Green Guelph

Check out this report on the steps Wal-Mart has and is taking to better the environment. They’re not blowing smoke folks, even the critics are impressed. It would still be neat to see their stores have solar energy roofs though, but that’s just my opinion.

http://www.walmart.ca/wps-portal/microsite/CorpVal/index.jsp

Wal-Mart also bought a lot of wind power in the States just last week:

Steps toward being “green” – With its recent purchase of wind energy to power about 360 stores and other facilities across Texas.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based retail giant purchased the renewable energy from a Duke Energy wind farm. The wind farm is under construction and is expected to begin producing electricity for Wal-Mart in April of next year.

According to information from Wal-Mart, the project will provide about 226 million kilowatt-hours of renewable power each year. That is enough electricity to power 20,000 average homes in America. By using the renewable energy, Wal-Mart will avoid producing more than 139,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

So my friend Ryan Monkman from the UofG has decided to take a run for the CBC television show “Canada’s Next Prime Minister”. He’s named me as “Domestic Policy Advisor for the Environment”.

So cool.

Thanks Ryan! Go to his Facebook page to see his video submission and his platform!

Ryan Monkman for Canada’s Next Great Prime Minister.

Green Drinks Event!

Tomorrow: November 18th, 2008

Time: 6pm till the drinks run out

Where: Woolwich Arms

I’ll try my best to make it out but it’s looking like I’m already booked up for other things tomorrow night.

Cam Guthrie

As originally posted on the Mercury Website:
The City of Guelph is working to improve recycling. They’re spending $1.1 million on optical sorting equipment to separate out #1 plastics from others. Currently, that is done by hand by workers on the line. The new equipment is expected to increase diversion of #1 plastic by 30 per cent, keeping 400 to 450 tonnes of plastic out of landfill every year. 

The money comes from the $10.9 million the province promised Guelph in the summer from last year’s surplus. The remaining money is going toward other infrastructure projects, including a new youth shelter, roads and stormwater.

Wow…this little site is going very well! Just a few things…

1. Make sure you take a look at the businesses that have added themselves to the Business Directory. Tell them you found them through GreenGuelph.ca.

2. The “Your Story” section really hasn’t taken off and I wish it would. The purpose of that section is to have you tell your own story of things you’ve done to help with the environment locally.  My intent was that people could read stories of other’s within our community doing good for the environment and then those people could implement those ideas into their own lives and so on… If you could take the time to write your own story I think it would be great!

3. Advertising: I have posted this before but no one responded. I’m averaging about 30-40 visitors a day to this site. I developed this site to promote a better environment within Guelph for you, your family, your business and our city. I do not want to make anything from this site at all. If you want to advertise here please contact me and I will charge a very reasonable fee but will give that money back out to a not for profit group locally that has ties with helping the Environment. Please consider this.

4. Lastly, If you would like to be a featured columnist for GreenGuelph.ca – Please contact me. I am looking for someone to write 1 article a month on a specific topic.

Thanks everyone!

Cam Guthrie

Venture Publications will be printing their “Guelph Homes and Lifestyle” paper with my article in it. Here’s what I wrote:

Brrrr….. it’s getting cold outside! It’s that time of year were all of us will be turning on the heat to keep warm and cozy! Many people (including myself) sometimes think you can only be “green” during the greenest months of the year. But that is not the case. Here are a few tips for the upcoming winter season that aren’t over the top and can still allow you to enjoy a white Christmas…..I mean a green Christmas!

November Networking Breakfast

Greening Your Business

Learn the benefits of green design and construction. Join us as David McAuley of J. David McAuley Architect Inc. explains how to help your business reduce energy costs and redirect savings. Learn how to employ sustainable design principles with limited financial resources.

When: Friday November 21, 2008

Click here to register on-line or call the chamber at 519-822-8081.

Here’s an article from the Guelph Mercury today:

Written by: Nicole O’Reilly
Mercury staff,GUELPH

The city was lauded for its Community Energy Plan and public consultation process during a Places to Grow summit this week.

Mayor Karen Farbridge was in attendance Wednesday in Vaughan for the event that brought together experts to discuss growth plans for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

“The deputy minister of energy and infrastructure (Saäd Rafi) directly referenced Guelph’s work,” she said. “It was really positive to get that recognition.”

At one point the moderator of the discussion panel Farbridge participated in told the municipal leaders in the room that if they haven’t done so already they need to engage the public in growth plans, Farbridge said.

But there were also lessons to be learned.

Farbridge said she listened with particular interest to a discussion about strengthening the economy through the creation of green jobs.

There are two aspects that make a job “green,” she said.

The first is location, which is part of building a compact and competent community, Farbridge said. Local jobs are environmentally friendly because people don’t have to travel far from their homes.

The second type of green job is from businesses based on green technology.

Guelph has a unique and powerful opportunity to marry the two aspects because of the level of environmental research and innovation coming out of the University of Guelph.

“The province is really putting the focus on green jobs,” Farbridge said.

There is a spoken commitment among Farbridge, U of G president Alastair Summerlee, Guelph MPP Liz Sandals and Guelph MP-elect Frank Valeriote to partner with local businesses to keep green jobs from university technology in Guelph.

Adding symmetry was the fact that Michael Harcourt, former premier of British Columbia and former mayor of Vancouver started the daylong event. Harcourt was the keynote speaker at Guelph’s own Community by Design symposium last year.

Other highlighted speakers included George Smitherman, energy and infrastructure minister.

They have made 4 video’s for your viewing pleasure. What do you think Guelph? How would you answer this question?

http://news.guelphmercury.com/videogallery/401055

 http://news.guelphmercury.com/videogallery/401044

http://news.guelphmercury.com/videogallery/401037

http://news.guelphmercury.com/videogallery/401057