Feeling a little carbon logged? Need to lose a few carbon tonnes? This blog is for you!
Each week I offer tasks and tips to help you and me reduce our carbon footprints. The goal: to be 60% carbon slim by 2015, a little less than 10% per year.
In a surprise move, unelected Conservative Senators defeated Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act 43 to 32 without debate and before being sent to committee. The last time something like this happened was 70 years ago.
This demonstrates a profound lack of respect for the will of the majority of elected representatives.This troubling development also sets a dangerous precedent, calling to questions future legislation supported by elected Members of Parliament.
Now in the weeks leading to the climate summit in Cancun, the Canadian government has further demonstrated its disinterest in meaningful action on one of the most pressing problem of our time.
It is important to let our elected MPs, the Prime Minister and the unelected Senate know that this action is not cool. Please contact:
In September I urged you to contact Senators to support Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act. The Conservative Senate was to debate the bill and we were to encourage its passage into law.
It’s an important piece of legislation. If passed into law, the Climate Change Accountability Act will set science based emissions reductions, require the government to produce five year target plans, establish independent reviews, and punish polluters who break regulations.
There’s a problem. The critic of the bill, Senator Neufeld, is not debating it. Now part of me thinks that this is just grand, but – it’s stalling the process. The ball is in Neufeld’s court, and yet he is not picking it up.
This is not just a climate issue anymore. It’s a democracy issue. The majority of elected representatives passed the bill in May. The Conservatives are now delaying it indefinitely in the unelected Senate.
The Conservatives are in a tricky situation. The optics are terrible. They don’t want to appear that they are the bad guys when it comes to climate change. Their talk is supportive (their actions are not). Harper also campaigned on government transparency and an elected Senate. Their talk is supportive….
So why are unelected Conservative Senators stalling due process on a bill passed by elected representatives? They are banking on an apathetic public not making noise on a bill that can languish for months on end until perhaps (hopefully they feel) an election is called and the whole thing dies.
Well I tell you, apathy sucks. It’s time we kick it in the ass.
Senator Mitchell, who introduced and is championing the bill, asks everyone to write or call Senators Neufeld and LeBreton (Leader of the Government of the Senate) to urge them to stop stalling the bill. He tells me that our letters matter.
Please write a handwritten letter to the Senators in question. A handwritten letter means you’re serious. You took the time. The issue matters to you. No one writes handwritten letters anymore, except for people who are serious and those who grew up writing handwritten notes and are still happy with their penmanship. I’m sure your penmanship is fine.
Or call them. I’m now calling Senator Neufeld every day after a Senate session devoid of Bill C-311 debate. If you call him, you will have a 99 percent chance of leaving him a message either on a machine or with an actual human being. Tell him you are watching progress on the bill and would like to know why he hasn’t debated it and when he plans to.
I have put so much work into this. I’m asking you to take a half hour to a few minutes out of your day. Please contact Senators Neufeld and LeBreton. They cannot get away with ignoring important climate legislation that our elected officials supported. They can’t. The only people who can stop them are us.
It’s been a tough week, certainly here in Toronto. Forty-seven percent of those who voted chose a right wing mayor, making true what so many feared for months. Mayor Ford has vowed to devote the city’s congested streets to cars, ripping up streetcars and halting progress on bike lanes.
South of the border Americans brace themselves for a Republican sweep during the mid-term elections on Tuesday. Most of the about-to-be-elected politicians espouse serving the ‘market’ interests, while stripping the public sector. Oh, and they don’t believe in climate change.
Pundits of course are weighing in. George Monbiot, the UK’s climate activist journalist, argues in a recent article “The Values of Everything” that extrinsic values (“what about me”) have overtaken intrinsic values (“what about the community”). Progressives need to understand this and work to shift societal attitudes back to the intrinsic side, he argues.
Henry Giroux goes further, predicting the eminent collapse of democracy in America. In his recent article in Truth Out he writes: “young people are increasingly presented with a future in which there is no language of democracy, justice, solidarity and the public good. Instead, they offered a language that maximizes self interest, undermines any shared sense of purpose and devalues public service. Under such conditions the formative culture necessary for critical citizens and a vibrant democracy collapses into a Hobbesian world in which the competitive, self-absorbed, unattached, materialistic individual consumer is the only meaningful category of citizenship.”
This is a dark vision. It certainly seems we’re headed in that direction. Kunstler’s predictions in his book The Long Emergency are not only coming true (he predicted the subprime mortgage crisis) but seem to be taking a very dark turn.
And yet, one gets a sense that a counter movement is brewing. It’s organizing. It’s learning. I’m listening in on teleconferences of the Citizen Climate Lobby where American citizens share how they are engaging congresspersons to adopt a fee and dividend approach to climate change. Reduce income tax and tax carbon to prompt market signals to invest in renewable energy. For them legislative failure on climate action is a citizens’ failure. They are adopting a methodology, proven successful through RESULTS, an organization that addresses poverty, to effectively lobby for legislative action. These are citizens bringing intelligence and passion to the democratic process for the betterment of all communities. I and two other Canadians are in initial stages to build our own Citizen Climate Lobby groups here in this country.
I also just became a member of Transition Toronto, a local organization that is part of the global Transition Town movement for a low-carbon economy.
If you feel the world is going to hell in a hand basket, you’re right it is. That doesn’t mean we give up in despair. The world needs you. It needs me. I encourage you to connect with your local movement. Find your local Transition Town and become a member. If your town doesn’t have one, create it. Connect. The likelihood that we will see profound change in the next 20 years is great. The end of cheap oil is here. The carbon heavy economy isn’t doing so well. It’s not going to get better. Be part of a positive grassroots movement that will help you become more resilient, prepared and connected.
Still depressed? For those of you in Toronto, Ford will likely not scrap the streetcars. Too expensive. City Council will likely act as a brake to much of his other crazy campaign promises. It’s going to be a struggle, no doubt. But all is not lost.
Finally, I want to leave you with this. Please view it. It’s inspirational.
Today is Blog Action Day, a once-a-year blogging fest focused on one pressing theme. This year, we’re blogging about water.
Water is so incredibly precious yet so completely taken for granted. If you don’t think so, have a gander at the sobering facts listed below. Access to clean water is becoming more of a challenge now with billions of people clamouring for access, global warming and industrial use.
Global warming is helping to create both deluge, such as in Pakistan, and scarcity, as what we are starting to see in the American southwest and the Canadian prairies. Glaciers are melting, affecting rivers systems that support farms, and rainfall patterns are shifting, placing a big question mark around traditional planting regions. Canada’s water expert, Dr. David Schindler warns of a century of chronic drought in the Prairies. It certainly doesn’t help that the tar sands are poisoning river systems such as the Athabasca. According to the Pembina Institute, toxic substances become concentrated in tar sands tailing lakes. These lakes may be leaking into the surrounding environment at a rate of 11 million litres per day.
I don’t even want to begin with the oceans, which are 30 percent more acidic than they used to be when we started burning fossil fuel.
So what can we do? Enough with the depressing facts (for your reading pleasure I list more below). How can we take action? As an advocate for carbon slimming, I encourage people to find out how much they ‘weigh’ and commit to shedding at least 10% their carbon weight per year.
As with carbon calculators, you can measure your water consumption via a Waterfootprint Calculator. It asks you to figure out how many kilograms of certain foods you eat per week, which can be difficult to do. I’m not sure how I measure up to the average North American. Probably pretty good considering I don’t eat meat.
Most Effective Way to Reduce your Water Footprint and Help Protect our Water
Eat less meat. Did you know that it takes 24 litres of water to produce one hamburger? That means it would take over 19.9 billion litres of water to make just one hamburger for every person in Europe. Imagine the hamburgers consumed in North America, and, well, yowza! Not only that, but factory farms are one of the leading causes of water pollution.
Buy less stuff. Industry is a big user and waster of water. Reuse. Swap. Purchase items that the repair person can easily repair. Donate items you don’t use anymore. Focus on services rather than stuff for yourself and when buying gifts. More Info
Don’t waste food and support local & organic farms. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, for every dollar you spend on fruits, vegetables and grains, 2355 litres or 622 gallons of water has been used. So much food is thrown out because it doesn’t conform to retail standards on what sells. Support your local organic farm and embrace the crooked carrot.
Say no to bottled water and yes to stainless steel containers. The US, Mexico and China lead the world in bottled water consumption, with people in the US drinking an average of 200 bottles of water per person each year. Over 17 million barrels of oil are needed to manufacture those water bottles, 86 percent of which will never be recycled. More Info »
Be mindful of the water you consume. The average American uses 159 gallons of water every day – more than 15 times the average person in the developing world. More Info »
More Sobering Facts About Water
Technology Footprint: The shiny new iPhone in your pocket requires half a litre of water to charge. That may not seem like much, but with over 80 million active iPhones in the world, that's 40 million litres to charge those alone. More Info »
Fashion Footprint: That cotton t-shirt you're wearing right now took 1,514 litres of water to produce, and your jeans required an extra 6,813 litres. More Info »
Waste Overflow: Every day, 2 million tons of human waste are disposed of in water sources. This not only negatively impacts the environment but also harms the health of surrounding communities. More Info »
Polluted Oceans: Death and disease caused by polluted coastal waters costs the global economy $12.8 billion a year. More Info »
Uninhabitable Rivers: Today, 40% of America's rivers and 46% of America's lakes are too polluted for fishing, swimming, or aquatic life. More Info »
10/10/10 10/10/10 is just around the corner. Be part of the largest global day of action in history by joining or creating a climate change work party.
I’ll be attending the Mushroom Walk & Letter-Writing Campaign near Owen Sound, followed by a family Thanksgiving feast. Special thanks to Margot and Doug Miller for arranging this event.
Results of our Home Energy Audit We finally received the results of our home energy audit. As you may recall our first audit concluded that our 90-year old house was 43% efficient. The GreenSaver auditor prioritized a series of recommendations to tighten the house. He advised that if we followed the recommendations we could increase our house’s efficiency to 76%.
Well, we did it.
The efficiency rating of our once insulation-free house is now 76. It cost us roughly $40,000 to retrofit our house. Together the federal and provincial governments will cover a quarter of the cost. Our auditor was pleased to report that we are the third client he’s ever had to reach the maximum grant allowance of $10,000.
When I began this blog way back in 2006 I hoped that in my journey to become carbon slim I could eventually slim up the house that Jane and I were about to buy. We’ve come a long way from simply changing the light bulbs to compact fluorescents. The investment to retrofit the house was huge, but worth it.
Jane and I have noticed a big improvement in the comfort of our home. We’ve also seen remarkable savings in our gas bill. I don’t know if it’s due to adjustments in the fixed amounts we pay each month, but our gas company gave us significant credits over the summer. Last year we paid $1258 between January and September. This year, we paid just $397 during the same period. I doubled checked the invoices because I couldn’t believe it. The savings in gas consumed is 279 m3 thus far.
I’m just happy to know we're more carbon slim than ever before.
To follow our home energy audit journey, click here.
Blog Action Day is October 15th – Topic: Water Next week I’ll take part in Blog Action Day’s spotlight on water.
Be part of the largest global movement in history on October 10th. Bill Mckibben, renown author, activist, and founder of 350.org is once more calling for a global communal response to the climate crisis. Last year we mobilized on October 24th. It was considered the largest activist event in history. As of today 5,249 10/10/10 events have been registered online, beating last year’s figure of 5,248. Where our political leaders fail us, citizens of the world are taking action.
In an email sent today to 350.org members, Mckibben writes: “I'm a bit tired, but am feeling completely recharged by today's milestone. It sure is nice to know that this movement is growing bigger all the time.” Ok, so What’s a 10/10/10 Work Party? According to the 350.org website, the concept of a work party derives from traditions of various cultures such as the minga in the Andes. All of these cultures have in common the idea of bringing their whole community together for a day of collective work, usually to complete a project that will benefit the whole community. These traditions are often typically followed by a fun event involving food and music to celebrate the big accomplishment. For 10/10/10, folks are invited to join forces with others in their communities to complete a sustainability project that will benefit the community, and help make carbon reduction tangible – and fun – for everyone. People are organizing bicycle workshops, reforestations, solar panel installations, apple pressing and so on.
Jane and I will celebrate Thanksgiving with family near Owen Sound. We’ve been invited to join a 10/10/10 community guided mushroom walk led by a mycologist to learn how to uncover mushrooms – the ones that won’t kill us when we eat them, or do strange and curious things to our minds. I’ll also engage the family in a letter writing campaign to urge Senators to pass Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act. I am hearing from some Liberal Senators that the Conservatives are stalling debate on the Bill.
350.org Wiki – To learn more about taking action in your community, and to share your experiences, visit the 350.org Wiki at http://wiki.350.org/
I’ve just finished the first chapter of Mckibben’s new book Eaarth. I tell you, it’s probably the most sobering piece of news I’ve ever read. We need to work together immediately to reduce our carbon output, and make our communities economically diverse and resilient. The stable climate we’ve depended on during our civilized existence is now dramatically changing and it’s only going to get worse. Oh, and our resources have begun to dwindle. So we either work together, reduce our carbon emissions and strengthen our communities, or we ignore the warning signs and develop no skills to handle the onslaught of food and water shortages, natural disasters and economic crashes as a result of dwindling resources. Green Halloween with SwapSity SwapSity is offering a creative way to save money this Halloween season. Instead of shopping for costumes, decorations and accessories, eco-minded individuals can swap for them. Why buy a costume you'll only wear for a few hours when you can trade for a gently-used ensemble that's new to you?
SwapSity has two ways to save money during Halloween. Members can participate in the online swap and post all the adult and kids costumes, pumpkin carving sets and decorations no longer needed and barter for something they really want. On October 2nd, they're also holding a face-to-face swap meet in downtown Toronto to help everyone recycle their Halloween themed items. Parents can bring in their child's outgrown black cat accessories and pick up a superhero costume or trade in tombstone lawn decorations for a new sound effects CD to play during trick-or-treating. Adult costumes and accessories are also barter-worthy. To learn more, visit http://www.swapsity.ca/pages/halloween_2010
Carbon Audit Update GreenSaver conducted the second audit last week. All went well. Haresh Patel, our auditor, predicts we’ll receive at least $8,000 in government grant money for all the work we did. Haresh noted a few minor leeks in unusual places. I have a wee bit more caulking to do. In the meantime, Jane and I are waiting on Haresh’s report to find out how we did in improving our home’s energy efficiency.
Urge Senators to Pass Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act This is something I’ve thrown myself into. I’ve put a lot of work into it, so you don’t have to.
Canada is close to passing the Climate Change Accountability Act, but it's under threat by Conservative Senators. Parliamentarians passed the Bill (C-311) in May. Now the Bill needs the support of 53 Senators. Of the 105 Senators, 52 are Conservative.
The situation is precarious. Years of hard work to get the Act to this point could prove meaningless if it does not get the support from all 53 opposition Senators: 49 Liberal Senators, two Progressive Conservatives and two Independents.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is calling on its members to lobby the Senate to oppose the Bill. Join me in a concerted citizen campaign in support of Bill C-311. The Bill resumes debate on September 28th.
What’s the Big Deal? – If passed into law, the Climate Change Accountability Act will set science based emissions reductions, require the government to produce five year target plans, establish independent reviews, and punish polluters who break regulations. It will also position Canada as a global leader in the transition to a low carbon economy.
I heard Dr. James Hansen, one of the world’s top climatologists, speak in Toronto on Wednesday. Dr. Hansen heads NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He’s been sounding the climate action clarion call for decades. Dr. Hansen reminded us that addressing climate change is a moral issue. The safe level of greenhouse gas parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere is 350. In the past, natural global warming has taken place at a rate of .0001 ppm. Currently, we are experiencing an increase of an astonishing 2 ppm per year. According to Hansen, if we burn all the fossil fuel left on the planet, the greenhouse gases will constitute 1000 ppm in our atmosphere.
What to do - Please visit http://www.trunity.net/climateresponse/topics/view/53728/ for sample letters to Senators and their emails. Just cut and paste. Easy. If you have a bit more time and love strategy, cut and paste the sample letters to the CEOs of insurance companies and financial firms, who are Chamber of Commerce members. The letters ask them to lobby the Senate to support the Bill. I also include contact details. Please send these letters off and spread the word.
On September 28th Senator Neufeld will speak out against the Bill when the Senate resumes debate on it. Let's bombard the Senate with emails. Soon I will craft sample targeted emails to Liberal Senators, PC Senators and the Independents, and upload them onto the Climate Response campaign page.
Jane and I now have solar hot water, and a tankless water heater as backup. John Cannell of J. Melvin & Associates hooked up our Navien tankless system, which is rated 98 percent efficient (our hot water tank was 55 percent efficient). The tankless is also considerably smaller than the tank, measuring at 14 inches deep, 18 inches across and 27 inches high. As you may recall the tankless system heats water on demand. The hot water tank is just that, a tank that heats water 24/7. For a few days we relied solely on the tankless until GreenSaver returned with a plumber to hook the solar up to the tankless. We noticed that with the tankless the hot water took about 15 seconds to kick in, particularly with the bathroom sink. Oddly enough, hot water was instantaneous for the shower. However, once GreenSaver hooked up the solar, we receive hot water instantly in all faucets when the sun is out.
As I wrote earlier, the solar hot water will heat our water about 60 percent of the time (averaged out throughout the year), with the tankless unit heating water on demand when the sun is not shining.
All this took place in good time. The GreenSaver auditor returns September 10th for the second audit to determine our success in energy efficiency improvements. I just finished all the caulking inside. My last task was to lay down quarter round along the walls in the second bedroom and caulk them. That’s complete. We are now waiting on Gator Windows to replace the bathroom window with one that is Energy Star rated.
Once the second audit is done, I’ll report on how well we did in improving the energy efficiency of our home.
Support Wind Power - If you live in Ontario, I encourage you to tell the provincial government that you support wind power. The government is considering a 5km exclusion zone for off-shore wind power. This would kill any attempt to install wind turbines in Lake Ontario. The province is open for comments until Aug 24. Please visit the Toronto Environmental Alliance’s website for more information and a link to the provincial comment page - http://www.torontoenvironment.org/windmills/actnow
Help the People of Pakistan – Weather-related catastrophes are wrecking havoc around the world, chief of which is the mind-boggling devastation in Pakistan due to the flood. We have to kick donor fatigue in the butt, because I can tell you right now, this is a taste for more weather-related disasters to come. An easy way to give is through AVAAZ, which will direct donations to reputable relief agencies in the region - https://secure.avaaz.org/en/pakistan_relief_fund/?fp
solar + tankless hot water = emissions + dollar savings
Last week GreenSaver installed a solar hot water heater on our roof! Yes - a solar panel now sits on our roof! How cool is that!!! – Or, how hot is that, when the sun is out. When the sun is not out we will rely on our tankless water heater, which will be installed next Tuesday.
Recap – In March 2009, GreenSaver conducted a home energy audit on Jane and my house. We found out that it was 43 percent efficient. GreenSaver recommended installing a high efficiency furnace, insulating our attic and walls, caulking bulkheads and cracks, and installing Energy Star rated windows and doors and a tankless water heater. In so doing, GreenSaver estimated that we could bump up the efficiency of our house to 76 percent.
We did most of the work. We have a few last minute things to do, such as the tankless water heater. The second energy audit, scheduled for September 10th, will determine how well we did with the retrofits and instruct the government on how much grant money we will receive. Note that the federal government is no longer participating in the program, but will issue grants on audits made before March 31st.
Solar Hot Water – When I mentioned to someone that we just installed solar hot water her first reaction was that we can expect cold showers on cloudy days. Not so. The Solar Hot Water system works with either your hot water tank or a tankless system. On days when the solar panels are not generating enough heat, the hot water tank or tankless unit kicks in. You always have hot water.
The solar hot water heater reduces the need for your fossil fuel driven water heater, and can save up to 60 percent on your annual hot water heating costs. GreenSaver estimates that Jane and I will save 326 cubic meters of natural gas per year, which constitutes 16 percent of all natural gas we use annually. Through the EcoEnergy Program Jane and I will enjoy big savings through federal and provincial grants. The governments will together kick in $2,500 to offset the $5,500 system. With an additional discount through a GreenSaver sale, we will pay only $2,500 for a system that will save us money and greenhouse gas emissions for as long as we own our house.
Tankless – Hot water tanks are heated 24/7, even when hot water is needed only briefly throughout the day. To give you a sense of hot water tanks’ inherent energy-hog nature, the efficiency of our current, and fairly new, hot water tank is estimated at 55 percent. That’s pretty piggy. A tankless hot water system heats water on demand, saving you energy and money. A co-worker confided that she has noticed no difference in quality after installing her tankless system. Once our tankless unit is in place, GreenSaver will hook up the solar hot water heater.
My friend John Cannell will hook up our tankless unit, plug up the chimney where the hot water tank was vented, and install a programmable thermostat as well. We’re almost ready for our second energy audit. I'm looking forward to seeing the new efficiency rating for our house.
Some of you have been asking about my Carbon Slim blog. My apologies for the spotty installments. I’ve been busy writing to Canadian Senators and now, the President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, to stop plotting to kill Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Bill. The Bill is now before the Senate.
Things are little harry, what with the US Senate not doing a damn thing about climate change, despite 2010 being the hottest year on record. Governments are failing us because, let’s face it, they receive campaign money from big oil and coal, or believe we must hitch our economic wagon to oil and coal extraction.
350.org is mobilizing citizens through its 10.10.10 campaign. If governments won’t act, people will. Time is of the essence. It’s not time to give up. In five years time, if no significant action is taken on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, then god help us all.
I don’t know where you are, but it’s hot where I am. Really hot. So hot, this environmentalist can’t say enough about central air conditioning. I love it! I shudder when I think of the time I worked in a funky arts building that scored high marks on funkiness, but an ‘F’ on comfort during blistering humid days. By the afternooon, I was done. I couldn’t even function.
As thrilled I am with air conditioning, I’m not going crazy. The thermostat is set at 26 degrees Celsius until the temperature dips down, which it’s forecast to do in a few days. At that point, we’ll turn off the air conditioning, open the windows and let the ceiling fans do the work.
If it’s hot where you are, please set the air conditioning at about 25 degrees. Keep in mind that in places like Toronto, the vast majority are using their air conditioning. In order to keep up with demand, the utility will be tapping into its backup, which in Toronto means coal fire plants. Those smoggy humid days are only going to get smoggier.
If you live in Ontario, be sure to sign up for peaksaver. When you do, a signal will be sent during peak load times to reduce the electricity demand of your central air conditioning system. To learn more and sign up, visit www.peaksaver.com. It’s super easy and your utility will likely give you an added incentive.
For more tips on keeping cool while helping the planet stay cool, click here.
Much is happening on the carbon slim front. I’ve been quite active of late. The following is a quick recap.
Bill C-311 The Climate Change Accountability Bill is now before the Senate, which is dominated by the Conservatives, thanks to Mr. Harper. There is fear that this Bill, which sets science-based greenhouse gas emissions targets, will die before the non-elected Conservative-heavy Senate.
For a sample email or letter to send to Senators and a list of Senator emails click here. Please do send the message. It will take a quick minute of your time.
I sent the letter and received a reply from Conservative Senator Marjory LeBreton. Unimpressed with her arguments, I sent her a reply. Click here to read what I wrote to her and her colleagues in the Senate.
The Fake Lake Summit The G20 is coming to Toronto. You know, that billion dollar attempt to sideline the most important issues of our time and literally build a wall to separate the G-participants from the Toronto community. They are even building a fake lake because heaven forbid any G-20 representative leave the barrier zone to see a real Canadian lake or talk to ordinary folks. Due to mounting international pressure, Harper has finally agreed that the G-folks will likely talk about Climate Change when they meet.
Rather than yell my head off during the G20 Summit, I look forward to engaging in dialogue. This weekend I plan to attend the People’s Summit. For a list of other civic engagement opportunities around the Fake Lake Summit, click here.
Perhaps the best way to protest the astronomical security costs and pressing issues is for folks to stay away from the barrier, and engage in Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods through public theatre, soap box debate – anything to draw attention and encourage dialogue. Can you imagine all these security forces with all their toys with nothing to do? You think the expense looks bad now....
The Gulf Oil Leak The earth is hemorrhaging oil in the Gulf. Obama has called for criminal litigation into the BP disaster, as well as regulating the industry – finally. BP must pay fully for their crime, if anything to send a strong signal to all corporations that they simply cannot cut corners on public safety and the environment. And of course, the government, representing public interests, must once again regulate industry.
Despite this nightmare in the Gulf, Harper is considering off-shore drilling in the Arctic. The WWF is circulating a petition to halt this drilling until environmental protection is assured. Please sign it. Click here.
Gardening When I’m not writing to politicians, I’m gardening. This year I created a raised bed garden in an effort to produce greater yields. I dug out soil a spade deep, two feet by four, and laid in composted manure, and then added back the soil. I created about 10 beds in total. The loose fertilized soil encourages deeper root growth, which allows for vegetables to cozy up closer together. I was very late in preparing and seeding my garden this year. The veggies are growing, but are still fairly young. I just spent the last few days thinning out the beets, carrots and onions. It’s time labored work, but well worth it, especially when the dove coos while I garden.
Solar Hot Water Heater GreenSaver is assessing the best place for the solar hot water heater on our roof. They may need to build a base to place the system so that it lies flat on our peaked roof. I’ll find out in a week their recommendations.
Jane and I are about to embark on the final energy retrofit before calling in the energy auditor for our final assessment. We want to install a solar hot water heater and tankless hot water unit.
A quick recap Jane and I took advantage of the federal government’s EcoEnergy program in April 2009. An energy auditor from GreenSaver assessed our 90 year old home and rated its efficiency at 43 percent. Based on the auditor recommendations, we replaced the old furnace with a high efficiency one, had insulation pumped into the walls, attic and basement exterior header and replaced the windows and doors with ones that are Energy Star rated. I also went about caulking up the base boards and other cracks, and insulated the electrical outlets. The expected outcome is an improved efficiency of 76 percent.
The Empire Strikes Back Regrettably, on April 1st the Conservative government ended the popular EcoEnergy program that offered incentives, matched by the provinces, to Canadians to make their homes more energy efficient.
This decision does not affect Jane and me or others who received their audit before March 31st. It just makes it difficult for others who considered participating in the program. Here’s a thought for the feds: rather than subsidize oil, provide grants to Canadians who want to make their homes energy efficient, which will stimulate local jobs. Happily the provinces are still on board to provide the grants.
The Daring Duo - Solar Hot Water and Tankless Combined! As to the final retrofit act, I was torn. The auditor suggested a tankless hot water unit for our home. Rather than use a hot water tank that heated the water 24/7, the tankless system heats the water on demand. But I was also intrigued by the solar hot water system, which provides a savings of up to 60 percent on annual hot water heating costs. And solar is just so darn cool.
While at the Green Living Show, a representative from GreenSaver suggested I install both a solar hot water and the tankless system, and take advantage of the substantial rebates we will receive from the EcoEnergy program. How much will we save? GreenSaver’s solar hot water system and installation costs $5,500. The federal and provincial rebates at $2,500 almost cut that in half. With an additional GreenSaver promotion, the whole thing will cost us $2,500. We’d be foolish not to take advantage of this opportunity.
Meanwhile, the tankless system, which will serve as a backup to the solar system, alone can provide considerable savings on hot water as well. Prices and efficiency vary depending on the system, but the federal and provincial rebates will be up to $500.
We’re looking into getting a low interest loan through Alterna for the solar and the tankless systems and to pay off the loan in two years. The solar hot water system should last for 20 years.
Let’s face it. The news of late has been anything but uplifting. And while the Gulf Coast braces for the worst oil catastrophe in US history, I’m learning that more environmental nightmares are unfolding or are bound to happen if our governments continue to place industrial interests before environmental protection and public safety.
I’ve spent my week at the Hot Docs Festival in Toronto where I’m learning about how the US (and Canadian) governments are doing little to stop gas companies from seriously contaminating wells and rivers with natural gas and carcinogenic chemicals in their drilling practices (Gasland), and how Finland is the only country working on a ‘safe’ repository for its spent nuclear fuel (Into Eternity). Spent nuclear fuel remains radioactive for at least 100,000 years, likely more. Environmental protection laws get in the way of the bottom line which is why the current oil leak comes as no surprise. Scroll down below for the movie trailers. In Gasland, people can actually light fire to the contaminated water from their faucets.
But the good news. They did it!!
On May 5th, the majority of elected Canadian representatives voted in favour of Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Bill, for the final time. It was a close one. The vote was 149 to 136. Now it faces a Conservative Senate and three more readings before it becomes law. This may be tough. We’re not out of the woods yet. Next round will be about contacting senators to ask them to vote for the Bill. You know, the one supported by the majority of elected representatives.
What’s the Big Deal? – The Act will commit Canada to science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets. We absolutely cannot go beyond a two degree increase in greenhouse gases if we want to avoid runaway global warming, which could hit towards the end of this century. The Act will also mandate that the government set regulations to ensure they meet targets, including publicizing five year target plans and establishing independent reviews, and punish polluters who break regulations. It’ll make it much easier for all of us to go Carbon Slim!
“It is a great day for Canada as we finally have a blueprint for greening our future,” said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton. “We would not be here without the thousands of Canadians who called and wrote to their Members of Parliament, pushing them to finally adopt meaningful climate-change legislation.”
That’s you! A big thanks to everyone who contacted their MPs to support the Bill. Please do send them a follow up thank you email or letter, which they most rightly deserve (if they voted for it).
Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Bill, is moving on to third reading and final debate thanks to the vote in the House of Commons today. The motion to do so carried 155 in favour and 137 against. Jim Prentice, the Environment Minister, was one of 137 Conservative members who tried to prevent the Bill from moving on to the final stage.
Once the Bill becomes the Climate Change Accountability Act, Canada will have to observe science-based greenhouse gas emissions targets, and get serious about transitioning to a low carbon economy.
Thanks to those of you who wrote to your Member of Parliament. You were part of a concentrated effort nationwide to ensure MPs, particularly those from the Liberal Party, show up for the vote. For a list of those who voted in favour and those against, click here.
When Harper prorogued Parliament earlier this year, I was informed that a number of Bills died, including Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Bill.
As it turns out Bill C-311 is not dead yet. It is currently in third reading with a crucial vote slated for April 14.
What’s the Big Deal? – If passed, Bill C-311 will become the Climate Change Accountability Act, and would set Canada’s greenhouse gas targets at 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050 – targets scientists say would prevent dangerous global warming. The Conservative government’s current target is 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 (for more on our government’s behaviour on climate action, click here).
The Conservatives don’t like Bill C-311. They recently slated a vote on April 14 to determine whether it should go to third reading even though Parliamentarians voted yes it should during second reading a year ago. Because of the short notice, there is a fear that not enough MPs, particularly Liberals, will be around to vote. Sly Conservatives.
“If the vote fails, the Bill dies,” warns Andy Blair, Legislative Assistant to Bruce Hyer, MP Thunder Bay - Superior North.
This is where you come in. - Please email your MP to let them know you support Bill C-311 and that you request that they be present to vote in favour of it. The message can be short and sweet, but please write!
Earth Hour is on Saturday, March 27. This annual event by the World Wildlife Fund will see lights out in cities around the globe at 8:30pm local time. About a billion people are expected to participate in this symbolic event, where folks take action on climate change.
There is so much unused or forgotten stuff floating out there, or lodged in basements, closets or shelves, they often at some point end up in landfills. Why not extend their life a bit longer and in turn receive goods or services you really would use?
I believe that bartering is the perfect eco-friendly, community-building activity for artists in particular, but hey, for everyone too. So many artists develop a range of skills to augment their income: carpentry, handyman, jewelry making, furniture making, upholstery, cooking, cleaning, and so on. When work or money is hard to come by, why not trade services for services, or services for goods, or goods for goods?
This is all fine and good if there was a system set up to enable such a bartering market. Happily, there is – in Canada at least. It’s called SwapSity and on March 22, this by-invitation-only exchange is opening up to the public.
At the moment, the site is available in Ontario and British Columbia only, with the majority of active users in the Greater Toronto Area. SwapSity Founder, Marta Nowinska plans to expand the service to more provinces later this year.
“To the best of my knowledge, SwapSity is the first Canadian consumer bartering community for trading virtually all goods and services between individuals and within swap groups,” says Nowinska. “It's very exciting for us!”
Getting started with SwapSity is simple. Users create a list of all swappable items and skills and make a wish list of the things they want to receive in return while SwapSity instantly generates local matches to jumpstart swapping.
Users can communicate freely and decide whether they want to accept a swap offer, negotiate or decline it. They can also equalize uneven exchanges with cash. Once a deal is made, swappers exchange in person or ship the items. The transaction rating system establishes a member’s track record and builds trust within the barter community.
The membership is free and the site charges no transaction fees. The site also offers a user-friendly interface to keep track of multiple swap transactions.
If you prefer face-to-face swap meets, SwapSity organizes them in the Toronto area.
I have been very busy these past few months. I’ve been building a website! And now I’m launching it. The raison d’être of Climate Response is to act as an arsenal of information for those wanting to elevate the climate conversation in the media.
I started working away at it after bearing witness to the sloppy reporting of the Climate Day rally on Parliament Hill on Oct 24. And then I read Climate Cover Up, by James Hoggan, which chronicles how the fossil fuel industry has been spending big bucks on the climate change denier movement.
Recent trumped up ‘scandals’ connected to the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC), which collects the peer-reviewed work of more than 2000 scientists from 130 countries, has been under attack by climate change deniers. The scale of this attack is unprecedented. Never has the credibility of an entire body of scientists (we’re talking thousands here) been questioned in modern memory.
Climate Response is about as grassroots as you’re going to get. It’s a citizens’ movement to elevate the climate conversation. The site offers 'fast facts & stats' on climate change and the low carbon economy. Each fast fact is from websites, reports or journals of peer-reviewed scientists and economists, as well as government, agency and corporate reports. Facts & stats are categorized to assist members when writing to the media or government representatives.
I’m gathering troops. Join us. Be part of a level-headed approach to climate change. Armed with expert-backed facts, help elevate the public discourse on climate change and the transition to the low-carbon and sustainable economy. Visit www.climateresponse.ca and become a member. While you’re at it, become a Facebook Fan of Climate Response, and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/climresponse.
Due to my involvement with Climate Response, my Carbon Slim posts will dwindle down. I’ll still provide carbon slimming tips and news, just not as frequently as before.
For those of you who want to celebrate your big love without a big carbon footprint, the following are ideas and suggestions (particularly if you live in Toronto):
Flowers and chocolate Flowers and chocolate go together like ‘Organic’ and ‘Fair Trade’. For chocolate, Green & Blacks sell an assortment of Valentine’s chocolate that are light on the planet and support growers and their communities.
Dinner Romance over local and organic cuisine! Although, eating local during a Canadian winter is a bit of a challenge. Toronto’s Il Fornelo offers local choices. For a list of eco-friendly restaurants check out the Green Living Restaurant Guide
Organic Spa Nothing says love more than Moroccan Rassoul Clay Wrap. I’ve been to and recommend the following:
Love Toys Yup. You can get eco-friendly and non-toxic sex toys (they think of everything!) Treehugger provides insights from various writers. Click here to learn more.
In 2001, I witnessed first hand massive clear cutting in Panama coupled with large advertisements for pesticides. It was only after reading Ronald Wright's A Short History of Progress during the summer of 2005 that the penny finally dropped. I decided to actively do something in my own little way to help protect the environment.
