in the residential sector.

Here’s a few things you can do that are quick, easy and cost little or nothing to save on your energy bills and reduce that ecological footprint.

Clear the way. – Make sure warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators are clean and aren’t blocked by furniture or drapes. Don’t close registers in rooms that are rarely used. Although it might seem to save a bit, it actually reduces overall system efficiency and may increase duct leakage significantly.

Get those electronics off standby. – Most of our modern TV’s, computers, DVD players, stereo’s, etc. have a standby feature to make it more convenient to turn them on and use them right away without having to wait for warm up. You know that little light that stays on all the time even when you think the power is off? Don’t be lulled into thinking that teensy little light can’t be drawing much power. An average desktop computer in “sleep” or “hibernate” mode continuously draws 17 watts of power. You can adjust standby settings on some devices, but you’re best to just unplug the thing. Put multiple devices on a power bar and simply click the power off when you’re all done with them.

Keep the fridge clean and clear. - It’s not a fun job, but cleaning the coils under your fridge every couple of months can make a big difference in efficiency. All that dust and dog hair prevents heat from dissipating properly. Similarly there should be good airflow around the back and underneath the fridge to allow the same.

Insulate and seal that attic hatch. – This often overlooked opening in your ceiling is often just a single piece of plywood funneling your precious heat up to the sky. Glue some thick rigid foam to the back of it, and make sure it’s sealed well with weather stripping.

Water Heaters . – Many tank water heaters are set higher than they need to be to provide a comfortable level of hot water. Lower the thermostat a bit (don’t go below 120°F) and see if you notice a difference. Also, sediment on the bottom of a gas water heater’s tank reduces efficiency of the heating system. Flush the tank once a year by switching the gas control to “pilot” (know how to relight it if necessary) and filling pails from the drain valve at the bottom. Leave the cold water inlet at the top running to help flush out sediment.

Get an energy audit done and get a cash rebate. – Though you can try to do your own energy audit, hiring a qualified energy auditor, licensed by Natural Resources Canada’s EcoENERGY retrofit program will help you make informed decisions, and prioritize what improvements will give you the biggest payback. NRC offers incentives of up to $5000 on completed improvements recommended by the energy audit. There are several other exciting incentive programs offered by various levels of government that are also available.

If you have any questions about these or other great energy saving ideas, please feel free to contact me. Thanks, and have an energy wise day!

Zack

Earthbound Eco-Renovations
improve energy efficiency – green building materials – enviro-friendly paints – consulting – renovations
Zack Benson
benson.zack@gmail.com
(519) 830-4412

On Wednesday evening, Everpure, a local biodiesel co-op is hosting an information session at the guelph civic museum, from 7-9 p.m. we’ll be talking about sustainable vs. unsustainable biofuels, local food systems, and our members’ experiences in our first season of operation.

Biodiesel: A sustainable alternative fuel made from waste vegetable oils.
Do you drive a diesel vehicle? Looking for a high quality alternative fuel that is safe, compatible with conventional diesel, and competitively priced? With enough community demand, the Everpure Biodiesel Co operative will start
distributing this alternative fuel in Guelph in the spring of 2009.

Come and learn more at our information session

7-9pm Wednesday January 28th
@ the Guelph Civic Museum
6 Dublin St S (at Waterloo Av.)

Watch a brief presentation, then take part in a question and answer period, where we can discuss the details of biodiesel and our Co-op, including membership and pricing. Refreshments will be served.

For more information call 519-217-3557
Or visit www.everpurebiod.ca

Here is the latest update on Ben’s new home where he and his wife are renovating it to be the greenest home ever (well maybe not ever, but pretty close.)
He is the owner of a business called HARVEST HOMES. The link to his website for info on what he can do for you with your home is in my link section. Check it out!

So here is the latest article from the Guelph Mercury about the use of “grey water”.

Enjoy:

January 23, 2009
Scott Tracey
Mercury Staff

A simple request of city hall landed home builder Ben Polley in a pilot project that could revolutionize how residents flush their toilets.

Really.

Polley and his wife, Jen Woodside, bought a heritage home on Manitoba Street last fall. The couple wanted to make the house as energy efficient as possible, and while speaking to city officials about whether they could reuse grey water in their new home, Polley learned a pilot project was in the works to do just that.

Polley is the owner of Harvest Homes, which builds houses with straw bales, and asked to be part of the pilot.

“We got involved a little bit by accident and good fortune,” he said yesterday.

As well as Harvest Homes, the city has partnered with Reid’s Heritage Homes, Fusion Homes and Terra View Homes on the grey water reuse project.

Grey water reuse systems will be installed in 30 homes, beginning later this year, and will be monitored to see how effective they are at reducing water consumption.

Wayne Galliher, the city’s water conservation project manager, explained “grey water” is used water leaving sinks, bathtubs and washing machines. Such water will be collected, disinfected and stored in tanks in the homes’ basements, and then used instead of clean water to flush toilets.

“I think most people agree that potable water isn’t required for toilet flushing,” Galliher said.

Polley said reusing grey water makes economic sense.

“Economically it’s not really worth cleaning that water to a higher grade for something like drinking, but it’s ideal to use for something like flushing toilets,” he said.

Galliher said there are other economic benefits to reusing grey water.

It is expected using grey water for toilet flushing should reduce consumption in those homes by about 30 per cent — and reduce the water bill accordingly — “so there are some large-scale benefits to be realized,” Galliher said.

Polley, who has been incorporating energy-efficient measures into every project since starting his company in 2000, praised the city for proactively taking on the pilot project.

While solar panels and wind turbines have been used for some time to reduce reliance on electricity, Polley said increasingly his clients are also “looking for alternatives which will reduce our grid water dependence.”

Polley noted while most of the homes in the pilot project will likely be located in new subdivisions, he will install a grey water reuse system in his new home just outside Guelph’s downtown core.

“It ought not to matter to the city where we decrease demand, as long as we decrease demand,” he said.

Here is a letter, submitted to the Guelph Mercury about the extensive testing that goes on in the Nestle Bottled Water plants.

John B. Challinor

Dear Editor – Re: “City applauded for efforts to cut back bottled water” (Guelph Mercury, Jan. 15).

In this well-written and balanced article, reporter Thana Dharmarajah quotes Council of Canadians national chair Maude Barlow as saying that “65 million empty plastic water bottles are thrown into landfills every year.” In Windsor earlier last week, Barlow claimed the figure was 650 million.

Both figures are incorrect.

About 93 per cent of Canadians have access to plastic beverage container recycling. Plastic bottle recycling rates nationally vary from 55 per cent to 93 per cent, with a national average of about 60 per cent, according to government and industry organizations responsible for collecting this information.

For example, according to Stewardship Ontario, a 2005 single family housing waste audit conducted over four seasons in Toronto found an 87.8 per cent recycling rate for plastic beverage containers. Stewardship Ontario also estimates that plastic water bottles account for less than one-fifth of one per cent of the municipal solid waste stream in Canada. If the bottled water industry was to disappear tomorrow, there would be no appreciable difference in the volume of refuse going to landfill.

Barlow is also quoted as stating that our industry is likely “inspected once a year, if not once every three years, whereas municipal tap water is tested continuously during and after treatment.”

This is also incorrect. Bottled water is held to the same scrutiny as tap water. Bottled water is regulated as a packaged food product by Health Canada through the Food and Drug Act.

With respect to testing, for example, the City of Guelph reportedly performed 18,800 tests on its water in 2007. Nestlé Waters Canada, which has a 40 per cent share of the Ontario market, performs more than 1,700 tests on its water supply daily or more in two weeks than the City of Guelph does in 12 months. A copy of our testing activities is available upon request. Testing is also conducted via regular, surprise inspections by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada, the Canadian Bottled Water Association and NSF International.

Nestlé Waters Canada subjects its finished products and source water to microbiological analysis every day that exceeds the microbiological requirements outlined in the Safe Water Drinking Act, which governs both municipal tap water and bottled water.

– John B. Challinor, director of corporate affairs, Nestlé Waters Canada, Guelph