Our Green Home Spring 2011

With a lower environmental impact and less effort

Spring 2011

Introducing The Green Appliance Guide

Get the most out of your garden

There’s a home energy app?

Q & A with Tim Flannery

2 . OUR GREEN HOME . SPRING 2011

In the opening address at the recent Green Living Show, John Wilkinson, Ontario’s Minister of the Environ-ment, identified us as the one species on earth “taking more than we are putting back”. Surrounded by an exhibi-tion hall full of innovative products and ser-vices, his statement inspires reflection on the so-called “green premium” and the widely held belief that environmentally responsible options cost more.

If we apply Minister Wilkinson’s approach to a full accounting of our purchases and choices, we will often find that these are the products and technologies that repre-sent the best economic value. In the long run, they will actually cost the least by not “passing along” hidden or future costs of environmental degradation and remediation or healthcare.

A price premium is largely a belief assess-ment. Are car seatbelts a premium? They save lives and money (through the reduced health care costs of accidents), but it took a

vigorous campaign of committed activists to overcome industry objections. Good “green” marketing is based on true accounting, pre-senting a balanced understanding of all costs and benefits to the consumer.

Unfortunately, there are entrants into the “green market” that don’t always confer the benefits promised, whether because unscru-pulous dealers use government incentives to mask purely profit-motivated ventures or whether because start-ups with legitimate intentions do not have the capital or business acumen to successfully establish themselves in these emerging markets.

The latter seems to have been the case with Organics Delivered, who advertised in this very publication in 2010 and has since become insolvent (a venture in which the publishers of Our Green Home had no stake or interest). This failure should not be held against the organic food delivery industry, just as deceptive selling practices of some vendors should not be held against the renewable power industry.

“Green businesses” need to present economic value propositions, practice sound business principles, and provide good customer service support and information in addition to verifying green benefit claims to earn our trust as their customers.

The idea that a large segment of the population will pay more for a “green label” as a purchase of conscience is already fading into marketing history. A truly sustainable winning business strategy demonstrates that sustainability-based products and services ultimately deliver more.

Energy efficiency fuel savings. A financial return on investment in clean power. Greater comfort in better insulated homes. Reduced future disposal costs. A clean environment in-stead of a contaminated environment. While we need better systems of reckoning and accounting to help us assess these values in our purchasing and investment decisions, we all share a clear and common goal: better health for our families, for our communities and for our planet.

OUR GREEN HOME . SPRING 2011 . 3

FROM THE PUBLISHER

You can find Our Green Home at The Big Carrot, Grassroots, Fiesta Farms, Caplan’s Appliances, Beaver Valley Stone and City of Toronto Live Green events.Please feel free to send responses, comments or suggestions to [email protected].

Spring 2011

Publisher: Paul Cassel Contributing Editor: Cynthia McQueen

Project Coordinator & Web Manager: Ariel Crawford

Designer: Gord Naunton Green Grocery Guide Researcher:

Celeste O’NeilPublishing Assistant: Meenu Deol

Contributing Writers:

Mascot: “Susty”, the Sustainability Squirrel

Ad Sales: Donna-Lee Bolden-Kerr647-438-9292

Advertising Information:416.850.8787

1. [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter: @Our_Green_HomeFacebook us @ Our Green Home Magazine

[email protected]

OGH is printed on FSC certified paper (Chain of Custody Standard and Controlled Wood Standard).

Randy TyrrellJeff RansonPeter OrmondCeleste O’Neil

Cynthia McQueenConnie TeplitskyMeenu DeolKatie Fullerton

Julia BarnesAzra FazalChris WinterAnastasia Vaskova

Cover photo taken by Tania Pacitto from Beaver Valley Stone.

OUR GREEN HOME . SUMMER 2010 . 5

Nursery • Installation • MaintenanceServing Your Community Since 1984

416.815.8080 www.rosedalelandscaping.com

o

The numerous environmental benefits associated with green roofs are undeniable. Especially considering the City of Toronto planted their own green roof atop City Hall that promises to shrink the building’s energy consumption by 10 per cent. Likewise, Toronto has passed some of the most stringent green roof legislation in North America.

However, recent research has shown that green roofs may provide health and well-being benefits to those who look out on them. In a study, researchers found a major-ity of office workers in Toronto and Chicago who overlook green roofs from their workplace felt the sight of greenery amid concrete and glass gave them a mental break from the workday. This mental breathing space was described as calming and peaceful, and helped office workers gain perspective and clarity about the problems facing them during the day. This was particularly true if the green roof was accessible and provided a space for participants to take a break from their desks.

Green roofs also gave many office workers a sense of hope about our ability to address environmental problems and pride about the organization responsible for the green roof - both of which influence well-being.

The scale and aesthetics of green roofs were found to influ-ence the perception of their associated health benefits,.

Chicago City Hall green roof:

Chicago’s award-winning green roof mimics the long-lost prairie native to Chicago and hosts birds, butterflies, and bees. Many participants found the roof beautiful, though colour and detail was lost if viewers were too far away. The “messy” aesthetic of prairie-style vegetation will be popular with environmentalists, but might need explaining to your lawn-loving neighbours.

Green roof on 161 North Clark, Chicago:

This sedum green roof on a parking garage in downtown Chicago met the minimum requirement of 50 per cent coverage, but participants found it looked half-finished and was aesthetically unappealing. If choosing a light-weight sedum green roof, try to add colour and variation for more aesthetic appeal.

Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) green roof, Toronto:

One of the first green roofs in Toronto, MEC’s prairie-style vegetation was also sometimes described as “messy,” but participants appreciated its ecological benefits and sea-sonal variation. The small wildflowers do not tend to be vis-ible from a distance, so you might want to experiment with some border colour or patterns if it will be seen from afar.

Robertson Building green roof, Toronto:

Employees can take a break from their desks to have lunch on one of two accessible green roofs that overlook the skyline. Because employees were on the roof, colours and flowers were more visible and employees loved the

seasonal variations.

401 Richmond green roof, Toronto:

This popular green roof combines an accessible garden-style roof with potted plants, along with a more traditional, and inaccessible, sedum green roof. It is a good example of a multi-purpose roof that combines social and environ-mental benefits.

Incentives for green roofs in Toronto:

Currently, the City of Toronto offers an Eco-Roof Incentive program aimed at encouraging green roof implementation in industrial, commercial, or institutional buildings in the city’s designated employment districts. The program pro-vides funding for green roof retrofits on existing buildings, or for industrial and commercial and institutional buildings with a gross floor area of over 2,000 m2. The incentive pro-vides $50/square metre up to $100,000. For more informa-tion see www.toronto.ca/livegreen.

Return on Investment:

Green roofs can reduce the cooling costs for the upper floors of buildings, insulate against sound, and, if done properly, can reduce the size of the ventilation system required for the building. For more specific information on the benefits of green roofs, please see www.greenroofs.org.

Green Roofs: Enviro and Mental BenefitsBy Angela Loder

Angela Loder is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto studying green roofs and health.

Green roofs do more than clear the

air and cool the city. Researchers have

found they calm the mind too.

Earth day. Earth week. Earth month. The Earth is no longer a one-day event April is the greenest month in more ways than one – it is the busiest time of year for environmental events and this April was no exception. Earth Day Canada held their annual fundraiser at Green Drinks Toronto atop the CN Tower. As the mighty spire glowed green with LEDs to broadcast the eco-message as far as the eye could see, about 300 eco-friendly attendees schmoozed in the rotating restaurant.

“It is a fun and interesting event that is always a sell out,” said Jed Goldberg, President of Earth Day Canada.

The Centre for Social Innovation, an incubation facility for social entrepreneurs and non-profits, hosted A Festi-val of Solutions, a free conference to discuss solar energy, water and climate change.

Ksenia Benifand of The Climate Project concurred: “My sincere hope is that the audience will take away the information … and transform it into action that works to mitigate climate change, and creates a greener, healthier world.”

The annual 20 Minute Toronto makeover, a volunteer drive to clean public spaces, was appropriately sponsored

by Glad bags. LCBO stores pitched in by collecting donations for Earth Rangers, a charity that educates children about biodiversity.

The CN Tower was also the venue for WWF’s annual stair-climbing marathon, a popular fund-raiser for the charity which raises over $1 million dollars a year.

Toronto Greenhouse featured a panel of CEOs of Green Companies in industries ranging from Solar Energy to Pollution Control.

Exhibition Place once again played host to the Green Living Show, Canada’s largest green consumer show. In addition to established features such as: the Green Business Forum, Live Green Toronto’s “Green Toronto” Awards and over 400 exhibits, this year’s show added new attractions including an Eco Mentors Conference and a Green Jobs Forum.

As the perfect introduction to spring, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) announced the results of its annual survey, showing that more than 400,000 square feet of green roofing was installed in Toronto last year, the most in Canada. “Cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa continue to lead the way with incentives and regulations that recognize the many benefits from green

roofs, including much needed green jobs in their communities.” said Steven W.Peck, Founder and President of GRHC.


Randy Tyrrell is Founder and Managing Director of Toronto Greenhouse.

Spring in the city’s green sceneGreen Scene is a new column. Please visit ourgreenhome.ca for current information on upcoming green events in and around Toronto.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Green Toronto awards, presented at the Green Living Show: Community Project: Afri-Can Food Basket Energy Conservation: Nitta Gelatin Canada Inc. Green Business: LoyaltyOne Environmental Awareness: TREC Education Youth Leadership: Youth Mentors Local Food: The Toronto Beekeepers Co-operative Green Design: Architects Alliance Green Home: Anthony Ketchum Water Efficiency: Kraft, East York Bakery Leadership: CivicAction’s Greening Greater Toronto

For a list of upcoming green events, visit http://ourgreenhome.ca/events

In a cost-benefit analysis, one-time spending for long term gain makes green energy a great investment opportunity. So, why in Canada — considered a nature loving country — is consumer buy-in to solar slow? Jack Swenson bought in quickly when he put 23 solar panels on the roof of his Don Mills home. He and his wife saw an investment opportunity in the microFIT program.

The microFIT program was put into effect for a limited time — 2 years until October of 2011 — to encourage people to create renewable energy streams and sources. Under the program, the government cur-rently pays 80.2 cents per kilowatt (kW) for residential applications that produce 10 kW or less. The green energy producer enjoys a rate guaranteed for 20 years through the OPA.

With an average of 11 to 14 per cent return on his investment per year (about $4,500-$6,000) and a six to

eight year payback, there are 12 to14 years to turn a profit on the 20-year OPA contract.

“This is a great investment and a great way to offset rising energy rates with the gener-ated income,” said Swenson. Researching solar potential, Swenson found Solsmart Solar on the Internet.

Andrew McCormack from Solsmart, who of-fers a turnkey service to homeowners, says the process can take five to six months from signing an agreement to getting hooked up to the grid. They do all the paperwork with the OPA, Toronto Hydro or Power Stream, inspectors with the City of Toronto and the Electrical Safety Authority.

Knowing all the hardware and components necessary for the production and installation of the solar panels are certified and approved by the Canadian Standards Association and come with a 20 to 25 year warranty was just one of the decision

Anastasia Vaskova is a consultant/writer who increases consumer engagement with environmental practices.

factors. After crunching the numbers based on their roof’s average sun exposure and their home’s location, they realized the biggest risk was not getting their application in on time. . . Here comes the sun!

Photo by Anastasia Vaskova

Case Study: MicroFIT Solar A return on investment in the sun

Jim Swenson’s roof during installation of solar panels.



Toronto’s most experienced designer and installer of solar systems is ready to help you turn passive energy into active gains for your finances and the future.

Request a free quote or learn more at solsmart.com or call 416-229-2200

DON’T WAIT. GENERATE!Get MicroFIT for summer. Don’t pay for 6 months.*

*O.A.C. Bank financing plan.

Sooner or later, by choice or by crisis, we will live in a con-server society. I prefer sooner, and by choice. Here’s why: Five years ago, I was speaking at a community meet-ing in the Town of Shelburne, extolling the virtues of conservation as a means to lowering energy bills, making renewable energy affordable, creating a resilient economy and saving the planet, all at the same time. Then someone asked, “Even if we do conserve, will it make a difference?”

That simple question crystallized the fear in the room that no one had dared voice.

We all have a fear of the future, but we are quick to bury it to seek solace in the reassurances that the Fuku-shima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe in Japan could never happen here, or that there will always be new sources of oil, or that the oceans will never run out of fish. But we sleep on it because the implications of these potential crises on our treasured lifestyle are too much to bear.

There are many compelling reasons to be afraid – but I have learned that fear is not the best reason to be a conserver. I am a conserver because I love it. I love riding my bike to work, I love living in a walkable neighbour-hood with local stores and parks. I love how Toronto has a world of experiences within an easy ride on the TTC.

When I travel, I tell people that I live in a village in the city of Toronto. They are surprised that we have no car (a savings of $10,000 a year), but when they learn that Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods, each one a complete community, they begin to realize that a con-server lifestyle is actually not that bad at all.

To my mind, Toronto is one of the greenest cities in all of North America, because it is a city of open, friendly, and safe neighbourhoods — about 140 of them. It is one of the keys to our success as a multicultural city, and it is the key to our success as a green city.

Each one of these neighbourhoods is vibrant, with a village “centre,” local shops, parks, schools, libraries, recreation centres. Every neighbourhood has community groups and local sparks who are the folks behind the community gardens, farmer’s markets, clean-ups and tree

plantings, cultural events, and so much more. They are the lifeblood of the community.

Toronto also has a wealth of green groups and busi-nesses invested in conserving. Green consumers changed the auto industry, gave rise to a local food movement, and are reducing the need for new nuclear plants. So does a green, conserver lifestyle make a difference? You bet. It builds stronger communities, supports local business, and stimulates a shift to a greener economy. With this series of articles, I will focus on some of the issues and strategies that are helping make Toronto one of the greenest and healthiest cities in North America. In the meantime, if you want to become part of the Live Green Toronto community networks, please contact your local community animator through the Live Green Toronto website (www.livegreentoronto.ca).

A community in conservation

Chris Winter is the executive director of the Conservation Council of Ontario.

This is the first in a regular series of articles on community action and the voluntary transition to a conserver society.

As a distributor of quality electrical

materials and technical solutions

and services, Sonepar Canada is

leading our Blueway initiative to facilitate

discussions about our "big three" areas of expertise:

A community of interest making the sustainable creation and use of

electricity a reality.www.blueway.ca

Energy E�ciency

Alternative Energy

Electrical Product Recycling

By Peter Ormond

Spring is in the air, and summer heat will soon follow. Are you prepared?

Air Conditioning:Your air conditioner is by far the biggest electricity hog in the home. In fact, A/C use can triple or quadruple the total electricity consumption of an average household. Therefore you can generate a significant return by taking a few simple steps to minimize A/C use and by making sure that your air conditioner is working efficiently.

Service Your Air Conditioner. For most efficient operation, your air conditioner should be tuned up annually. At the very least, vacuum or replace the air filter. If possible, shade it from the sun. Installing a programmable or turning down the A/C when you’re not home can save a lot. Try circulating cool night air with fans. Ceiling fans can make a big dif-ference in the temperature setting that lets you sleep comfortably. And remember, for every degree you raise your A/C, the energy costs drop by three to five per cent.

Work With Time-of-Use Rates:On a hot summer day, when thousands of air conditioners work at full load, the demand on the electrical grid dramatically increases. As the supply of electricity becomes limited, electricity usage also becomes more expensive. Time-Of-Use rates have been created in order to reduce this daily spike in energy consumption. Rates vary, depending on the time of day, day of the week and the season. The cheapest times to use electricity are at night, on weekends, and on statutory holidays. Shifting electricity-intensive activities to mid-peak or off-peak times will greatly reduce costs. Contact your local electrical and gas utility companies to see what energy conservation programs they offer.

Join the peaksaver® Program The peaksaver® program has been developed to specifically target air condition-ers and electric hot water heaters. Under this program, a switch cycles your air conditioner on and off during periods of peak demand. When engaged, the switch reduces the demand of your air conditioner or electric hot water heater by 50 per cent. This reduces your overall energy usage, yet the impact on system performance is barely noticeable.

A holistic approach to energy conservation will provide continuous rewards for you, your community and the environment Check for examples of computing the return on home energy saving investments in our new series of columns: “Energy Math – calculating the payback” (see the first on page 20).


Energy Math: A guide to reducing home energy consumption

Toronto time-of-use rates:On-Peak Hours: 4 kW x 10 h x 9.9¢/kWh = $3.96 plus additional fees.Mid-Peak Hours: 4 kW x 10 h x 8.1¢/kWh = $3.24 plus additional fees.Off-Peak Hours: 4 kW x 10 h x 5.1¢/kWh = $2.04 plus additional fees.

Peter Ormond, a green engineer, understands that every choice does matter. www.eco5.ca


Here are some highlights from our online guide to shopping for environmentally-friendly and socially responsible products. We research and present labels and certifications to look for and evaluate the ingredients, production methods, packag-ing, distance traveled, and disposability concerns. The complete range of surveyed products for these and many other categories or food, beverage and household supplies is available online at www.greengroceryguide.ca. We invite you to help us grow our guide by sending suggestions for other green, sustainable and socially responsible products to [email protected].

By Celeste O’Neil, Lead Researcher

www.greengroceryguide.ca

Nacho chips

Organic Leaders for 27 Years!

Natural Food Market416.466.2129 Organic Produce • Bulk • Grocery • Dairy • Raw FoodsLocally Raised Meat • Vegetarian Café • Appliances Books • Paraben Free Body Care Department

Wholistic Dispensary416.466.8432 [email protected], Minerals & Nutritional SupplementsNorth American, Ayurvedic & Chinese Herbal RemediesProfessional Product Lines • Professional Staff

Organic Juice Bar NEW MENU!

Free Nutritional Store ToursFree Seminars • Cooking Classes

348 Danforth Ave. 3 Blocks East of Broadview Ave.

thebigcarrot.ca • [email protected] 9:00-9:00 • Sat 9:00-8:00 • Sun 11:00-6:00

Ontario’s 1st Certified Organic Retailer! Look for the Canadian organic logo on ourproducts available in our vegetarian deli,organic juice bar, produce, bulk and cheesedepartments.

GreenHomes2011Spring_2:BigCarrot_GreenHomes 4/15/11 5:52 PM Page 1

Tortilla, or nacho, chips are the perfect complement to dips, salsa, parties and picnics. They are portable, delicious and can go anywhere without refrigeration. These chips are made of ground corn, are a staple in South and Central America and often served with salsa.

If you are looking for organic tortilla chips, be sure to look closely at the bag. Most of the chips we found are “made with organic corn,” but the oil used for frying is usually not organic. Organic oil is just too expensive to be used for frying. Fully organic tortilla chips do exist, but you’ll need to look closely to ensure that the package says “organic” instead of “made with organic.”

Some of the nachos reviewed used expeller pressed oil, which means that the oil was extracted using grinding and pressure only. Oils that are not labeled “pressed” most likely use chemicals to extract oils from the remainder of the pressed seed.

Most tortilla chips are fried in oil and can, therefore, be considered somewhat bad for you. There are baked tortilla options, which have a lower fat content, however some people believe that these tortillas do not have as much flavour, or are more fragile than the fried version, which makes them not as dip-able. Whatever your preference, we hope our research helps make your next serving of chips and salsa a healthy, environmentally responsible and tasty choice.

Evaluation Criteria:

Evaluations:

Warning

Caution

Pass

Recommended

Ingredients

Production Method

Packaging

Distance Traveled

Availability

Disposability

Fair Trade

USDA Organic Kosher

OCPP Local Food Plus

Learn more about our methodology and different grocery certifications at ourgreenhome.ca

Fair Trade

Certified Organic QAI Organic

Relevant Certifications:


The1st organic

and fair trade fruit juices on the Canadian market

Find Camino products in:• natural health food stores• grocery stores with organic or

natural health food aisles

Taste of change.Taste of Camino.

www.tasteofcamino.com

Garden of Eatin’These US made chips are made with organic white corn and expeller pressed oil. The produc-ers believe that natural and organic ingredients are better for the environment, better for animals and ultimately, better for you. Garden of Eatin’ has a variety of tortilla chips made with organic corn including blue, yellow and white corn, in guacamole and chili & lime flavours. Currently, there is a voluntary recall for this product for undeclared wheat and soy allergy concerns.

Neal Brothers OrganicsThese Blue Corn Tortillas are made with stone ground organic corn, and produced locally in the GTA. Neal Brothers believes in the positive impact that the or-ganic movement has on environmental sustainability of our earth’s environment. They also support fair trade and the positive impact it has on poor farmers around the world. Along with their line of chips and salsas, they distribute many other fair trade products.

Que PasaThese Tortilla Chips are made with organic blue corn that is stone ground in their Vancouver area factory. Que Pasa makes a variety of tortillas, salsas and hot sauces that are available in various retail locations and online.

Mad MexicanThese lightly salted nacho chips keep it local. These gourmet chips are handmade in Toronto using fresh and local (when possible) ingredients. As well, Mad Mexican’s salsa’s, dips, nacho chips and pre-made burritos are available at a variety of local food shops. *Note: Ingredients for the salsa get a “pass”.

10 . OUR GREEN HOME SPRING 2011

“Ever since our family farm stopped using chemicals and joined the Organic Meadow Co-operative, we’ve been proud to supply Ontario families with local, great-tasting organic milk. We believe that a healthy environment is better for our cows, our land and our crops, and better for our family. I feel like I’m farming like my grandfather in today’s world, and truly enjoying it. Our farm is healthier today than it was yesterday, and we can’t wait until tomorrow!”

Organic Meadow farmer Ron Vice

“Ever since our family farm stopped using chemicals and joined the Organic Meadow Co-operative,

www.organicmeadow.com


Celeste O’Neil is an MBA Candidate at Schulich School of Business, with a BSc in Food Science from University of Guelph.

THE WINEMAKER’S PALETTE

Join our Winemakers as they tour you through our organic

and biodynamic vineyard while you sip on our new releases.

Open to the public.

For more information visit www.southbrook.com

2011 Taste the PlaceWHERE: 581 NIAGARA STONE ROAD, NOTL, ON

DATE: JUNE 18TH, 2011

TIME: 10AM TO 6PM

TastePlaceQuarter.indd 1 11-04-20 10:41 PM

Salba Smart organic salsa is made in the USA and contains a small portion of the ancient South Ameri-can salba grain, which is very high in omega-3 andfibre. Beware, if this is your only source of fibre oromega-3 though, as the quantity in the salsa is low.Little is known about the production of Salba Smartproducts except that they are made in America.All products in the Salba Smart line contain someof the salba grain and the line includes Nachos,pretzels, potato crisps, whole grain salba seeds andsalba flour. Salba Smart products are available atand Sobey’s and select specialty food stores.

Everybody loves a party, and salsa is a menu staple for almost any gathering. Salsa, Spanish for ‘sauce’, is usually a tomato-based mixture that can be used for many purposes from a dip to an ingre-dient in soups. Salsa is a fairly simple product and usually contains tomatoes, onions, peppers, salt, spices along with other herbs and vegetables. Living in the northern climate that we do, it’s not always possible for our Salsa ingredients to be fresh and local, so ingredients such as vinegar and citric acid (lemon juice) are used to preserve quality and for safety.

As noted in the chips introduction, some products labeled as “organic” include non-organic ingredients. This is because a product can only be labeled organic if it contains at least 95% certified organic ingredients. This rule exists because there are certain ingredients that are not available in organic form (salt is one of these). In Canada, there is an additional stipulation that the non-or-ganic ingredients can be used only if no organic option exists.

Salsa is the ultimate in healthy dips. It is nearly completely vegetable based and fat free, so enjoy your local or organic salsa guilt free at every party.

Salsa

Nativa OrganicsNativa Salsa is made in Canada using organic ingredients. No information is available about the environmental impacts of its processing. The Nativa line of organic products is available at Shoppers Drug Mart and is comprised of a range of organic foods including olive oil, coffee, cereals, chocolate, cookies, salad dressing and chips.

Salba Smart Organic Salsa


Green Mountain GringoThis salsa contains ingredients that are all natural, but is not certified organic. It is manufactured in the U.S. and the company does not make any claims that their manufacturing process is sensitive to the environment. Green Mountain Gringo makes a line of salsas and nacho chips, some of which contain organic corn flour.

PC OrganicThis salsa, made for President’s Choice, contains fully organic ingredients and is available in most Loblaws, Zehrs and No Frills stores. There is no information available on how or where it is made. The PC Organics line has about 250 items that range from cereal and soy milk to pasta, baby food, chocolate and produce.

Neal Brothers OrganicsThis fully organic salsa is manufactured in the GTA. Neal Brothers supports organic for many reasons, most importantly for the positive impact on sustainability. They also support fair trade and the positive impact it has around the world. Neal Brothers are distributors for many fair trade products including coffee, chocolate and sugar

The Our Green Home team was recently at the Brewer’s Plate event on April 6th where our research group tasted a variety of beer and wine products poured. Look for our tasting notes online in June and in our Summer issue.www.brewersplatetoronto.org

OUR GREEN HOME SPRING 2011 . 13

By Cynthia McQueen

In a discussion with a man who is called the next Charles Darwin, I was surprised when he championed voting as the single biggest thing you can do for the environment. In an interview, Tim Flannery — one of the world’s most influential scientists, an international best-selling author, conservationist, credited with discovering more species than Darwin — I asked him what he wanted people to take away from his new book Here on Earth.

TF: The way we express our common desires in our democratic societies is through the political process. And we should never ever treat that lightly. We have a real chance to have an impact. So getting involved in the democratic process is so central. And asking those fundamental questions: what sort of world do I want to leave my children? Because you’re creating that world today. Your government’s creat-ing that world today with every decision they make. So for me, getting involved with that process is just incredibly important. “Guide your superorganism” would be my rallying call by getting involved in the democratic process.

If you had one piece of advice for Canada politically or for the environment, what would it be?

TF: I would just say that Canada needs to restore its place in the world. You know one of the reasons that we admire Canada - you know people like me have grown up with

a Canada that’s taken its global responsi-bilities very seriously … The Canada that I know today has abrogated its responsi-bilities — under the Kyoto Protocol, and increasingly under environmental treaties. And I really worry about Canada because your government set targets to reduce your emissions by 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020. That’s a big target and you’ve got eight years and eight months to do it. Now the credibility of the government both internationally and domestically is going to rely on whether it can actually meet it’s own self-set targets. There are no programs in place right now that I can see that would get you there. Any responsible government would be looking very seriously at how you want to go about doing that.

Canada’s been kind of tarred and feathered inernationally if you will because of our tarsands – could you speak to that?

TF: I can sympathize with that because in Australia we’re the world’s biggest exporter of coal, but it doesn’t stop us having good environmental programs and good climate programs. Nor should it. We need to get on with it. There’s a

reality there that we’ve all been dependent on fossil fuels for the 20th century. That is no excuse for not charting a more sustain-able future. And if Australia can do it, then Canada can do it. Just as a few examples, we’ve got a mandated 20 per cent renew-able energy target in Australia, by 2020, 20 per cent of the energy’s going to be coming from wind power and solar and renew-able resources. It’s something both sides of politics have agreed on and that’s passed through parliament and it’s being acted on now and we’ve got plans in place to make sure that it happens. We’ve got a minus five per cent reductions again agreed on by both sides of parliament. They have different means of wanting to achieve it and we’re

Predicting revolution

“Government’s words are their bonds with their people andwith the world as a whole,” Tim Flannery

Tim Flannery on democracy and how voting is an environmental choice.

just in the process now of getting a carbon price in place. So if you set targets you’re nailed to all of them. No one’s forcing you to set those targets. They’re self-assessed by the Canadian government once they’re set they become an issue of credibility. Govern-ment’s words are their bonds with their people and with the world as a whole. To set that kind of a target without programs in place to achieve it is incredibly danger-ous, I think.

There’s been a lot going on politically on the international stage and in the Middle East for democracy and was wondering if I could get your opinion on that?

TF: I was delighted to see that, because I did predict that that would happen in the book. Maybe not necessarily in the Middle East, but that democracy would continue to grow and that it would be aided by the Internet. There’s quite a discussion there about super systems and about why democracy’s

there and why democracy works for us. Democracy’s also practiced by ants and by honeybees, very different forms of democ-racy and I talk about them in the book. And it is the one system that works for human beings because we’re all selfish beings and we’re greedy beings and we all need a say so we need to honour a social contract in order for the system to work for us. So I think democracy is the system of gover-nance we’ve settled on, and it comes with many drawbacks. Endless deliberations and concessions and all the rest, but neverthe-less I think it’s the system we’ve decided on. The thing that I worry about is that we live in imperfect democracies. Here in Canada, where the upper house is still appointed. But we all live in imperfect systems. I mean, look at the Internet. Young people would have no tolerance at all for these sorts of stupid anti-democratic systems that rob them of their power as a citizen.

Cynthia McQueen is a freelance journalist and editor in Toronto.

Photo by Cynthia McQueen

Tim Flannery at his hotel in Toronto during an interview.


Many Earthly DelightsA garden can produce more than vegetablesA garden is a microcosm, a small attempt at human re-creation of nature. It is ultimately both a progressively creative act and a yearning for simpler times at once.

Since the time humankind discovered agriculture, we have attempted to make our environments more beautiful. In essence, gardening in its most primitive form started at

the beginning of humankind’s move from gathering. The most basic objective of the gardener back then was food production, and for some of us it still is. Now we want better food like a sun-warmed tomato, or fresh greens rich in nutrients.

There are few things more satisfying than enjoying the

efforts of our labour. All you need is a small spot, even one foot square that gets four to six hours of sunshine through-out the growing season. My advice, if you’ve never had a productive garden, is to start small, very small.

It’s more rewarding to have one tomato plant that can produce dozens of tasty fruit, than to have a half dozen that wither and die for lack of care by mid-summer — precisely when they should be most productive. If your one plant rewards your efforts the first year then it’s time to expand.

Not everyone likes to have a formal vegetable garden, nor do many of us have the space. If you have a shady yard it’s time to think outside the box. Serviceberry (or Saskatoonberry) is a native tree or shrub that is attractive and produces delicious blue berries midsummer. It grows equally well in sun or shade. A bit of research will reveal that there are plenty of other plants that fit this bill, both native and exotic. Be careful of exotics, though. For example, native and non-native forms of raspberries and blackberries can become rather invasive if not controlled.

Trees also create breezes from their transpiration of water — the discharge of water vapour from plants. Trees can also reduce cooling costs for your home, and its greenhouse gas impact.

Even if food production is not part of your interest in gardening, think of the benefits to wildlife. Birds eat berries and insects. They need places to nest and raise their young. The more diverse your garden, the more diverse the creatures that will live there. And diversity leads to balance, which means less work for you, an appealing thought not only to gardeners, but non- gardeners alike.

No matter what the space a garden can provide food for you and some wildlife, cooling breezes and is a way to reduce your carbon footprint.

A view of Connie’s garden.

Connie Teplitsky owns and operates a garden maintenance company, Landskeep.


A wide selection of natural stone and precast concrete products

Masonry products

Your one stop shop for pond and

Office and yard: 25 Langstaff Rd. E., Thornhill. Yonge & Hwy 7-407

Manufacturing plant: 12350 Keele St., Maple416-222-2424 or 905-886-5787

Fax: 905-886-5795

My Green Garden: How I finally saw the light and transformed my front yard into an oasis

A view of Katie’s garden from the street.

I have a confession to make: for nearly two decades I had a disgraceful front yard. An ugly patch of lawn that I mowed, watered, fertilized, seeded, reseeded and weeded only to have it turn crispy every August.

Being a “greener” at heart, and in my work, I was embarrassed by this somewhat barren plot and wanted to transform it into an environmentally friendly garden. Finally, in the fall of 2009, with the inspiration of my partner Jared (and thanks to his hard work in ripping up the lawn), change it I did.

I had high expectations. I decided that to be truly green this garden was going to have to feed us, cool us, provide bird and pollinator habitat, lower our energy and water use and in the end to reduce our carbon footprint; all this in a 20 foot-square area. I was also hoping it would be so dazzling and fun that it would encourage others in the neighbourhood to do the same.

In assessing the approach and content of the garden I took the following steps

Cool shade: I needed a treeTrees provide many benefits. They shade our surroundings and our homes with their canopy, they filter air pollution, they generate oxygen and they provide habitat for birds. I got my tree for free through the City of Toronto Urban Forestry program. I am now friends with a chinquapin Oak – not quite native but well adapted to the area. And best of all its acorns are edible. (Trees for your backyard are available at subsidized rates through LEAF).

Growing Conditions: How much soil and how much sun?Before planting a veggie garden I recommend you test your soil. The earth in front yards may contain heavy metals from car fumes and may have been contaminated by an industrial past. Also is the soil for example sandy or clay-like and how will this affect your choice of plants?

Katie Fullerton is a regional animator with EcoSpark. www.ecospark.ca

My soil was fine for growing veggies. With a boost of organic compost, I had the most beautiful Ratatouille (the French recipe) garden. And because I planted perennials and native plants common in the area, I didn’t need anything other than compost for my sandy soil.

Reduce water use and help Pollinators: Plant perennials and native plants Perennials and native plants have already adapted to this area and rarely need watering beyond what nature supplies. In addition, the native plants attract wildlife, provide shelter, nesting areas, food and keep moisture in the soil.

Some of the perennials I planted included stella d’Oro, butterfly bush, yellow loosestrife and my favourite fillers – forget-me-nots and cosmos. Pollinator friendly native plants included wild bergamot, globe thistle, aster, black eyed Susan and purple cone flower. So how did it turn out?Picture this. Last August, I drove up to the front of my house in Toronto, tired and hot after a long, solo two-day drive from Cape Breton. I stopped the car, looked at my front yard and laughed with delight – looking back at me was a forest of pink cos-mos, a cornucopia of heirloom vegetables, a flurry of bees and butterflies, a healthy oak tree and colours everywhere. I had been away six weeks and the front yard had burst into glory.


Learn more about our methodology and product-specific grocery certifications at ourgreenhome.ca

Certifications and Labels

Each category has its own methodology based on product-specific concerns and attributes.

Evaluation Criteria

Water Usage

Energy Efficiency

Production Process

Transportation

Evaluations

Recommended

Pass

Caution

Concern

Warning

Energy Star Qualified

Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) Qualified

European Union (EU)Energy Label High Efficiency (HE)

Resources

Office of Energy Efficiency: www.oee.nrcan.gc.caConsortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) Qualified: www.cee1.orgEuropean Union (EU) Energy: www.ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/labelling

Welcome to the Green Appliance Guide, where we sift through the range of household appliances to discover machines that will serve us in the most energy efficient, ecologically and socially respon-sible manner.

According to the National Energy Use Database, 13 per cent of our residential energy use annually is consumed by household appliances. Thus, it will make a big difference to determine which washers, dryers, ovens, dishwashers and fridges will help minimize our resource use and put energy savings back into your pockets.

The Green Appliance Guide is a representa-tive sample of products available in Canada and illustrating factors that go into evaluating the best choice for your household. If you know of other products that demonstrate sustainable and socially responsible initiatives, you are invited to send them to [email protected] to help us grow our guide.

We use a relatively straightforward method of rating each appliance. We look at its efficiency in energy and water consumption, and do our best to consider the sustainability of its production, trans-portation and disposal. Five levels of evaluation are used; green meaning that the appliance is recom-mendable while red indicates our warning that a product may not meet a sustainable standard.

We base our evaluations on the data provided by producers and we strive to ensure that it is both informative and accurate by referring to third-party certifiers such as EnerGuide.

Over the course of 2011, we plan to work through all major household appliance categories, posting the ratings, methodology and results of our research online at GreenApplianceGuide.ca and publishing highlights in Our Green Home. We hope that this guide makes your next appliance purchase a simpler process and a clearer choice.

Laundry appliances are a corner-stone of comfortable living, saving you time and hassle, but their use forms part of your personal environ-mental impact. Luckily, there is no shortage of high efficiency models on the market to give you peace of mind and shrink your energy bills.

Traditional top-loading washers rub clothes against an agitator in a full tub of water, but front loaders tend to be much more efficient, tum-bling clothes through a small amount of water. Still, high efficiency top loaders, that spin or flip the clothes through less water, have also been developed.

On any washer, you can look for water level controls that let you use less water for small loads, and tem-perature controls that let you choose cold or warm water instead of hot. On both washers and dryers, you can also look for delay start features that allow you to time your laundry

to start during off-peak hours, when electricity is cheaper.

Compact washers and dryers are ideal for smaller households, hav-ing a smaller capacity and using far less energy than larger machines. However, you can end up using more energy overall with a compact if you do more loads than you would with a larger machine. Pick a size that suits your household to get the best efficiency and remember that all washers and dryers are most efficient when you run them fully loaded.

Energy Star qualification is ap-plicable to standard size washers that are at least 30% more energy and water efficient than the minimum federal energy performance stan-dard in Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations. But washers still vary significantly within the Energy Star classification. You can compare the energy and water use of almost all available models on the website of

Washers and dryers

Julia Barnes is an editorial assistant at Corporate Knights magazine and senior editor of the Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series blog

Researched and reviewed by Julia Barnes & Azra Fazal


Azra Fazal is a researcher with Our Green Home and Corporate Knights Magazine and a student at the University of Waterloo.

This washing machine is Tier III certified, making it one of the more efficient and less expensive top-loaders on the market. This washer is designed to use High Efficiency (HE) detergent, meaning that that the machine uses less water to clean a load. In addition the IntelliFill™ Water Level Control ensures that only the minimum amount of water needed is used. The product ships from Clyde, Ohio in EPA Smart-Way certified trucks.

Maytag Bravos® Dryer with IntelliDry®

$

Sensors measures the amount of moisture present in the clothing, and automatically shuts off the machine when the clothes are dry. This decreases the amount of energy used as well as increases the lifespan of the clothing. Maytag’s dryers are shipped from relatively close to Toronto using intermodal train, which helps to reduce emissions. This product also boasts a 7.3 cu. ft. SuperSize Capacity Plus, which is both time and energy efficient for larger sized families.

$$

Maytag Bravos® Washer

Energy Efficiency (http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca). You can also look at the Consortium for Energy Ef-ficiency (CEE) ratings that assign efficient models to three tiers, Tier III being the best.

Energy efficiency does not vary significantly from one dryer model to the next, so dryers are not Energy Star qualified. According to Natural Resources Can-ada, while clothes washers have become 68% more efficient, clothes dryers are only about 17% more efficient today than they were in 1990. However, improved washer design and technology can help on

this front. High performance spin cycles in washers now remove more water before the clothes hit the dryer, so you can cut drying time by as much as half - and the associated energy use.

The only significant gains in dryer efficiency have been along the same lines: moisture sensing technology is widely used to automatically turn off the machine as soon as clothes are dry. A cool down or perma-press cycle can also save energy by completing the dry cycle with cool rather than hot air.

Modern home appliances are made of steel, non-ferrous metals, plastics and other components that are valuable and recyclable, so there is not much variation in the disposability or end of life impact of appliances. According to Warrington Ellacott, Chair of the Canadian Appliance Manufacturers Association, appliances have a high material value so only 11to17% of end-of-life material ends up in the landfill. With average life expectancy of washers and dryers at 14 and 18 years respectively, the bulk of their environmental impact comes from their use, making energy and water efficiency crucial.

This Energy Star qualified and CEE Tier III top-loading washer has energy and water efficiency to rival front-loaders. Its energy use is competitively low and the H2Low™ wash system “automatically senses the size of each load to use less water and deliver better cleaning performance and gentleness than a traditional top load washer.” Assembled in Ohio, this machine ships from relatively close to Toronto.

Whirlpool Cabrio® 7.4 cu. ft. capacity

$

This dryer’s AccuDry™ sensor helps you save energy by measuring moisture and temperature levels and automatically stopping the cycle when your load is dry. Like all Whirlpool and Maytag laundry machines reviewed in this guide, this dryer is assembled in North America, and the company uses EPA Smartway certi-fied vehicles to minimize pollution and emissions from their transportation.

Whirlpool Cabrio® 4.3 cu. ft. capacity High Efficiency Top-Loading Washer

$

H O M E S E R V I C E S

Enwise 1.888.580.6160enwisehomeservices.com

Enwise Helps You Save In More Ways.

Choose from a full line of energy saving products & services installed by licensed professionals.

Heating & Cooling•Tankless Water Heaters•Attic & Wall Insulation•HEPA Air Filtration•Service & Maintenance•

Save the HST on select upgrades in May!*

*Some conditions apply. Please call for details.

OGH - EHS Quarter Page - Guaranteed Energy Savings MAY Offer.indd 1 4/29/2011 1:49:10 PM

Tier III

Tier III

This more compact Tier II washer has a Load Sensing Adaptive Fill that measures the laundry load size and will add just the right amount of water. It also saves energy with its PerfecTemp Temperature Management System that controls the water temperature to ensure the protection and longevity of the clothing. Although as-sembled in China, GE ensures that all materials comply with their Ecology, Hygiene and Security standards (EHS) and do not contain hazardous materials.

GE Energy Star King-size Capacity Frontload Washer with Stainless Steel Basket This dryer, built in Canada, uses less energy through

the incorporation of a moisture sensor and a cool down option. The moisture sensor stops the machine once the clothing is dry, while the cool down period allows for the machine to turn off the heat during the last minutes of the cycle to finish the drying process. These products, under GE’s implementation of the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances, do not contain any hazardous material.

GE Super Capacity Electric Dryer White

This front-loader Tier III certified washer is a higher end, high-efficiency machine. Its array of options provide the user with a machine that adapts to their material needs. This washer provides a variety of temperature options, including an Eco Cold Wash, which uses cold water and foam to effectively clean clothes using 65 per cent less energy than the normal hot water cycle. Shipped from South Korea, Samsung has reduced the use of hazardous materials in their products through a stringent Eco-Partner Certification System.

Samsung High Efficiency Front Load Washer with PowerFoam and Steam

$$

This large capacity dryer has a Mixed Load Bell feature which indicates when certain materials can be removed. This is useful for large loads containing heavier clothing. The dryer also uses steam, which both dries the clothing as well as smoothes wrinkles, reducing the need to iron creased clothing. This Samsung model is Woolmark Certified, which handles wool garments without shrinking or tearing.

Samsung Front Load Electric Steam Dryer

$$

Bosch’s Advanced SensoTronic® II Plus allots the ap-propriate volume and temperature of water for each load. This front-loading washer spins up to a maximum of 1200 rpm, which removes more water and therefore requires less drying time and energy as a result. The washer is also Tier II certified for its efficiency. Bosch’s 29 manufacturing sites rely on local suppliers, thereby decreasing transportation costs for their parts.

Bosch Stackable Front Load Washer This drier has nine different drying cycle options and has a DuoTronic system that uses two different measures: temperature-difference and residual moisture, to determine the most efficient drying option for the clothing. Once the laundry is done, the machine will automatically shut off to conserve energy. Bosch keeps its carbon footprint small by using local suppliers while also reducing their waste output by collecting and sort-ing their materials. As a result Bosch presently recycles 92 per cent of its total waste volume.

Bosch® Axxis Electric Vented Dryer

$

$$

$

$$

To help you save energy, this LG steam dryer has a Sen-sor Dry System that measures moisture during the cycle, and automatically adjusts the drying time and tempera-ture. Both the LG washer and dryer are shipped from South Korea, but the company has a comprehensive GHG emission reduction strategy and targets in place for the product manufacturing process.

LG 7.4 cu.ft. SteamDryer™This washer’s best feature may be its ColdWash™ tech-nology, which LG claims gives warm water performance in cold using “enhanced washing motions to penetrate deep into fabrics.” Energy Star qualified and CEE Tier III, this washer has very high energy and water efficien-cy. LG says its steam washer has been designed for easy recycling and the cabinet has been reduced in size and weight for minimized resource consumption.

LG 4.8 cu. ft. Front-Load SteamWasher™

$$$

$$$


Tier III

Tier II

Tier III

Tier II

When your brand new washing machine arrives on your doorstep, you’ve made a consider-able investment. What most people forget is that the impact of this investment goes far beyond the next credit card statement. It shows up on every water and hydro bill. Natural Resource Canada calls this cost your “Second Price Tag” or the long term cost of running your machine. This secondary expenditure is a good reason to take into consideration the type of machine you are buying and the amount of water and energy it uses. The selection of washing ma-chines that you evaluate to make your choice should include one that is front loading. To get an idea of what your secondary costs would look like we take a look at two wash-ing machines that have similar tub capacities, with the one major difference that one is a top loader and the other is a front loader. The two important numbers to look for are the annual water consumption indicated by litres/year and the annual energy consumption listed as kWh/year. Natural Resource Canada lists all EnergyStar Certified machines on its website. The annual energy consumption of an appliance can also be found on the EnerGuide label that is attached to every machine.

The City of Toronto General Water Rate is $2.2842 per cubic meter of water (m3, 1000 litres) Dividing the annual water consumption by 1000 litres and then multiplying it by the General Water Rate is how much it will cost for the water an average family washing machine uses annually.

With our comparison example washers, the front loader saves more than $20.00 at current water rates, annually. The cost of electricity differs during peak and off-peak times, so we’ll use the average electricity rate from the Ministry of Natural Resources of $0.1001per kWh to calculate our electricity costs.

The average household will save over $10.00 in washing electricity costs annually by using a front loading washing machine, but greater savings transfer to your dryer, as front loading washing machines remove more water from your clothing, decreasing the drying energy cost.

When we add the annual electricity savings to the annual water cost and multiply it by 18 years — the life expectancy of a washing machine we can estimate the total return on upgrading to a front loader.

The Maytag 5.0 front loading washing machine lists at approximately $1,100 dollars, whereas the top loading machine costs a little less at $1,000. Thus, your investment of less than $150 (including tax) to upgrade to, the top loading machine will pay back on its energy use at least fourfold during its lifetime.

The amount of energy used to dry an average family’s washing over a year in a standard dryer is 937 kWh. Based on our current electricity cost, this equates to $93.70 per year, so over the dyer’s lifetime, about $1686.60. The reduction in this cost is a significant bonus above and beyond the washing machine energy savings we have calculated.

One last consideration is the direction our energy rates are going. If they rise during the life of your machine, so do your savings.

What does the energy math tell us? Drop the lid of that top loader and take a front loader for a spin.


number of litres/year 1000 litres = cunic meters (m3) cubic metres ×general water rate = annual water cost Example: 27940 litres/year 1000 litres = 27.9427.94 m3/year × $2.2842/m3=$63.82/year

Example Annual water consumption

Toronto general water rate

Annual watercost

Top Loader 27.94 m3 $2.2842/m3 $63.82/year Front Loader 17.64 m3 $2.2842/m3 $40.29/year

kWh/year × Average Ontario Electricity Rate = annual electricity costExample: 277 kWh/year × $0.1001 kWh = $27.72/year

Energy Math: LaundryCalculating the payback on front loading washing machines

Azra Fazal is a researcher with Our Green Home and Corporate Knights Magazine and a student at the University of Waterloo.

Annual Water Cost

Annual Electricity Cost

Total Annual Cost

Second Price Tag

Top Loader $63.82/year $27.72/year $91.54/year $1647.72 Front Loader $40.29/year $16.81/year $57.10/year $1027.80 Total Savings $25.53/year $10.91/year $34.44/year $619.92

Example Maytag 5.0 Top Loader Maytag 5.0 Front Loader

Annual water consumption 27 940 litres/year 17 640 litres/year

Example Annual electricity consumption

Ontario general electricity rate

Annual electricitycost

Top Loader 277 kWh/year $0.1001/kWh $27.72/year Front Loader 168 kWh/year $0.1001/kWh $16.81/year

You’ll find our complete range of product ratings, research commentary and energy saving tips at:

.C A


Save up to $125 a year on electricity costs by having your old fridge or

freezer removed, FREE of charge.*If you have a fridge or freezer that is 15 years old or more and in working condition, the Ontario Power Authority will haul it out of your home and recycle it in an environmentally-friendly way, FREE of charge. Window air conditioners and dehumidifi ers† can also be removed if you book an appointment for at least one eligible fridge or freezer.

For complete details or to book an appointment, visit torontohydro.com/pickup or call 1.877.797.9473 today.

Subject to additional terms and conditions found at torontohydro.com/pickup. *Fridges and freezers must be 15 years of age or more, in working condition and between 10-27 cubic feet. Access conditions apply. †Window air conditioners and dehumidifi ers must be 10 years of age or more and in working condition. Funded by the Ontario Power Authority and offered by Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited. A mark of the Province of Ontario protected under Canadian trademark law. Used under sublicence. OMOffi cial Mark of the Ontario Power Authority. Used under licence. The fi gure and star design is a registered trademark of Toronto Hydro Corporation used under licence.


Shop online at: eco-building.ca905.841.3535ECO Building Resources Ltd. 136 Wellington St. East, Aurora, ON

People-Safe, Non-Toxic Building Products!

ECOECO

Insulation

LED LightingECOECO

Stains & Finishes

Sealant & AdhesivesECOECO

Flooring

Fencing

ECO_Build_ad_4.5x2.93.indd 1 15/02/11 4:10 PM

Products that help you saveThe Bagster Bag is an ideal solution for home

renovation clean-up. This “collapsible bin” can be conveniently stored until you’re ready to start your project. Much more manageable than a dumpster, a single Bagster can hold up to 1500 kg of waste and debris, the equivalent of 18 large trash bags. When The Bagster is full, Waste Management, the en-vironmentally progressive waste hauling and processing company, provides a reliable col-lection service. Pickups can be scheduled and

paid for online at thebagster.com. The Bagster Bag is available at home improvement retailers,

including participating Home Depot locations. Further information: www.wmcanada.com

The Bagster

This long handle, square point shovel is a sturdy, versatile tool perfect for all kinds of yard work. As part of the Enviro collection, it has a 20 per cent recycled steel blade, is powder coated with 75 per cent recycled paint and has a Forest Stewardship Council certified hardwood handle. Unlike products made with virgin materials, this tool directly contrib-utes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Reasonably priced and Canadian-made, the Enviro shovel is a great choice for environmentally friendly gardening. You can dig one up at Rona, The Home Depot, Ace or T.S.C. Hardware Stores.

Garant Enviro Square Point Shovel

ARXX reFIT is a greener and easier way to finish and insulate basements and interior spaces. Installation requires fewer steps, less labor, and less material than conventional insulation meth-ods. The result? A comfortable, well-insulated space which saves you money on heating and cooling costs, with a 13.9 R-value for the insu-lated walls. Made from Expanded Polystyrene, reFIT is an environmentally considerate product. The lightweight, vertically interlocking insulation panels require no vapour barrier and do not off-gas, emitting no CFCs, HCFCs or VOCs. More information: www.refiticf.com.

ARXX reFit Insulationf you’re looking for a stylish and affordable way to

take advantage of MicroFIT programs or gener-ate power off the grid, the WT6500 Wind Turbine produces approximately 1500kWh of energy per year under typical Southern Ontario wind conditions and over 2500kWh in high wind locales. This award-winning, gearless turbine is small, lightweight, makes

less noise and has more output than traditional turbine designs. Its enclosed perimeter design with multi-stage blades allows quick reaction to changes in wind speeds and shrouds the system so it is more distinguishable to wildlife. More information: http://soneparcanada.com/

Honeywell Wind Turbine

The PowerCost Monitor makes it easy to track energy consumption in your home. With electricity rates on the rise, under-standing where and when we use energy is crucial to usage reduction. The Power-Cost Monitor collects data via an optical sensor, which attaches to the electricity me-ter outside your home with a single screw. Collected data is easily accessible with an in-home monitor or via a WiFi connection. You can use the Google PowerMeter or Microsoft Hohm applications to chart your data, find energy savings, and discover phantom power load. Available at Lowe’s.

PowerCost Monitor

Meenu Deol is a publishing assistant at Our Green Home and yoga instructor in Toronto.

CLIENT: OES TRIM: 9" w x 9.125" h PUBLICATION: Our Green Home MagazineJOB #: OP-1031- Earth-

OGHMLIVE:

DESCRIPTION: FP, 4C BLEED: INSERTION DATE: April 23, 2011

1910 Yonge St., Toronto, ONT: 416 484-1959

DO THE WORLD A FAVOUR

Reduce.Reuse.

Recycle.Rethink end-of-life

electronics.Most of your electronics – at home, the cottage or the offi ce – can be reused, refurbished or recycled at

hundreds of no-charge drop off spots across Ontario.

Rethink it. Unwanted electronics are not garbage. And remember,

protect your personal information. Clear your hard drives and

SIM cards before bringing back for reuse or recycling.

For a full list of what’s included, and locations near you, access our

website or toll-free number.

1-888-646-1820

Date post:	07-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	paul-cassel
View:	217 times
Download:	0 times

Our Green Home Spring 2011

Documents