Published by Green Communities Canada
622: 9 March 2009
BIG DAY OUT. Green-Up was invited to join businesses and organizations from the Peterborough area at Queen’s Park. Executive Director Sue McGregor-Hunter and Communications Coordinator Matt Higgs spoke to Ministers and MPP’s as the Green Energy Act was being discussed in the Legislature.
ECO-BUSINESS. Durham Sustain Ability Green Business Trade Show highlights energy efficient products and services. Seminars on Lighting, Energy Management and RETScreen Clean Energy Project Analysis. Ajax (Ontario), 24 March.
NEW ADVISOR. Peter Goering has joined Peterborough Green-Up as a certified energy advisor.
BRIGHT IDEA. Berkeley’s FIRST program allows property owners to install solar systems and make energy efficiency upgrades, and to finance the cost on their property tax bill. The tax obligation stays with the home if it is sold. A 38-house pilot sold out in nine minutes.
GRASSY TOPS. City of Toronto Eco-Roof Program offers up to $100,000 for green roof and up to $50,000 for cool roof construction on industrial, commercial and institutional buildings. Eco-roofs assist with storm-water management and reduction of summer cooling demands. Due 1 May.
RESEARCH AWARD. Individual research awards are available to graduate students for applied research pertaining to nonprofit governance, sustainability and policy for the 2009-2010 academic year. Offered by Institute for Nonprofit Studies. Due 17 April.
PESTICIDE BAN. Canadian Environmental Law Association applauds the Ontario government for the passage of “the most health-protective cosmetic pesticide ban in North America." New law is effective in Spring 2009.
FABULOUS VIEWING! You must watch these inspiring videos from the US on the green economy: Weatherize!; Growing Home; Power Shift; Solar Richmond; Fly or Fall (Van Jones!); Green Worker Cooperatives; The Green Economy is Coming.
VIRTUAL FESTIVAL. Green Unplugged is an international online film festival. See Killing Seeds, featuring a Canadian farmer sued for patent violation over Canola seeds.
FOOD MATTERS. Mother Jones looks at ‘outdated’ concepts about food sustainability, the secularization of food and cafeteria food.
BOTTLED OUT. Federation of Canadian Municipalities is asking Canadian cities and towns to phase out the sale and purchase of bottled water on municipal property.
ALIEN INVASION. Once confined to the Great Lakes, zebra and quagga mussels are now turning up in Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado and Utah at densities of up to 55,000 per square meter. Arid regions can wither without a properly functioning plumbing system of dams, reservoirs, pump stations and aqueducts.
NEW PRODUCT. Get a roll of Nuclear Grade Duct Tape. “When we found cracks in the containment structure, we used to have to shut the whole plant down. Now, when we see a cracked or crumbling wall, we just bring out the tape. The slate blue blends right in. Use double layers for openings near the reactor core,” says a satisfied customer.
JOBS. Tides Canada Foundation, Project Manager. Vancouver, no due date … City of Toronto Urban Forestry, Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division, Parks Program Officer 1 and Parks Program Officer 2. Both due 20 March.