I know what you’re thinking. You’re dreading the moment I unleash my judgement on the parent who irresponsibly allows pollution of their child’s bodies with artery-clogging sweets, over-packaged junk food, and artificially dyed and preserved confections.

Relax, that’s not how I roll. All you’ll hear from me are a few friendly pointers on how to have more fun and less guilt on October 31st. Here goes:

Read the rest of this entry »

Are you a humble person? So many of us answer ‘yes’, and yet our homes and possessions tell another story. One of the central pillars of personal sustainability and green living is fulfilling needs over wants, and doing so in non-material ways when possible.

Why? Because producing ‘things’ requires energy and resources, not to mention the toll it takes on the environment throughout the ‘thing’s’ production, use, maintenance, storage and disposal. But weeding out those ‘wants disguised as needs’ and finding non-material paths to fulfillment demands a certain amount of honesty, creativity and courage.

Shay Salomon, author of ‘Little House on a Small Planet’ sheds light on the growing small house movement, and how humble dwellings can offer financial relief, greater social contact, clutter-free spaces, more leisure time, and an abundant sense of home and personal fulfillment.

Sound intriguing? Try on Shay’s view via this Peak Moment interview or borrow her book from the library.

Resources

Small House Society - Some great tools and resources!

Mountain Equipment Coop Ecological Footprint Calculator - Take the test and repeat yearly to track progress and prevent footprint growth.

Carbon Zero Emissions Calculator - Just because you aren’t consuming stuff, doesn’t mean you aren’t consuming energy!

Do you live in a small house? If not, would you consider living in one?

Not only will a hybrid car save you money on your gas budget, it may also shrink your insurance premium too! TD Meloche Monnex gives hybrid ownership all the more allure with what they call Green Wheel - a 10% discount (5% in Ontario) on insurance premiums on hybrid cars.

Whether you have an existing policy with the company or are considering switching over, your new or existing hybrid qualifies for the rebate. As a current client of this company, I can vouch for it’s quality of service. In a recent claim for a parking lot hit and run (don’t you hate those?!) our deductible was waived, and a rental car provided at no charge. Our premium didn’t change a cent either.

So, if you’ve been sitting on the fence about what car to choose, get a hybrid, and then get a quote from TD Meloche Monnex. And, I know you’re clever enough to compare hybrid fuel efficiency ratings before going ahead. Many cars with hybrid technology offer worse fuel consumption than those without it. For example:

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid 33 miles per gallon (8.5 Litres/100Km)

2008 Hyundai Accent (Not a Hybrid) 38 miles per gallon (7.4 Litres/100Km)

The insurance rebate is unfortunately unavailable in BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. But, if you live in any of those places, demand that your insurance companies raise the bar!

Of course, if affording a hybrid is still a problem, keep walking, cycling, and taking transit. Plus, good safe fuel efficient cars are still out there. Just keep demanding better and letting manufacturers know that there’s a robust demand for greener cars.

According to Clean Calgary, an award-winning eco non-profit group, using a commercial car wash is greener than spraying the jalopy down in the driveway. Home style carwashes, they say, cause soap, sediment, oil and other chemicals to enter the water system untreated where they have a real impact on aquatic ecosystems.

By contrast, commercial car washes send their wastewater to be properly treated. Believe it or not, commercial car washes are more water efficient than home car washes. See the original article on Clean Calgary’s web site.

But, if your car is spotless save for a few bird bombs, a simple spot clean will do.

The folks over at Eartheasy have done some great work pulling together not 7, not 12, but 17 tips to help you cut your gas costs by up to 30% with simple driving style changes, maintenance and more.

I’ve been paying attention of late to the fuel economy of my own car with the shady suspicion that it hasn’t been reaching the posted 38 miles per gallon or 7.5 Litres/100 Km. It is hard to tell since I drive less than thrice weekly. In any case, this dandy tip list will help me troubleshoot, and ideally reach or exceed my car’s posted fuel efficiency ratings.

In the meantime, my current approach to saving money on gas also works on melting off that lingering winter muffin top: I bike where I reasonably can bike, blade where there’s a safe strip of pavement, and walk for the love of my dogs and for the scent of June’s lilacs.

Resources

Energy Efficient Driving Tips From Natural Resources Canada

First it was recycling, then scrubbing your home with natural and non-toxic cleaners. Then you bought those sturdy reuseable shopping bags everyone’s been toting around, and switched all the incandescent light bulbs in your house to fluorescents. You’re doing pretty good, right?

The answer is yes! What you’re doing matters, and you oughta feel good about it. Yes, the greenies and the media will continue to remind you that you need to do more and do it faster. Climate change is real and it’s happening now, they say. And then there’s pollution, habitat destruction, species extinction, and and and….

What they say is true. But it is also true that the swift and radical changes required to heal our ailing planet can become an overwhelming source of stress and depression when they are demanded without joy and understanding. ‘Green guilt’ is a genuine phenomenon that environmentalists have long been coping with.

But, they can be quick to forget that those who are brand new to shrinking their ecological footprint are going through the very same thing - only way faster. And, last time I checked, beating yourself up (or others) is a lousy way to encourage change. On the contrary, it may well yield resistance.

Meanwhile, the everyday Jimbob is suddenly expected keep a healthy compost pile, eat less meat, toss out trusted household brands in favour of greener options, take up less space, and just use less of everything! For many people this equals less fun and less joy. Plus, weeding out the greenwashers and maintaining a stubborn sense of hope are both skills that take time and patience to pick up.

f you’re suffering from green guilt, take heart. You’re not alone. I was once there myself, and continue to fend off bouts of discouragement . The good news is that there’s plenty of joy and fun to be had once you’ve embraced a greener lifestyle. Indeed, choosing a greener path is all about protecting life itself. But the path to sustainability can be rough without support from others as well as from yourself. It’s back to basics, people. Remember to:

1. Take a step back and appreciate the steps you’ve already taken.
2. Give support when you can, and ask for it when you need it.
3. Do the best you can.
4. Take a breather when you need one, and another step forward when you’re able.
5. Forgive, and be kind to yourself (and others).
6. Be positive, and hang onto that sense of humour of yours.

When you look around, supports for going green are popping up literally everywhere. From online discussion forums to church sermons, community festivals, green guides, and even support groups, there’s bound to be a tool that can help you. Just remember - do what you can, and take time to enjoy the life we’re all trying to save.

Resources

Care2 - A social networking site for those who care 2 make a difference.
Sustainable Living Guide - Planet friendly’s collection of guides for going green on any topic - you name it!
Environment Canada’s ‘What You Can Do’ - At home, at work, in your community, and more.
Earth Easy - A site that’s been offering super duper eco info for years.
Ideal Bite - Easy eco-living tips delivered to you in a short, sassy email each weekday.

Know about another great ‘living green 101′ resource you’re a fan of? Please share below!

Carpooling may be the one thing many of us guilt-ridden Canuck car owners mean to do, but never get around to. Perhaps it’s because it can be tricky to coordinate. In the States, companies like Zipcar make a lifestyle free of car ownership simple and convenient. With hundreds of cars in their fleets, a quick online or phone reservation, and automated access system, it’s easy to reduce the number of carbon-mobiles on the road.

Yet in Canada, car-sharing coops often have small fleets, inconvenient access, and high fees. Luckily, things are getting better. Check the list below and find an option that works for you. Some require memberships, others offer different plans and rates based on how much you use them. Fleet size ranges from one car to hundreds. Hourly rates can be as low as $2.50 or as high as $7.50 with long-distance trip options and different-sized vehicles - even hybrids!

The bottom line here is to save our climate and atmosphere by removing cars from the road while saving you from pricey car costs. And the catch is, the less a service is flexible for those who need it, the less it will be used. If the option in your city doesn’t suit or doesn’t exist, try Pickuppal.com - a handy option for moving people and packages wherever you are. Or, start something in your area!

Car Sharing Companies and Coops in Canada -Extracted from Carsharing.net listings

Resources

http://www.carsharing.net/where.html - find out about more up and coming car sharing companies and coops in your area

http://www.carpool.ca/ - Find or initiate a car pool in your area

As of April 18th, 2008 residents of Ontario are officially allowed to put their unmentionables on the line. The Dalton McGuinty government has lifted a ban on outdoor clothes lines allowing the everyday Ontarian to cut energy use and fight climate change.

What were they thinking in the first place? In any case, common sense has prevailed. Enjoy your free wind and solar powered laundry service Ontario!

Watch the premier’s announcement.

Canada’s Ecostores not only sell high-quality green products, but they are also fabulous sources of information and connections. When you support an Ecostore near you, you’ll find a range of green personal care products, green cleaning products, organic

and fair trade food items, informative books and videos on how to go green, eco-friendly lawn and garden products, and more.

Ecostores are great places to learn about going green and find healthier products for your home and family!

Know of another great ecostore not listed here? Send the details to info@raisingspaces.com

Believe it or not, you can drastically reduce your carbon emissions

this summer without having to afford a several hundred dollar appliance purchase.

These 8 carbon-cutting actions offer fun and easy choices you can make to fight climate change.

1. Grow something tastier than grass

According to calorie-count.com, one hour of gardening will take care of 280 calories - about one grande Starbucks whole milk latte. Plus, New Brunswick’s Fallsbrook Centre tells us that the average meal travels 2400 Km to reach our plates. That’s roughly the distance between Montreal and Winnipeg - every meal!

Not only does gardening save us fuel and cash while melting off the calories, it’s ridiculously rewarding and a great way to connect with nature - literally. Three nights ago, I proudly made a scrumptious casserole with my own home-grown home-canned tomatoes. It doesn’t get much better than that.

And with all the current hype and hoopla about gardening, resources and supports are easy to come by:
http://www.yougrowgirl.com/
http://www.organicgardeningresources.com/index.html

Got no yard? Container gardening is a great way to bring healthy snacks to your balcony.
No time to garden? Farmers markets are brimming with the next freshest produce you’ll find in town, meaning you’re still saving on transport-related carbon emissions. Read the rest of this entry »