Join us at TELUS World of Science for Our Second Installment of TOXIC BODIES: A Lecture Series on the Science of Environmental Health

“Safe Drinking Water—What Should We Fear?“

by Dr. Steve Hrudey

Jan. 25, 2012, doors open 6:30PM

fee by donation

refreshments and cash bar available 

 Water is essential to human health, but is it safe to drink? Like many environmental health issues, conflicting information abounds, and sometimes it’s the scientists doing the misinforming. What is worse, the proliferation of bad information can undermine our very efforts to ensure safe, clean drinking water for all. Edmonton’s Dr. Steve Hrudey answers your questions on what we should fear about the water we drink.

You may have noticed that things look a little different around here! The Raising Spaces team has been itching to update our online look and is pleased to roll out our new site.

We apologize if you’ve been searching for something during the transition. Please bear with us as we continue to make the updates and changes necessary to raise our new site. In the meantime, here are some quick links.

To find our Green Building Professionals Directory ‘Green Pros’ go to http://greenpros.ca

For our online store, see http://shop.raisingspaces.com

This weekend marks the NetZero Home tour.  Last year a couple friends and I went on an exciting bike tour to see the different styles and design elements of each gorgeous home.  This weekend, Raising Spaces will be showcasing some fantastic products and materials at 7615 111 st.  The Belgravia Homes, as seen in the Raising Spaces “Building the Ultimate Green Effect Homes” will also be a part of the tour, so if you missed the construction tour, now’s the chance to check out sustainable home building at its finest.  Click Here for details on tour information.

.  

(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. Continue Reading →

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. Continue Reading →

(NC)—Run a search on dirty dishes on the internet and you will find that not only is this a topic of much discussion and debate, it is a highly personal and emotional issue.

Forums offer advice, suggestions and tips for how to hide those dirty dishes when company comes—in the oven, under the sink, in the laundry basket—to name just a few. Some write to vent their frustrations—“how can so many dirty dishes pile up so fast when there are just two of us?” one woman asks. A highly-rated video shows three young men dealing with their angst when the kitchen is overrun by an unsightly pile of dishes and cookware. The problem is solved when one waves his hand and the dishes magically disappear, no doubt accounting for the popularity of the movie. Continue Reading →

(NC)—Water heaters quietly function in basement corners across the country, providing hot water to millions of families on a daily basis. Most take hot water for granted, but when a water heater stops providing hot water, one wonders what they really know about their water tank. Dave Walton, director home ideas with Direct Energy talks about the most common myths and questions he’s heard around water heaters recently:

Myth: You have dirty water if you have an older water heater.

Truth: Water heaters work for years without accumulating any significant buildup of rust – that’s how they are designed. Small amounts of sediment or lime can accumulate at the bottom of the tank over the life of a water heater, but since hot water is pulled from the top of the tank, your water is largely unaffected by the small deposits of sediment.

Myth: Annual maintenance improves efficiency. Continue Reading →

Good news for apartment-dwelling gardener wannabes: You can build your own window gardens and grow veggies in your bachelor pad! Hydroponic gardening has always been around for those comfortable tinkering with the components. But with Window Farms’ handy DIY instructions, you can assemble this simple system called the ‘air lift’ in an hour with less than $30!

Treehugger.com post – Window Farms:Vertical Gardens Behind Urban Glass

We continue to be inspired and disturbed, optimistic and pessimistic, excited and depressed. Seems that we are also not alone in these oscillating waves of emotion. But what is clear is that it’s emotion in the form of love, passion, and fulfillment that is driving us towards a sustainable future and giving meaning to our lives. We feel driven to do what it is we do. Check out the end of this post to see our latest ideas…

So here’s a quick snapshot for the goings on here at Eco-Sense.

A busy summer building the cob bathroom (with composting toilet) at the local lake. So far we have about 150 hours of volunteer time invested.

Donations are being accepted to the “Highland Park and Recreation Association”. Tax receipts issued for amounts over $50.

There has been a great deal of publicity on this project (and composting toilets) including the Goldstream Gazette, CBC radio, Monday Magazine, and Chek TV. It’s been busy around here! Continue Reading →