At a recent workshop on how to embed sustainability principles in the City of Edmonton’s planning and growth strategies, the following video was offered to frame the discussion on sustainability and give some background on the workshop’s references to the Natural Step. I liked it so much, I thought I’d share it here. Enjoy!

May 29^th

Renovate Restore Rebuild Recycle

Your best source of used and new building materials at a fraction of retail prices. Come in and see us.

8832 62 ave

Open weekdays 9-6 (Thursdays til 8), Saturdays 9-5.

www.homereuseables.com

Your invited to join us on May 29^th, we are celebrating three years in business and would like to thank you for helping us achieve that!

It’s people like you who contribute to the Reuse philosophy that make a difference to our environment and our world.

Cheers

Sherry and Dave

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“When you contribute to the “Reuse” philosophy you make a difference to our environment and our world.” It’s easy to do.
Visit us at;
www.homereusables.com

Via Green Business

Earlier this week, 21 member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), and nine leading environmental organizations, unveiled an unprecedented agreement – the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement – that applies to 72 million hectares of public forests licensed to FPAC members. The Agreement, when fully implemented, will conserve significant areas of Canada’s Boreal Forest, protect threatened woodland caribou and provide, according to participants, a competitive market edge for participating companies.

More…

This past April I spent a week in the woods at MacPhail Woods taking a university course, Environmental Studies 209 – Ecological Forestry, learning about forest ecology, sustainable forestry practices, forest restoration and the Acadien Forests.

It was an amazing experiential learning course and everything we learned has stayed with me and I think it will stay with me and will be built on by my own experiences as I work in our family woodlots and observe nature throughout the seasons.  We learned about plant identification techniques, assessing forest health, ecological diversity, pruning and harvesting techniques and so much more.  We also got to take a piece of the woods at MacPhail’s and design a restoration plan and then actually implement it. Read the rest of this entry »

I ususally put events strictly on our events listing page, but this course deserves an extra announcement. In Edmonton we have an amazing Solar Energy Society that puts on regular informative events that are packed to the gills. One of the key reasons solar energy is reaching the masses in this city is Rob Harlan.

Rob is this amazing person filled with knowledge and expertise on all things solar and sustainability. i had the good fortune to hear him speak last night and was blown away by his knowledge, experience, and dedication. This man has built an off-grid house and a solar electric truck! He’s full of ideas on how to live sustainably individually and at the community level, and he’s also the instructor of this course.

If you want to live greener but need some guidance, you will get it in this course!

To register, visit: http://solaralberta.ca/classes.php

(NC)—Installing a new patio this year? A driveway or walkway? Now is the time to consider how this can be an upgrade and an environmentally sound improvement. One pavement that meets both requirements is permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICPs). They look like popular concrete paving stones but work in a different manner. PICPs have a small space between the pavers. This space is filled with small stones that allow runoff to filter down between the pavers. The water filters down further to stone layers beneath that store the water. Finally the water will filter into the soil, reducing stormwater runoff and pollution.

Every Canadian homeowner can have a positive impact on the home environment through improvements that lower pollution. PICPs offer an environmentally-friendly solution and they are aesthetically pleasing. They are available in many shapes, sizes, textures and colours. Homeowners can even select a lighter more reflective colour and reduce the heat island effect created by existing asphalt pavements. Read the rest of this entry »

(NC)—Kids are the eco-heroes of tomorrow. By supporting their efforts today we can help them inspire future change across Canada. Celebrate Earth day by learning about how you can protect the planet and do something to help. Here are five easy resolutions you can make to get started.

1. Recycle Materials for Art : Items like egg cartons, cereal boxes and old newspapers (for paper Mache) are great to keep for your craft projects at home or school. And ask your parents to buy earth-friendly craft glues and paints, too.

2. Start a Green Project: Come up with a fun green idea such as starting a garden or recycling program at school, planting trees or cleaning up your local park, and get your friends, teachers and family involved. If you are between the ages of 6–13 years old, submit your idea to the Sunlight Green Clean Kids: Green Grants Program by writing a short essay on your unique idea to make the environment a better place. Sunlight is offering up to $1,500 to get your project started. More information can be found online at www.sunlightgreencleankids.ca.

3. Organize a Swap: Recycle your old toys and clothes—while getting a bunch of cool new stuff—by organizing a swap at your home, school or community centre where everyone can trade their used items. Set simple rules for the swap such as how many toys each person should bring and how to deal with more than one person choosing the same item.

4. Bike to School: Ask your parents if you can bike or walk to school (as long as it’s safe) a few days a week instead of taking the bus or having them drive you.

5. Teach Your Parents to Recycle: Teach your parents how important it is to recycle by learning about the types of materials that can be put in the recycle box. Label small cans and tubs to collect glass, cardboard, paper and tin items, and ensure the right material goes in the right box. Also look for products that can be recycled on your weekly grocery shop with mom and dad.

www.newscanada.com

How to Green Your Home Without the Stress

Spring is in the air – the geese are coming back, and with more than 3 hours of sunlight a day, you’re ready to don your beloved flip flops and hop in the hammock!   But do you secretly dread confronting your household ‘to do’ list? This Spring, avoid those stressful jobs with a green helping hand! Visit www.GreenPros.ca – A fresh online directory where you can connect with leading green home professionals like Ecological Homes, Geo-Flo Energy Services and Shelterbelt Architecture!

Andrea Jones, founder of eco home resource Raising Spaces shares that, “home building and renovation projects can easily elevate household stress levels and lead to burnout. This is especially true for eco and health conscious do-it-yourselfers, since the extra challenge of researching more sustainable products and building methods is time-consuming and challenging.” With Green Pros, you can now skip the stress, avoid expensive mistakes and find the right professional for your home and values, inside and out. Read the rest of this entry »

(NC)—Did you know that approximately two thirds of Canadians with a cell phone in storage would be willing to recycle it? Recycle My Cell is a free national program that enables Canadians to properly dispose of their cell phones and other wireless devices and accessories. The program’s Web site – www.RecycleMyCell.ca – is maintained by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, the group representing Canada’s cell phone carriers and handset manufacturers.

The site allows consumers to simply enter their postal code to locate the drop-off location closest to them where their devices will be accepted, regardless of brand or condition. If you can’t drop off your old cell phone in person, the Recycle My Cell Web site also provides postage-paid labels that consumers can print, so recycling a wireless device is always hassle-free, at no cost to the consumer.

www.newscanada.com