Canadian cities going green on roads and in buildings

August 18, 2010 — Jennifer

MONTREAL — Vancouver has vowed to become the greenest city in the world by 2020. New condos in Toronto are going up without any parking spaces. Regina is doing away with one-way streets to improve public transit access in a revitalized downtown.

And in Montreal’s trendy Plateau Mont-Royal borough, Mayor Luc Ferrandez is doing his best to bring a little more country into the city.

“We’re looking at streets and asking ourselves, ‘Is it really useful’,” he said in a recent interview. “We’ve identified about 20 streets that are not useful, that can be taken out and retransformed into green spaces.”

Concerns about the environment have topped opinion polls for the last five to 10 years, says Pascoal Gomes, a spokesman for Montreal’s Urban Ecology Centre.

But in ever-increasing numbers, people — and cities — are acting on those concerns…

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Posted by: The Canadian Press
Date: August 15, 2010

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Vancouver Soccer Field Made of 22,000 Recycled Tires

July 21, 2010 — Jennifer

Still miss soccer after the World Cup is over? You can watch Vancouver’s own Lions and Wave teams in action at the recently completed Empire Field Stadium. What is interesting about this stadium is that it is made with more than 22,000 recycled tires!

Halfway across the globe from the World Cup in South Africa, a soccer story in Vancouver is making headlines for reasons other than officiating. Vancouver’s Empire Field Stadium has installed a sports field that used 346,000 pounds of crumb rubber made from tires, courtesy of Liberty Tire Recycling.

The field is now the largest installation of crumb rubber in all of British Columbia, and offers other benefits besides the reuse of 22,450 scrap tires.

Please click for the full article by Trey Granger on Earth911

Posted in Eco-Design, Environmental. No Comments »

Eco Friendly Whiteboard Paint Turns Any Wall Into an Artistic Canvas

June 21, 2010 — Jennifer

I’m sure most of you have heard of chalkboard paint, now how about whiteboard paint? Drawing on walls won’t get you in trouble anymore. Check out IdeaPaint’s new tabrasa™ paint that transforms an ordinary wall into a dry erase board! Not only is this paint innovative, it’s also eco-friendly!

Find out more by clicking here!

Article by: Evelyn Lee
Date: June 17, 2010

Posted in Cool Products, Eco-Design, Environmental. No Comments »

Products That Are Earth-and-Profit Friendly

June 17, 2010 — Jennifer

As the world’s greatest soccer players take to the fields at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, many are wearing jerseys made almost entirely from plastic bottles rescued from landfills in Japan and Taiwan.

It is, if nothing else, good publicity for Nike, the maker of the jerseys and the official sponsor of nine teams, including the United States, Brazil and Portugal.

Yet what many might view as a gimmick is also part of a broadening effort by the company to incorporate sustainability, or environmentally responsible practices, into its product design. Around the globe, a growing number of manufacturers are including more recyclable or biodegradable components into products.

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Posted By: Sindya N. Bhanoo
Date: June 11, 2010

Posted in Cool Products, Environmental. No Comments »

Eco Friendly Father’s Day Finds to Delight Every Dad

June 14, 2010 — Jennifer

Confused about what to get your father for Father’s Day? Here are a few eco-friendly ideas that might come in handy when picking out the perfect gift.

Finding just the right Father’s Day gift can be tricky. Throw in the eco friendly element and it can be downright frustrating! We’re not sure why, but dads seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to their special day, with many of us throwing in the towel and going with the obligatory tie. But, this year, you’re in luck, because we have found some of the coolest gifts and gadgets on the market. Whether dad is artsy or athletic, business minded or boyish at heart, there is an eco friendly Father’s Day gift for every type! Dad and the planet will thank you…

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Posted by: Bonny Osterhage

Posted in Eco-Design, Environmental, Links. No Comments »

An eco-friendly family adventure across the world

June 14, 2010 — Jennifer

Can you imagine traveling around the world without the use of any motorized transport? Now imagine doing that with three small children.

Katmandu, Nepal (CNN) — Traveling around the world with children is difficult enough, but attempting it without using motorized transport is even more of a challenge.

But Dario Schworer, a 42-year-old climatologist and mountain guide, and his 33-year-old wife Sabine Schworer-Ammaun are on a mission to do just that.

The Swiss couple want to travel across the world’s oceans and climb the highest mountain on every continent to promote Earth-friendly ways of life.

“We are collecting good examples of dealing with climate change and living in harmony with nature and spreading such ideas,” Schworer told CNN. “We want to help people cope [who are] affected by global warming and inspiring children for the future.”

In Katmandu recently after having spent three months teaching children in the Everest region (Schworer also climbed Everest, although he didn’t reach the summit), the intrepid couple told CNN that they want to show it is possible to travel through all the world’s climate zones using just human-power and the forces of nature…

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Posted by: Manesh Shrestha, for CNN
Date: June 9, 2010

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Three Best Ways to Become Eco-Friendly

June 14, 2010 — Jennifer

As images of the Gulf oil spill disaster continue to flash on TV monitors, small-business owners may be thinking about how their ventures can help safeguard the environment.

Going green can be just as beneficial for small companies as large concerns. Not only is it good for the Earth, but customers and employees might request “eco-friendly” products and practices. And, adopting environmentally sound practices may even produce cost savings.

For any entrepreneur with a new commitment to green, there are several simple business practices to adopt, says Greg Unruh, author of “Earth, Inc.: Using Nature’s Rules to Build Sustainable Profits.” One the easiest is to make a conscious effort to buy sustainable business supplies, such as energy-efficient light bulbs, recycled binders and pens with nontoxic ink. Most manufacturers “now identify products they sell that are environmentally friendly,” explains Mr. Unruh, also a professor of global business at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Ariz. “You don’t have to do the research on your own.”

Finding green advice is also easy these days. Many sites, including Planet Green, Sierra Club and Mother Nature Network provide tips on everything from maximizing computer efficiency to ramping up office recycling efforts…

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Posted by: Sarah E. Needleman
Date: June 11, 2010

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Bike to Work Week

June 1, 2010 — Jennifer

Bike to Work Week is May 31 – June 6, 2010. The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition encourages people to try biking to work, and celebrates with those who already do. Watch for commuter stations – celebratory pit stops along bike routes – where you can grab free food and drinks, bike maps, bike maintenance, and fabulous prizes. Participants are also eligible to win a new bike for recruiting the most co-workers or recording your commute online. Awards will also be given for workplaces with the highest participation, kilometers, and number of trips logged. Simply track your progress online. Visit www.biketoworkmetrovan.ca

Posted by: Architectural Institute of British Columbia
Date: May 31, 2010

Posted in Environmental. No Comments »
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