If You…
July 2008
- Drive to work every day you are among 78% of Calgarians.
15% of Calgarians use public transit and 6% walk to work. - Combine the energy required for your daily commute with the energy required to power your home and its contents, you will start to get a picture of the environmental impact of your lifestyle. The measurement of this is called an Ecological Footprint.
- Have the consumption habits of the average Calgarian your Ecological Footprint is 9.86 hectares, which represents the land and sea equivalent required to sustain your lifestyle.
The Number Every Person Should Know
June 2008
Web Review: www.350.org
A campaign is underway to impress a number into the hearts and minds of every person on the planet. Its’ goal is to raise awareness, garner support, and exert pressure on the people negotiating our collective future.
The number is 350.
As in 350 parts per million or PPM. It’s the number leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
Pushing Daisies
June 2008
Death and sustainability. It seems an odd pairing until you learn about green burial.
Broadly described as a way to preserve the environment, green burials forego laminated caskets, cement vaults, formaldehyde embalming, and chemical lawn treatments.
Moreover, instead of cremating or hermetically sealing the remains of the deceased, a green burial ensures they continue to be part of the natural life cycle.
So not only are green burials less impactful on the earth, they’re a celebration of life. Thus many people who choose green burials prefer “natural” settings over more “artificial” cemeteries.
Hit the Road, Jack, and Don’t You Come Back No More
June 2008
Film Review: Refugees of the Blue Planet
The population of Sana’a, capitol of Yemen, has doubled every six years since 1972. It’s now home to nearly a million people. Yet the aquifer on which the city depends is falling by six meters annually and will likely be exhausted by 2010. What will the citizens of Sana’a do?
In China, the Gobi desert expands by more than 10,000 square kilometres every year. Likewise, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya each lose more than 1,000 square kilometres of productive land annually as desertification continues unabated. As they’re overtaken by encroaching desert, what will the people of these countries do?
Making an Impact by Eating Local
May 2008
Book Review: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
By Joy Anderson
My sister-in-law gave me Animal, Vegetable, Miracle for my birthday. When she told me that it was “kind of like the Hundred Mile Diet”, my immediate thought was “ugh, the hundred mile diet was designed for people living on the west coast NOT in Calgary.”
In truth, I knew very little about the rationale behind the Hundred Mile Diet. For the past 10 years I have bought mostly organic and fair-trade products. And I believed that I was making the right choice for my health and the sustainability of our planet. Reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle gave me a new education and insight into my food choices.
Coming Soon to a Neighbourhood Near You
April 2008
By Stephanie Jackman
Gasoline is $1.259 per litre today. Experts predict that will increase to $1.40 this summer. Even with a fuel efficient vehicle like mine, the cost of gasoline is becoming prohibitive.
My interest in alternative vehicles has been increasing over the past couple of years for a couple of reasons. Protecting the environment is an obvious one, but financial self interest is another. As oil prices continue to escalate - and all forecasts indicate that this is just the beginning - fossil-fuel powered transportation will become less and less cost effective. I would like to find an option that is easier on the environment and my wallet.
Enter ZENN cars. This Canadian company manufactures electric cars that have Zero Emissions and No Noise. Hence the name: ZENN.
Yes, In My Backyard
April 2008
By Lauren Mangion
Calgary’s communities are sprawling in every direction. Most have given little thought to sustainability. A few, however, have paused and examined themselves. As a result, they’re boosting community pride, increasing community involvement, and ensuring their continued prosperity.
The three communities described here are exemplary. The projects they’ve initiated are progressive yet - with a little determination and organization - easily duplicated in the one place on Earth where sustainability will always be of greatest importance: your community.
Choose the Shade of Green That’s Right for You
April 2008
Web Review: www.tintofgreen.ca
Building an eco home? Renovating your existing digs? The Tint of Green website is an invaluable resource for Canadian homeowners who want to buy more environmentally responsible products.
The site was launched last fall by Rod Hart of URBANbuilt Inc, a media company in Cochrane, Alberta. Rod was concerned with issues of sustainability and wanted to contribute to the movement with a website that helps Canadian consumers green their homes.
