Home Renovations: Consider Not Only the In, But the Out as Well

As almost any homeowner will attest to, renovations of some sort seem to be a never ending occurrence. As soon as one project is finished, there are five more added to the list!

While a great deal of time and thought is given to the changes to be made: which counter top to go with; the type of flooring; lighting fixtures and so on. A similar amount of effort and thought should also go into what happens to the old materials being removed.

Construction waste is a massive burden on our landfill sites. Waste from construction, demolition and renovation account for nearly one third of all waste sent to landfill sites in Canada. With a little bit of thought, effort and pre-planning much of this waste can be diverted.

Here are some suggestions for ways that you can reduce the waste caused by your next renovation:

Reduce:

aPlan ahead with careful measurements and careful ordering of product quantities to avoid wastage from sloppy cuts and over purchases

a Minimize damage of construction materials through proper on-site storage and handling

Reuse:

a Rather then discarding, save quality building materials for reuse on either the same site or for use on another site

a Some items such as old bricks and wide plank lumber can be cleaned and reused on the site, or for vintage age materials can be a popular item for resale to designers and architects

a Donate to a charitable organization such as Habitat for Humanity

Recycle:

a Paper from both building materials and the packaging from materials should be sorted for appropriate recycling programs

a Metals can be sent or sold to scrap yards

a Some wood products can be diverted from land fill and be used for uses such as: landscaping material, animal bedding


For a print out of this tip sheet, as well as other information about construction waste diversion and the basics of green building products, please visit the Info Sheets page of Eco Building Options.

My New Best Friend

Yes, I know it has been around for years but frankly, until recently I was not aware of some of the amazing things that baking soda could do! I used to think that the extent of usefulness for baking soda was as a fridge deodorizer, occasional baking ingredient and when mixed with vinegar, a cool science experiment. Boy was I missing stuff!

Perhaps it is because of my natural aversion to house cleaning that I never considered it as a cleaning solvent. However, this gently abrasive, odour destroying and perfectly safe substance is wonderful! It is a non-toxic cleaner that deodorizes, scours, polishes and removes stains.

The standard solution is about four tablespoons of baking soda to four cups of water [60 ml baking soda to 1 litre of water for the metric folks in the crowd]. Use this solution to wipe down and deodorize microwaves, sinks, counters, plastic containers, chrome fixtures etc etc etc. This has become such a staple for ‘wipe ups’ around the house that I have mixed this up and put it in a spray bottle so I can just spritz and wipe.

You can also use baking soda as you would a typical scouring powder.

One of the key benefits associated with this type of cleaning solution is that it eliminates many of the air borne toxins in your home. The health impacts of that ‘clean lemony’ smell are just starting to be realized.

So, the next time you are at the grocery store, pick up a fresh box of baking soda. You might end up just as surprised as I was!

For more details and suggestions about home healthy cleaning solutions, check out this link: http://www.ecocycle.org/hazwaste/recipes.cfm or do a google search on alternative cleaners.

If You Don't See it, Ask. Eventually it Might Appear!

One of the challenges of being a green consumer is that often the product I am seeking is not easily found on the shelf. Actually, there is often the chance that the product I am seeking does not exist…yet.

A habit that I have tried to develop, and encourage others to follow, is that if the product or product characteristic you are seeking is not on the shelf - ASK. While you run the risk of being told that “it is not available”. An early warning sign of this is an odd scrunched up quizzical look on the clerks face. At least you let it be known that at least one consumer is looking.

There used to be a measurement in politics that each letter a politician receives represents a thousand people that felt that way, but did not bother to write. I expect a similar metric exists between consumers and manufacturers.

I know from my previous life in sales that I was frequently asked by managers and product development people “ what are the customers asking for”. This was a cheap and easy way for the company to ‘stay in touch’ with the market place. I learned from experience that the sales team could be desperate for a particular product modification, but that held little influence until the customer started speaking up as well.

So, the next time you are out shopping and can’t find the earth friendly item you seek, speak up and ask. You have nothing to lose, and eventually the ‘connected’ folks in product development might hear us!

Gardening: Dig a hole and shove something green into it.

I am in pain today because I spent two of the last three days on my hands and knees gardening. However, now that the hard bit is done, I can sit back relax and enjoy the fruits of my labour for the next few months. It is this opportunity to sit back and watch as things grow and change that I think is one of the true joys of gardening for me, and hopefully something that everyone has the opportunity to experience.

Despite the rows of books on the topic and endless lists of experts gardening is really quite simple - dig a hole and put something green into it. As an added bonus, with the exception of "green side up" there are no hard and fast rules about the right or wrong ways to do things. It is all up to you own imagination and fancy. Impulse buying is okay! The worst that will happen is that the plant does not survive. Oh well. On the other hand, it just might survive and flourish! Through no special talents, I have some plants that have survived decades of neglect, poor light and all those conditions that should have killed them six times over!

Even if you live in an apartment and do not have access to an outdoor green space you can still enjoy the sense of satisfaction that comes with gardening with something as simple as an herb garden or a houseplant of some sort.

The connection between plants and living a more earth friendly lifestyle is simply a matter of appreciation and awareness. For those that spend the majority of days in the concrete jungle of a city, it can be easy to overlook the amazement that comes from seeing something grow. Imagine, from a pot of dirt and some water a flower can emerge. When you stop to think about it, that is pretty amazing, and well worth celebrating and protecting!

If you have never tried getting some dirt and putting something green in it, give it a try. Once that is done, the bulk of your work is done. You can then sit back and watch how nature can take soil and water and produce beautiful plants.

Green Painting Tips. Even for White Paint!

One of the most common home renovations is painting the walls. It is a great, inexpensive and effective way to “spruce up the place”.

An important, but sometimes overlooked consideration when choosing the paint to use is how it will impact the indoor air quality both before and after application. The key product characteristic to look for is the level of Volatile Organic Compounds [VOCs] that the paint has.

VOC's are the gases that are emitted or released by paints, solvents and adhesives primarily in the curing process. Some products continue to off gas even after curing. VOC is a key issue when discussing indoor air quality. It is that ‘paint smell’ that occurs during the application of the paint and can at times linger for a long time after as the paint continues to cure and off gas.

The good news is that most major paint manufactures now have a Low/No VOC paint product line. However, you might have to look for it, or contact the manufacturer directly, for information as this product line is sometimes not readily available at your local paint or hardware store.

Here are some Green Painting Tips to help you make your next painting project as environmentally friendly as possible:

- Choose Low VOC or No VOC paint products

- Whenever possible, choose latex over alkyd paint

- Do not buy more paint then you need for a particular job. Take the time to carefully calculate the area to be covered and the amount of paint required.

- Scrap off as much excess paint as possible before washing them. There is even a brush and roller paint cleaning tool with serrated edges to help with the task

- When cleaning brushes and rollers used with latex paint do so in a bucket of water rather then directly under the tap. This will prevent paint entering the water system.

- When cleaning brushes and rollers used with alkyd paint let solvent used clarify. The paint particles that settle to the bottom can then be filtered out.

What to do with unused paint:

- Offer it to friends, family, neighbours and local groups who might have a need for it.

- Contact your local municipality for the safe way to discard the paint. Paint is a hazardous waste and should be treated as such.

The only thing remaining is to sift through the millions of colour swatches to pick one. How tough could that be...

The Best of the R’s

Everyday we are all make hundreds of choices and decisions. Some of them even before we are really away [snooze alarm or get up...?]. For those of us who are trying to lead a greener lifestyle we are often faced with even more decisions. Fortunately, there are the guide posts of the three R’s [reduce/reuse/recycle] to help us along the way.

The three R’s are a great help until we are faced with a decision between the two. At that point, it is necessary to remember which ones are better. Of the three R’s the one that should always win a decision is the opportunity to reduce.

Here are a couple of everyday opportunities to reduce:

Purchase items in bulk and/or that have less packaging. Where ever it makes sense, consider purchasing items in bulk. You often save two ways: one - bulk items tend to be less expensive per unit; two – properly packaged bulk items result in less packaging waste destined for the landfill or recycle bin.

Shop locally. This can reduce your gas consumption dramatically, especially if you can walk or bike rather then drive. As an added bonus you also help your local merchants thrive.

Buy locally produced goods. Items that have to travel thousands of miles to the store can have a tremendous transportation cost associated with them

Don’t buy stuff you don’t need. This will help not only reduce unnecessary manufacturing, but also the clutter in your house and the emptiness in your wallet.

For perishable items especially, buy just what you need. For items such as fruits and vegetables it is often worth figuring out how much you can use before your next trip to the market and then buying just that amount, rather then lots and having to toss it because it is spoiled. If something is such a great bargain that you just have to get it, consider sharing your expected extras with friends family and neighbours.

At the core of ‘reducing’ is avoiding buying stuff you do not need. Often a direct result of this is more money where you do need it - in your wallet!

Garage Sales - the Green Way to Shop

I am not a big fan of garage sales primarily because the rejection process is far too personal for my comfort level. It is one thing to walk through a retail store and find nothing you wish to purchase, it is an much more intimate rejection then the owner of the stuff you are rejecting is standing right there, watching as you root through boxes for hidden treasures. However, as I saw a garage sale on almost every street this past weekend, it brought to my attention just how environmentally friendly garage sales really are!

There are a few factors that make garage sales green – they encourage reuse, as well as shopping locally. For example, rather then buying a new coffee table at a retail outlet, by purchasing a table from a garage sale you are reusing it, thereby decreasing the potential that the table will end up in land fill, as well as reducing the need for a new table to be manufactured. Furthermore, that $15 you paid for the table is being spent locally rather then being added to the coffers of some multinational corporation.

Considering most North Americans are habitual shoppers, at least by shopping at garage sales satisfying this habit can be done in a more earth friendly way!

Bagging the Bags

It was recently announced that the Ontario government is going to implement programs to try to reduce the number of plastic bags used by the average consumer. It was noted in other discussions that even though many people have reusable grocery bags, very few of them use them. They are simply not in the habit of remembering to bring them to the grocery store.

A few weeks ago I decided to tackle the bag problem in my own household to try to figure out practical ways that I can decrease not only the number of bags that I use, but also get into the habit of remembering to bring my reusable bags when grocery shopping. I am pleased to report that since then I have been able to decrease my bag usage by about 65%!

Here is how I did it.

1) Bag audit. I gave some thought to when I use bags. The answer was: for poop and scoop when dog walking [about 3/day]; to line the kitchen composting pail [about 3/week]; lining the kitchen garbage pail [about 1/week].

2) Bag alternatives. Clearly the biggest bag demand was with the dogs. I was stumped for awhile about alternatives until my husband suggested that rather then using a bag for each deposit, why not use one bag and pick up the deposit with a piece of newspaper which is then deposited in the bag to be carried on the walk. This works!

For the kitchen composting pail I followed the suggestion of a nearby municipality that encourages home owners to line their pails with newspaper, then simply bundle up the newspaper to carry the compost to the outdoor bin. Again – another winning idea!

The kitchen garbage pail is one of the few areas where there was no alternative, however with the usage being so minor I am not fussed about it.

3) Habit changing. I must admit, I was like the majority of people with a wonderful collection of reusable bags that I would never remember to grab them when going grocery shopping! My solution is to try to always have at least one reusable bag in the car with me [unfortunately, grocery shopping for me often means a car drive]. Now, part of the routine of putting away groceries is to return the reusable bags to the car.

I am pleased with how relatively painless and surprisingly successful decreasing our household bag usage has been. All that it really took was a little bit of creative problem solving and one habit change. The next challenge that I face is that sometimes I do not have enough bags for the few things I need them for! Hmmmm.

Good Lists Mean Less Stress

Living a ‘green lifestyle’ is not just about decreasing energy consumption or putting less pollutants into the environment, it is also about living a better quality of life. Things such as: less stress; healthy eating; spending more time with family and friends are all part of living green.

As a self employed person that works from a home office, one of the regular challenges and stressors that I face is the self discipline to keep on task and get ALL my jobs done. On any day these tasks can range anywhere from negotiating contracts to taking the dogs for a walk. Regardless of the pleasure of the task, all need to get done and the only person cracking the whip to keep on task is myself.

This situation is often a source of stress for me as I feel the pressure to get things done, but at times feel overwhelmed at the mental list, and not too sure where to start.

I have started a new technique of list making that is beginning to show dividends. While I would love to take credit for it, the originator of the germ of the idea is a Jim Estill, who in addition to being a rather amazing individual, is also a specialist on Time Management. I am a frequent visitor to his website: CEO Blog - Time Leadership and always find an item of interest.

The idea is a modification of the To Do list. Rather then having one list, have two: Need to Do and Nice to Do. In the morning while the computer is warming up take a few minutes and list those tasks that NEED be done that day; for items that are not crucial, or can be dealt with tomorrow, put those under the NICE to do column.

Do not worry about prioritizing beyond the Need and Nice. The prioritizing tends to come almost naturally as you scan down the list and decide what is the next task to do. Also, allow yourself to blend the two lists. For example, after knocking off two perhaps less enjoyable tasks on the Need to list, jump to the Nice to list and pick something fun for a break.

Furthermore, do not stress about making the list complete in the morning. As the day progresses, and things come up, add them to the list. If you are really organized, have the lists for the next few days handy and fill those in as you go.

All going well, by the end of the day not only will you have more accomplished, but you would have done it all in a less stressful way! Now scratching off ‘blog entry’ on my need to do list….

Some Common, and Not So Common, Tips on How Save Gas

Like many things 'green' cutting down on gas consumption has a lot to do with creating good habits. At the beginning it might take some conscious thought, however, eventually it will feel 'weird' to drive to a store you could have easily walked or cycled to.

Assuming you are like the majority of people and do have plans to purchase a new car or move either closer to work/move work closer to home, here are some ideas of other ways you might be able to develop gas saving habits.

-When you go to fill up, don’t. Rather then getting a full tank of gas, get a half tank by setting a dollar amount to how much you want, such as $25. This will help in a few ways: one, because you will have to stop for gas more frequently it will serve as a constant reminder/motivator to decrease your driving; two, it will provide a clear connection for you about just how far $25 of gas goes – serving as yet another motivator to decrease gas usage.

-Let the kids walk! While 70% of children live within walking distance of their school, only 36% actually walk. Having them walk to and from school will not only save money, but it will be good exercise. For situations where safety is a concern, and a guardian is not available to walk with them, consider teaming up with a neighbour for car pool arrangements or a set up a walking school bus.

-Do many errands together. Rather then going out for just one or two errands, try to save them and do a whole bunch on one day. Not only will this be a more efficient use of your time, but significant gas savings can be realized with just a little route planning.

-Break out the bike. If someplace is too far to walk, consider using a bike or roller blades.

-Regular tune-ups pay off. A car that is well maintained and has the tires properly inflated will be much more fuel efficient then even a newer car that is not well maintained.

-Hybrid commute. If the public transit is not within easy access to where you live, rather then driving all the way to work, consider driving to the nearest public transit ‘hub’ and parking the car.

-Treat yourself. When you take public transit, walk or ride rather then drive, allow yourself a treat from the money saved. For example, buy a book for the commute to work and back or stop for ice cream to refresh yourself in the middle of a bike commute.

-Get to know your colleagues. Next time you are chatting around the water cooler start exploring opportunities to car pool. Even if you do not live that close to your colleagues it might make sense to meet at a car pool parking lot for the final leg of the commute.

-Stop to smell the roses. When walking or biking enjoy the slower pace and take time to notice the environment around you.

-Talk to your boss about working from home. Depending on your job, and home environment, there might be the option to work from home a day or two a week. If it seems doable to you, consider mentioning it to your boss to see if they would consider it.

High Gas Prices - A Good News/Bad News Story

Just in time for the opening of cottages and summer travel season gas prices are once again on the rise. Traditionally this would be viewed as bad news; however, perhaps in the long run it is a good news story.

If higher gas prices:

• motivate people to drive less and/or take public transit more
• encourage local shopping
• make locally produced products more economically appealing
• prompt us to look for work closer to where we live [or move closer to work]
• enjoy local attractions rather then travel great distances for vacation or cottages
• purchase fuel efficient cars

Then in the long run the world will be a better place.

Where the problem sets in is that North America has been built around the car. We have sprawling neighbourhoods often situated long distances away from shopping or employment, as well as a mindset that is blind to distance travelled.

As consumers it is our expectation to find a vast array of products and our purchasing decisions rarely factor in the country of origin. This is further compounded by the manufacturers that have a similar disregard for the distance a product must travel to reach the consumer. Who takes into consideration if the box of cereal in the local grocery store had to travel 3000 kms to get there? For the average consumer, are there any reasonable alternatives?

Finally, the rising gas prices could have the most impact on that segment of society that has the slimmest margin to overcome price increases. Higher gas prices will mean that prices for common goods increase, simply to cover the increased transportation costs. For a family that is already tight financially, even a small increase to the cost of living could have disastrous effects.

It is also likely that this is the segment of society that has the least flexibility in terms of employment options. If the only housing you can afford is a great distance away from the only job you can find, it is possible that driving, usually a beat up gas guzzling car, is the only way to get to work.

Gas prices are on the rise.

Hopefully this will prompt, especially those that can afford to pay more for gas, to decrease gas consumption and begin a foundational shift in North American's dependence on the car.