Green Sports

We all know that professional athletes make alot of green; however, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that now the sporting events themselves are increasingly turning green.

As was reported in a recent Forbes magazine article, it is becoming more common for major sporting events to take action on reducing their environmental impact.

An upcoming example of this is the NFL Super Bowl being held on February 5th. This year the NFL is buying certificates that will offset the amount of carbon generated through electricity use at the game, effectively making the event carbon neutral.

The way the carbon offsetting certificates work is that a donation is made to specific organizations which will then use these funds to invest in renewable energy production and/or minimize the expense of purchasing energy made from renewable resources.

To their credit, the NFL is also going one step further with this year's Super Bowl by arranging for the planting of 'hundreds' of native tree seedlings.

Other events of note that have followed a similar path have been the recent World Cup Soccer tournament in Germany and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Finally, starting this year all cars participating in the IndyCar racing series will be running on 100% fuel grade ethanol!

For more information about where and how to purchase carbon offsetting certificates, scroll down to the bottom of this web page from the David Suzuki Foundation

Being Green and Not Even Knowing It!

I am always a little bit happier when I fall asleep on Tuesday nights. The reason for this is because as I am turning off the porch light I get to look out and see a street full of green bins, blue bins and grey bins full of recyclable material all waiting for morning pickup!

Seeing all these bins provides me with visual proof that almost everyone, even those neighbours that roll their eyes in disdain when the talk turns to the environment, have at least some green in them.

The next time you make the effort to put something in the recycle bin rather then the garbage give yourself a pat on the back, then ask yourself what other little things can you do to make even more of a difference.

Here are some suggestions:

• rather then just recycling, try reducing or reusing more
• walk, ride or take the transit rather then driving
• 'shop and do' local
• conserve energy by turning off lights; using CFL bulbs; turning down the thermostat
• buy products made from recycled materials

Like putting out the recycling bins, these are all small things that initially might take some conscious effort. But hopefully, over time, they will become as habitual as the Tuesday night trek to the curb!

Here is an interesting piece on the products made from recycled materials: Recycling is Magic

For more information about recycling and waste reduction in Toronto click here.

Go Local and Go Home

Like 2.6 million other Canadians I live in Toronto. One of the many things I love about Toronto is that in addition to great universities, colleges and hospitals it also has a wonderful variety of restaurants, cultural activities, green spaces and shopping resources. I can find almost anything I could possibly want or desire somewhere in Toronto.

Toronto also has many wonderful neighbourhoods and communities - there is The Danforth known for its Greek food; Chinatown; funky Beaches and trendy Bloor West Village, just to name a few. I don't live in any of these areas. When purchasing our house we traded a vibrant trendy neighbourhood for affordability and a big backyard.

Rather then lament this perceived reality and slip into the grey of suburbia, I recently made the decision to 'shop and do' as local as possible. These aforementioned vibrant neighbourhoods only got that way because people shopped there and nurtured the local economy long before it was trendy.

In addition to the expected benefits of shopping locally [saves gas and parking money; better for the environment etc], I have been pleasantly surprised by the less known benefits of discovering some of the 'hidden' gems all within close proximity of my front door.

Across the street and down three houses is good Italian restaurant; another restaurant that I can see literally from my back door is being revitalized with 'Opening Soon! ' promises adorning the windows; there is a famous German bakery [Dimpflmeiers] so close that I can swing by, pick up fresh bread and get it on the table while it is still warm; I found out yesterday about a cheese shop that just opened its doors a few weeks ago. [I cannot wait to check it out!]

However, the biggest surprise of all is how much fun and how personally rewarding it is to find and frequent these establishments! It makes my day when I uncover a new gem that I can recommend to friends and family as 'being in my neighbourhood'. Nor does it hurt my ego when I walk into one of the neighbourhood shops or restaurants and be greeted with a friendly 'nice to see you again!'.

So, ditch your map and pick up your walking shoes. Discover your neighbourhood, you might just be surprised what lurks around the corner!

Money up in Steam!

I might be the last person to realize this, but I was surprised to find out that in the average Canadian home the cost of heating water is second largest energy expense with the largest being the heating of the home itself! Click here: Ministry of Energy for more details.

This realization then prompted the question - what can I do to minimize this expense [keeping in mind that I plan to both bath daily and wear clean clothes].

Here are a couple of tips to consider implementing:

-shower rather then have a bath: a typical bath uses about 75 litres of hot water; a five minute shower uses about half that amount.

-wash your clothes in cold or warm water rather than hot: not only will this save money, but your clothes will last longer. 85%-90% of the energy used by your washing machine is to heat the water.

-minimize pre-rinse of dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. Rather then rinsing, scrape the food off, or use less hot water. By the way, a dishwasher uses much less energy then washing the dishes by hand

-reach for the cold tap rather then the hot tap. Whenever possible, use the cold water tap rather then hot water.

-insulate your water tank. At most hardware stores you can pick up a special blanket to insulate your water tank. This will minimize the amount of energy that is used just to keep the water warm.

More involved options include:

-investigating replacing the electric water heater with a gas powered one.
-installing solar panels that use passive solar energy to preheat the water

For more information these options a good starting point is this guide from the Ministry of Energy.

The Ministry of Energy also has several quite good guides that discuss a wide range of energy conservation tips and solutions. Click here to go to that site.

How Green is Your Computer

Last week Dell Inc. created somewhat of a stir in the computer world not only by launching a new green initiative, but also challenging all other computer manufacturers to do the same.

"Today, I challenge every PC maker to join us in providing free recycling for every customer in every country you do business, all the time - no exceptions," Michael Dell, chairman of Dell Inc. stated. "It's the right thing for our customers. It's the right thing to do for our earth."

Since 2004, Dell has offered free recycling of any brand of computer or printer if consumers bought a new Dell system. In June 2006 this program was extended to all Dell printers, personal computers or other electronics products for free, no purchase of new Dell products required. Click here for more details.

Last Tuesday Dell took their environmental commitment one step further, starting in February in the US and April globally, the Plant a Tree for Me program will provide you with the option to make a donation for the planting of a tree to neutralize the carbon footprint of your product use.

Donation amounts are based on expected average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the production of electricity needed to power the systems over three years – for a notebook .42 tons and for a desktop 1.26 tons. The cost of the carbon offset is $4.75 per ton. It costs approximately $6.31 per tree planted. On average a tree will sequester 1.33 tons of CO2 over 70 years through the program. Thus, the offset donation required to neutralize the carbon impact for notebooks is $2 and $6 for desktops.

Something to consider the next time you are shopping for a new computer!

No Time? Save Energy!

One of the common misconceptions about being environmentally friendly is that it takes more time out of your day. In fact, quite the opposite is true! Being environmentally friend can actually save time!

Here are some simple things, in no particular order, that not only reduce your ecological footprint, but can also save time and money:

1) programmable thermostats - as I have mentioned in previous posts, I am a huge fan of programmable thermostats. Not only can they save large amounts of energy and money by heating/cooling your house only when you need it, but once set you can completely forget about it. One less thing to remember before running out of the house first thing in the morning!

2) freezers - having the time to go grocery shopping every few days is a luxury few have. As a result, when you do go grocery shopping buy lots and store the extra in a freezer for later use. This will cut out the task [and energy consumption] of having to go to the grocery store for the staples such as bread, vegetables [frozen veggies have similar nutritional value to fresh], meat and fish.

3) microwave - using the microwave rather then the oven is not only faster, but it is also more energy efficient. A microwave coupled with a well stocked freezer can make last minute dinners a snap.

4) make lots of some stuff - if you have the time to make spaghetti sauce, or some such item, make extra and freeze it. The time and energy use for a small batch is the same as a large batch, but handy leftovers like this are good for the earth.

5) shop local - rather then spending the time and energy in travelling to the other side of town to do your shopping or go to a restaurant, look for spots closer to home. The benefits of shopping local are not only in energy and time savings, but by supporting local merchants you are helping to make your community more vibrant.

Hopefully, with all this time you have now saved with these suggestions you will be able to go for a walk in a local green space to enjoy the nature that surrounds us every day.

It's the Little Things Beneath our Feet That Matter

Yesterday over lunch I took a wonderful journey to places both near and far all from the comfort of my desk chair.

Through a friend of a friend type of connection I stumbled upon the photographic work of Randy Sutherland. He is a photographer that lives in Guelph, a community not that far away and where I have visited many times.

Randy's work is a stunning array of landscapes, portraits and close up photography, many of which are of places or things that I am familiar with and probably pass by on a regular basis without pausing to appreciate. Not only does he seem to take his camera everywhere he goes, but more importantly, he takes the time and has the awareness to notice and capture the stunning beauty of the everyday things he finds.

Spending time going through his photographs reminded me of all the amazing natural things that surround us - a jumble of tree roots; lichen in all it's colours and varieties; rocks, with their texture and contours.

This journey reminded me that the environment is not only the ice caps and rain forests, but also the sparrows that visit my backyard bird feeder and the flowers that seem to reappear in my garden every year, no matter how much I ignore them.

My ability to halt global warming in its tracks is limited; however, I do have the ability to avoid the use of pesticides and herbicides in my own backyard. I also have the opportunity to show to my son all the amazing things that are just beneath his feet so that he might develop a passion for them as well.

Nothing is Something

Last week Toronto hosted the international convention for the Professional Convention Management Association at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This in itself is not news, what is news is that this convention of 3000 delegates was the first zero-waste international convention ever held in Canada.

In addition to the traditional waste reduction tactics of providing recycling boxes for paper, glass and cans, the convention organizers used real dishes for lunches and dinners, donated left over food to a local charity and put the rest in bins for composting. All very practical and doable solutions to reducing waste!

However, the part of this story that I think is most important is that one of the prime motivators for running a zero waste convention was as a selling point for Toronto. As was noted by Andrew Weir, vice-president of Tourism Toronto "We think that this [zero waste conventions] is going to be a competitive advantage for Toronto".

Conventions such as this where "being green" is considered a smart and profitable business decision is a very positive sign for the continued adoption of green practices by main stream businesses and consumers.

A Little Bit of a Head Scratcher

This is a "good news... but" story.

It was announced today that all the coffee served in McDonalds restaurants in the UK and Ireland will be 100% Rainforest Alliance certified by the US based not for profit organization: Rainforest Alliance

Only farms that meet specific, independent and verifiable standards balancing all aspects of production, including protecting the environment, the rights and welfare of workers and the interest of coffee-growing communities are awarded Rainforest Alliance certification.

This means that the beans used to brew more then 143,000 cups of coffee per day, or the equivilant of 1.8 million pounds of coffee beans per year, will directly support farmers and growers that are practicing sustainable farming!

While I applaud this decision, it raises the question - what about the North American market? I took a look on the McDonald's site and saw no mention of a similar action in either the US or Canada. Hmm...

Energy Conservation at Work

Why is it that the push and promotion of energy conservation is so focused on the home. Do we not spend as much, if not more time at work?

The concepts of energy conservation at the office would be almost identical to at home. Simple things like: turn off the lights when you are not in the boardroom; when replacing the office refrigerator get an energy star model; use Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs wherever possible; etc.

For more tips on energy conservation for businesses check out this site: Ontario Ministry of Energy - Saving Energy for Small Business

The main reason I have come up for this disconnect between home and office energy conservation is that one of the prime motivators of energy conservation is to save money. At the office, where the bills are not as visible, this motivation is not as strong.

Furthermore, to incorporate an energy conservation program in the workplace I suspect would involve someone taking ownership of it, similar to the health and safety representative position. I am not aware of any home that requires the appointment of a health and safety rep!

However, the potential upside for individuals and companies if they were to adopt an energy conservation program could be enormous. Not only could your company save money [and your name would be associated with it], but it would also be a great corporate message for your customers and clients. The best part is that most of it is just the same common sense actions we do at home all the time. Now go find a boardroom light to turn off!

A Label Creates a Thousand Questions

One of the elements to making green choices is taking more then product performance and price into consideration when making a purchase. In attempt to make it easier on the average consumer various organizations and associations have added a visual label to packaging to better identify which cans of tuna are dolphin friendly, which appliances are energy efficient etc.

However, in this effort to simplify and clarify, things get awfully complicated and confusing!

In attempt to better educate myself about all the symbols on the packaging, I stumbled upon the Eco-Labels Virtual Kitchen site. This resource has been put together by Consumer Union, the same not for profit organization that publishes Consumer Reports.

Apart from being a rather fun diversion, this resource is a good starting point for better understanding the different labels associated with different food products and appliances, thereby hopefully enabling you to make more informed decisions next time you are making a purchase.

Unfortunately, it is a US based site and so far I have been unable to find a Canadian equivilant. As a result, those of us north of the 49th parallel will have to put on our information filters to identify what information is applicable.

Why Organic?

The other day someone asked me a question that touched on a cornerstone of being green, but is not generally talked about or explained. It is almost as if it is assumed that everyone knows the answer without it ever being explained or discussed.

Quite simply "What's so special about organic stuff ?"

According to Wikipedia, growing organic means:

... for crops they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers or sewage sludge , and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives . For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. Also, at all levels, organic food is produced without the use of genetically modified organisms.

Basically, grown naturally without chemicals. Where it gets a little bit trickier is figuring out why this is a good thing.

From what I have seen, apart from an aversion to consuming chemicals there is no proven significant nutritional benefit to eating organically grown food. While hinted at, it is also difficult to draw a straight line between health concerns and the chemicals used in food production.

Where I see a clearer cut benefit to supporting organically grown crops is the decrease of pesticides and herbicides entering the soil during the growing process. As a result, the soil itself is healthier and able to contribute to the earth's complex ecosystem more completely.

It is this benefit to the growing environment that is a motivator behind non-food products such as organically grown cotton.

This all said, purchasing a tee shirt made with organically grown cotton will not necessarily save the world, but it will not hurt it. That for me is the biggest benefit to buying organic.

Canada Lights the Way!

I have long been a fan of the Compact Flourescent light bulb [CFL] as they are perhaps one of the easiest ways for EVERYONE to conserve energy. They last five times longer then traditional bulbs and cut energy costs by 75%. Furthermore, everyone needs light bulbs and there is no technological hurdle to overcome.

I was happy to read this morning that Americans are starting to wake up to the value of them as well with WalMart's announcement that they have set the goal of getting CFLs into 100 million US homes by the end of 2007. This will be an increase from just four million sold in 2006.

Americans have been slower then Canadians in adopting this new technology. According to Home Depot, Canada's largest distributor of household light bulbs, the sale of CFLs made up for more then 50% of their total bulb sales. This is quite a leap considering these bulbs have only been on the market for a few years.

One of the reasons for the increased Canadian acceptance is the efforts by provincial hydro utilities to promote CFLs through campaigns offering free bulbs to homeowners and other similar marketing efforts. In contrast in the US, while they are still at the beginning stages of encouraging home owners to just try them out, Canadians are already there.

If you have not already tried CFLs I strongly encourage you to pick up a pack and try them out. They will not fit in all spots, but even a few will make a difference in your energy bills.

Shades of Green

Over the recent holiday season I had the pleasant opportunity to catch up with friends and family that I do not have a chance to see on a regular basis. As I am sure it is with most people, one of the main topics of conversation is "what have you been up to". It was in responding to this question that I was frequently caught in 'green speak' - using terms or phrases that are common in the green space, but not necessarily in other areas.

Perhaps the most prevalent example of this, and probably the most fundamental to understanding the current state of the environmental movement, is the concept of shades of green.

If you think of a colour spectrum going from light green to deep forest green, these are the different shades of green that are now encompassed in the ever growing number of consumers that are 'green'. The more effort or expense a person is willing to commit when taking an action or making a purchase, the greener they are.

For example, someone who recycles their bottles and newspapers, but drives a gas guzzling vehicle to the corner store would be light green. On the other end of the spectrum, someone who lives in a straw bale house, powered exclusively by renewable energy and grows all their own food would be a much deeper shade.

One of the reasons that green is becoming more main stream is because green options that appeal to the lighter green market segment are now becoming available. The key is for the darker green folks to continue to welcome the lighter folks. Even a little bit of green is better then none at all!

More Proof that Main Street is Turning Green!

I am happy to report that the Canadian clothier Cotton Ginny is now offering clothes made from 100% organically grown cotton! This group of products is current being marketed on radio, print and various other avenues under the name Eco-Ganic.

While presently there are only a handful of products that are part of the Eco-Ganic line [tee-shirts; some cotton sweatshirts and sweatpants], Cotton Ginny is working toward having their entire product line organic by the end of 2007.

Even though 'organic' is traditionally a label tied to food production, many of the benefits of organic production apply to non food products as well.

The cotton being used by Cotton Ginny is grown without the use of toxic chemical pesticides, fertilizers or genetic engineering. By purchasing products made from organically grown materials you are supporting a movement toward organic farming which has less impact on the earth then traditional farming methods.

The fact that a mainstream store such as Cotton Ginny is investing in organic products I think is a wonderful step toward making 'green products' apart of Main Street. My only hesitation about this move is that the cotton being used is sourced from India as opposed to something closer.