Green Guelph

www.greenyourcity.ca

Hi friends!

This is the second in a series of bulletins that Earthbound Eco-Renovations has sent me with some tips on how to lessen the impact that your home has on this lovely planet of ours.

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.

A plug for energy audits.
Whether you’re thinking of a renovation or just want to seal up that leaky old house, consider hiring a qualified energy auditor, licensed under the EcoENERGY retrofit program to help you make informed decisions, and prioritize what improvements will give you the biggest payback.  Rebates of up to $10,000 are available on upgrades to your heating and ventilation systems, insulation, air sealing, energy and water efficient appliances, doors, windows and more.

According to Natural Resources Canada’s ecoENERGY program, by implementing the audit recommendations, the average homeowner can yield:

• 30% reduction in annual energy use;
• 4 tonnes reduction in greenhouse gas emission; and
• $700 a year in savings on the annual heating bill

The Green Home Files – Issue #2 – Indoor Air Quality

As Canadians, we spend close to 90% of our time inside; at home, at work and in recreational environments. Most people, however, are unaware of the effects that poor indoor air quality can have on their health.  Poor indoor air quality can lead to headaches, ear, nose, throat, lung and skin irritations, learning impairment, reduced productivity and in extreme cases, serious illness or death.

Indoor air quality can be affected by biological contaminants (mold, bacteria, pollen, dust mites), gases (carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds), chemicals (cleaners, paints, adhesives, formaldehyde, pesticides), particulates (asbestos, dust, allergens), and even the electromagnetic fields produced by electric power-consuming devices.

Here’s a look at some of the more common indoor air pollutants and how you can eliminate them from your home:

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)

VOC’s are gases that waft into the air from a wide range of products found around the home; for instance, paints, lacquers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, glues, permanent markers, office equipment such as copiers and printers, and many building products such as particle board in your kitchen cabinets and other furniture, plywood, shelving, panelling, carpet, rubber mats, and vinyl in shower curtains, wall coverings or other products.  There are a vast array of health complications that can result from inhaling these compounds on a daily basis, not to mention what they do for smog and the ozone layer.  Remove these products from your home where possible, and when considering a renovation, look for building products that are free of formaldehyde, PVC, and other toxics.

Government regulations are forcing paint manufacturers to reduce the amount of VOC’s in paint, though care needs to be taken as these regulations only affect the base paint.  The tints that most manufacturers use to add your colour selection to the paint still contain VOC’s and essentially defeat the purpose of selecting low VOC paints.  Benjamin Moore is currently the only manufacturer in Canada that offers VOC free tints.

Mold

Mold and mildew indicate moisture build-up and/or a lack of proper ventilation to remove excess humidity.  Check relative humidity levels in your home with a hygrometer (available at hardware stores).  Recommended indoor humidity levels during the heating season are 30-50%, and even lower in colder weather to prevent window condensation. Clean mold with a solution of bleach or commercially available Concrobium cleaner.  Make sure exhaust fans are used in the bathroom and kitchen and that they are vented properly to the outside.  A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is the best whole house solution to ensure proper ventilation and save energy too.

Radon

Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally occurring in soil, and is known to cause lung cancer.  It leaks into your basement through cracks in the foundation.  Check your basement floor and walls for cracks and have them sealed up.  Testing to see if radon is an issue in your home is relatively easy and inexpensive.

WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO

Air Sealing

Air sealing not only saves heat from leaking out, but also prevents outdoor pollutants and allergy inducing spores from getting in.  When you seal your house up tight though, make sure you’ve got good ventilation system with a good filter to ensure a constant supply of fresh healthy air.

Avoid The Smell

Most of us know about the noxious chemicals in many standard household cleaners, but don’t forget about the questionable chemicals used to scent many of our personal care products, and keep our house smelling “fresh and clean”.  Disinfectants, plug-in air fresheners, detergents, fabric softeners, anti-bacterial soaps, mothballs, and soil-repellent treatments on carpets and upholstery all leave residual chemical odours that aren’t doing your lungs, skin and immune system any favours.  Look for biodegradable, hypo-allergenic, and scent-free products.  Don’t be fooled by the “all natural” labels either.  Labelling regulations in Canada don’t provide definitive limits on what can be labelled as “natural”.

Storage of Paints and Cleaning Products

Even though they may seem tightly sealed, toxic components in paint, varnish, strippers, heavy cleaning chemicals, etc. can still seep out and fill your home with dangerous fumes.  Take containers you don’t need to the Household Hazardous Waste depot, or other locales that reuse or recycle chemicals.  Store containers outside the home if possible, though paints and other liquids vulnerable to freezing will need to be kept warm.  Keep containers in an air tight cabinet, and never in the furnace room or near any gas burning appliances or combustible material.
–
Earthbound Eco-Renovations
improving energy efficiency – green building materials – enviro-friendly paints – renovations
Zack Benson
benson.zack@gmail.com

I have not hidden from anyone my upmost respect for Bob Bell. I like him a lot. Very level headed and just an honest man trying to his part for our city. I’ve known him for some time. Years ago when I worked for a bike store in downtown Guelph, Bob would always come in and drop off his WIKE trailers and we always sold so many of them! They were and still are great! Anyways….I’m ranting on an on, sorry.

I found this video on the Guelph Greens website and it’s only a minute and a half of Bob’s comments about the current prorogation of parliment. His thoughts are interesting….in fact I mostly agree with what he says. He’s not playing the Green Party talking points which is nice. He’s just saying how he sees it. I like that. I like the part about him thinking the break was actually needed to realign the direction of our country. Watch the video and then tell me your thoughts. Maybe i’ll share my thoughts with you in the comments section…here’s the video:

I have raised this issue several times myself but now the Guelph Mercury is asking some of the same questions.  Here is an article written by them that all of Guelph should be reading!

Guelph’s Patrick Quirk has helped clarify something important about the proposed civic organic waste treatment plant.

His private research, and his efforts to make public its fruits, have revealed that there is misunderstanding not only in the community, but seemingly within Guelph city council, as to what the operating costs of this facility would be. As well, Quirk, an accountant, has by his efforts seemed to revealed that the cost estimate that has arguably become the one most frequently floated by some civic players is apparently a too-low one.

That’s significant. This remains a hot political subject. Mayor Karen Farbridge who has made efforts to reveal the complexity and possibilities of per tonnage treatment costs on this plant, insists that building the plant is what a majority of the community wants. She might be correct. But the community has perceived this issue without the context of the costs associated with this strategy, and those linked to other organic waste treatment possibilities.

Is this what a majority of Guelph would want at almost any cost? Or would it be a nice-to-have notion at a certain price point?

The Guelph Waste Management Coalition has offered arguments and statistics that suggest other courses would be more prudent environmentally and economically. But that group’s assertions and research are also hard to assess because it is so opposed to any wet-plant scenario – at least at the site of the city’s first effort.

In the last municipal election campaign, what to do about the city’s organic waste was a big issue. The strategic platform response of candidates was typically that they were open to considering all options. After the election, however, council moved almost immediately to the compost plant option – without a great deal of debate or exploration of other avenues. That’s interesting politicking. So, too, it seems is not doing enough to make clear what the costs will be of going down that road.

FINDING HOPE WHEN THE HEAT IS ON:
Spiritual Resources in Environmental Crisis
Wed. Jan. 27th at 7:30 P.M. &
Wed. Feb. 10th at 7:30 P.M.
At the Fat Duck Pub,
(Corner of Kortright and Edinburgh Road, Guelph)
Two relaxed conversations on spirituality and the environment – specifically where we find hope in the face of the environmental crisis that so threatens the future of our planet. Join the conversation with two presenters that care deeply about the fate of the planet:
Mike Nagy – on Jan. 27th
Jim Profit – on Feb. 10th
Come and join the conversation. All welcome.

My office purchased these cups for our staff and as “give-aways” to promote both our brand and to make the environment just that much better! Better yet, the cup company is located in GUELPH!! These cups are amazing folks. They are totally reusable, customizable, microwave and dishwasher safe, thermal, stackable and good for hot or cold beverages. 

More than the product itself being fantastic, the company’s service is top notch. They really give you lots of choices and help you through the design process. Our cups were delivered right to our door packaged very well and I cannot overstate how much I would recommend them to you. 

Also, the cost of these cups is totally reasonable! Give your advertising budget a look over for this year and make room for these cups. They truly do have shelf life and your brand will be walking around for all to see! Please contact them today. Here’s their info: 

Green Menu 

www.reusablecups.com 

I picked up my daughter from school today and after the big run out the door with arms open wide to give me a hug (I’m going to miss that later in life!) she said “Daddy I got my water bottle today!” I responded by saying “Oh, that’s good!” But, to be honest, I had no idea what she was talking about. It wasn’t until we got home that she took the Wellington Water Watchers “message in a bottle” water bottle (say that 5 times fast!) out of her backpack! Then I knew what she talking about! And she was seriously over the top happy about it. She said “There’s a message inside! Look Daddy!” So I opened up the bottle and a little message with water conservation tips for both the kids and the parents was on it. She is on cloud nine. What an absolutely fantastic idea. And just think….hopefully hundreds of other kids are saying the same thing to their parents tonight as they show them the bottle. Well done Wellington Water Watchers. Well done.

Cam Guthrie

In December we had Doug Prest of SolarG and Josh McPhie of EstillEnergy give a high flying presentation on the Green Energy Act and current opportunities in Solar Photovoltaic Energy in Ontario.

Come out next Tuesday Jan 19 @ 7:30 to the Woolly for a down to earth discussion and hear where Mike Discoll would like to plant us (eventually).

Here is what the Natural Burial Co-operative is up to:

If people do think about their last impact on the Earth, it is not always an environmental assessment. Current burial practices use huge amounts of energy and non-biodegradable materials in encasing, burying and and processing our bodies. Only 2-3 generations ago, burial was simpler, and the Natural Burial Co-operative is working to have environmentally benign options readily available to its members. Go to www.naturalburial.coop or come listen to Mike’s 15 minute presentation over your favorite beverage.

From what Mike tells me the Natural Coop members are dying to make a difference. Come out for a pint – I am sure we will have a lively discussion.

Guelph Goes Green with the First Annual Sunlight Music Festival
Precept Insurance & Risk Management is proud to present the area’s first annual solar powered music festival. The Sunlight Music Festival is featuring 15 local, up and coming artists from the Guelph area.
We are headlining with Ashley MacIsaac then Guelph’s own James Gordon will close the show!! The concert shell will be powered with energy from the sun all day long!
The Sunlight Music Festival is a charity event, with all of the money raised going to Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis. Our goal is to raise $25,000.
For more information, please visit our website at www.sunlightmusicfestival.com
Details are as follows:
What:        Sunlight Music Festival
When:        August 15th, 2009 from Noon to 11:00 p.m.
Where:    Riverside Park in Guelph
Concert Shell accessed  from Woodlawn Rd.
Featuring:    Ashley MacIsaac at 7:00pm
James Gordon at 10:00pm
Get your tickets today online at www.sunlightmusicfestival.com or contact Tara Sweiger at 519-824-8650 ext. 2833

Okay I was kidding. Just a joke folks. Don’t get your salamanders all tied up in a knot. All in good fun.