Today I just want to send a shout out to -- and let the world know about -- my favourite eco store in Edmonton.
Carbon Environmental Boutique opened its doors on 104th Street and 101st Avenue (home of the absolutely fantastic City Market) at the end of last year and has been my go-to shopping spot downtown since my sister brought me there in January. If you can think of an eco-friendly product, the folks at Carbon most likely have it... and if they don't, they probably know where to get it. Some of the items are a little pricier than their chemically-charged counterparts, but the extra investment is worth being free of the harmful side effects. I'm a HUGE fan of the Nature Clean line they carry -- their Multi-Surface Cleaner & Degreaser is the first cleaner I've ever used that didn't trigger my asthma! And I not-so-secretly covet the SunJars kept on the counter in the middle of the store.
So, if you just like me, trying to start out on this 'green' thing, but don't know where to start, Carbon is a fantastic place. I'm hoping I can attend a few of their in-store classes this spring... Hopefully I'll see you there!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Uniform Project
One of the biggest strains on the environment (and the wallets of young women) is the ever-changing ideals of what is considered "fashionable". Rotating wardrobes and constant trips to shopping malls lead to great amounts of wearable wastes heading to the dump.
If you think you need the latest cuts and hottest colours to fit in, check out the Uniform Project, one woman's year of wearing the same outfit in what she calls, "an exercise in sustainable fashion." Wearing only one dress (while 7 identical dresses) with an variety of vintage, thrift store, etsy-sourced, and donated accessories, Sheena Matheiken is aiming to create 365 unique looks while raising funds for the Akanksha Foundation.
Give this a thought before you hand over your credit card at your favourite new clothing store -- perhaps your old clothes just need a breath of new life.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Regardless of your political leanings, this is a really neat clip of Jack Layton giving Rick Mercer a tour of his green home in downtown Toronto. I'm surprised more companies don't let you know just how quickly solar water heaters pay for themselves.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Greening Your Work
Planet Green has some tips for Going Green at Work. They might not be for everybody, but some are really easy! Before you click over to that, here are some numbers to consider:
• 1: the number of times that most of the 25 billion+ cartons manufactured in the U.S. are used.
• 55 percent: the amount of water saved by producing recycled paper vs. new paper. Recycled paper also takes 60-70 percent less energy to produce than paper from virgin pulp.
• 120: the number of tons of steel saved if every UK office worker used one less staple a day.
• 8 billion: the number of gallons of gas saved if every commuter car in the U.S. carried just one more person.
• 1: the number of times that most of the 25 billion+ cartons manufactured in the U.S. are used.
• 55 percent: the amount of water saved by producing recycled paper vs. new paper. Recycled paper also takes 60-70 percent less energy to produce than paper from virgin pulp.
• 120: the number of tons of steel saved if every UK office worker used one less staple a day.
• 8 billion: the number of gallons of gas saved if every commuter car in the U.S. carried just one more person.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Carbon Off-setting
Carbon off-setting is a financial way of measuring metric tons of carbon dioxide to reduce its negative impact on the environment. Monies used to “off-set” go to projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, commonly those projects dealing with renewable energies such as wind farms as well as efficiency projects like the destruction of industrial pollutants.
Vancouver 2010 (VANOC) has set their carbon off-set goal at a whopping 300,000 metric tons! They have already handled the 110,000 tons produced by construction and transportation prior to the games – the big issue now is all of the pollution generated by people attending the Games from around the world. It has been estimated that between 150,000 - 190,000 tons of CO2 will be emitted by domestic and international flights and local hotel stays, and VANOC is asking travellers and the public to pitch in. Through Offsetters.ca, visitors can donate $25 to the off-setting cause – enough to counter one metric ton of waste – and receive a limited edition pin. Tourists can also calculate their own Olympics-related carbon footprint and off-set it on the site.
Vancouver 2010 (VANOC) has set their carbon off-set goal at a whopping 300,000 metric tons! They have already handled the 110,000 tons produced by construction and transportation prior to the games – the big issue now is all of the pollution generated by people attending the Games from around the world. It has been estimated that between 150,000 - 190,000 tons of CO2 will be emitted by domestic and international flights and local hotel stays, and VANOC is asking travellers and the public to pitch in. Through Offsetters.ca, visitors can donate $25 to the off-setting cause – enough to counter one metric ton of waste – and receive a limited edition pin. Tourists can also calculate their own Olympics-related carbon footprint and off-set it on the site.
Greening the Games
By now, we're all aware of the problems plaguing this year's Olympic Games in Vancouver. Sure, they might not have been planning ahead when deciding to host the Winter Games in a city that doesn't exactly have winter, but they were definitely thinking when it came to environmental sustainability. Each Olympic venue was designed to minimize local environmental impact while using sustainable resources to minimize waste. Here is just a sample of what they have done to make these what many are calling, “the greenest games on record”:
Cypress Mountain -- home of Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding -- The downhill runs at this site were designed within the previously existing Cypress Mountain Ski Area to avoid forest clear-cutting. In areas where site-clearing could not be avoided, the trees were chipped and used on-site for revegetation and composting purposes.
Richmond Olympic Oval -- home of Long-track Speed Skating -- While this venue was built especially for the Games, its massive 2-hectare roof was created by a unique source: trees killed by pine-beetle infestation. It is widely believed to be the largest surface ever covered in this type of damaged wood.
Vancouver Athletes’ Village – when redeveloping the waterfront areas around the athletes’ village in Vancouver, the streets were designed to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists first and foremost, while the underground parkade serves co-op/carshare vehicles and offers hookups for electric cars. After the Games, 250 suites will be converted into affordable housing units.
Cypress Mountain -- home of Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding -- The downhill runs at this site were designed within the previously existing Cypress Mountain Ski Area to avoid forest clear-cutting. In areas where site-clearing could not be avoided, the trees were chipped and used on-site for revegetation and composting purposes.
Richmond Olympic Oval -- home of Long-track Speed Skating -- While this venue was built especially for the Games, its massive 2-hectare roof was created by a unique source: trees killed by pine-beetle infestation. It is widely believed to be the largest surface ever covered in this type of damaged wood.
Vancouver Athletes’ Village – when redeveloping the waterfront areas around the athletes’ village in Vancouver, the streets were designed to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists first and foremost, while the underground parkade serves co-op/carshare vehicles and offers hookups for electric cars. After the Games, 250 suites will be converted into affordable housing units.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Getting Around
How you get to and from work can have a big impact on the environment. While walking and biking to work is the greenest option, it’s not the most appealing method in grips of a -20 temperature snap (I like to call these two-toque days). Using public transportation is a great option for those who live farther away and don’t need to bring their vehicle to work. Some workplaces offer employee discounts or subsities on public transit, so this could be worth checking in to. However, even at the regular price, a bus pass is often much cheaper than insurance, fuel, and auto maintenance.
If you need your vehicle on-site while at work, why not carpool with others? Carpool.ca is a great database of would-be drivers and passengers throughout Edmonton and area. Just think, you can meet new people, save on gas, and help the environment all during your morning commute! If you’re the lucky driver, you can check out Transport Canada’s tips to “green up” your travels here.
If you need your vehicle on-site while at work, why not carpool with others? Carpool.ca is a great database of would-be drivers and passengers throughout Edmonton and area. Just think, you can meet new people, save on gas, and help the environment all during your morning commute! If you’re the lucky driver, you can check out Transport Canada’s tips to “green up” your travels here.
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