Trunks & Trucks, Bacteriacide, & Patriotic Consumption – GC News #650

650: 28 September 2009 – Published by Green Communities Canada

WINDFALL IN TORONTO. Toronto’s Solar Neighbourhoods program is expanding to include three more downtown wards. The program provides incentives and non interest loans for homeowners installing solar hot water. Participants begin with an ecoENERGY home energy assessment provided by Windfall Ecology Centre … Windfall has also joined the Green Together community animation project hosted by Green Neighbours 21 in Ward 21. Windfall presents at community events and provides home energy assessments … Finally, Windfall has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bathurst-Lawrence Four Quadrants Community Alliance  to provide community education, conduct energy assessments and collect social information for the Alliance.

TRUNKS & TRUCKS. Treasured Tree Hunt Contest Awards Gala acknowledged city residents and local students who submitted stories and photos of their favourite trees … Anyone who went to the Peterborough Farmers Market using sustainable modes of transportation on Car-Free Day was eligible to win restaurant and bicycle accessories prizes. See photos for both events.

SUSTAINABILITY PLAN. Sue McGregor-Hunter, Peterborough Green-Up’s executive director, made a presentation on the creation of a new sustainable region plan at the Eastern Ontario Municipal conference, along with Trent University professor Stephen Hill and City of Peterborough Director Ken Doherty. The plan will feature ten municipal governments working together to lay out a roadmap for sustainability activities. 

WELL AWARE. Susan Bryant (Waterloo Region Green Solutions) and Lynda Bausinger (Elora Environment Centre) attended Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, 15-17 September.   "Well Aware’s presence at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show was a great success; it afforded the rural well-owning public a chance to ask questions about their water wells and receive hands-on education and assistance to help them protect the ground water and their family’s health,"  says Lynda Bausinger … See Well Aware’s firstonline newsletter … Collingwood’s Blue Mountain Real Estate Blog promotes Well Aware program to rural well owners.

YOUTH REEL. W.A.S.T.E. (We Are Saving The Environment) Film Festival features shorts produced by 64 teens from around the Lake Simcoe Watershed.  Windfall Ecology Centre is a partner. 1 October.

BACTERIACIDE. Clean Calgary Ashley Lubyk addresses concerns over hand sanitizers and other antimicrobial, antibacterial products.

FOODISTS. Environmental Network‘s Zero-Waste tasting attracted 20 people on 17 September; 98% of the waste generated by the event was diverted by using china, dishes, cutlery and cloth napkins.  Food scraps were served to worms. Vegan food was prepared in the Shoppe‘s kitchen. "The items that had to be disposed of were the clamshells containing fruit or vegetable." See photos … Proceeds from local and sustainable food dishes sold at Localicious participating restaurants will be donated to WWF-Canada’s conservation work.  2-18 October.

BEST PRACTICES. Calling something a "best practice" in the non-profit world is no substitute for giving good reasons for or against, says Blue Avocado.

FUNDING. Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program is seeking project submissions that will protect, rehabilitate or enhance the natural environment, and build the capacity of communities to sustain these activities into the future. Deadline 1 November.

GREEN JOBS. Goodwork Canada’s How to Create Your Own Green Job  suggests avenues  for eco-minded job seekers … Ontario government and Samsung are negotiating about manufacturing wind turbines and other green-energy gear, including solar panels, that would potentially create thousands of jobs.

GREEN ELECTRONICS. Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics ranks top manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones, TVs and game consoles according to their their policies on toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change. "There isn’t one computer that’s excelling in all the criteria, so with every model there will be tradeoffs" … Illegally exporting waste to poor countries is a growing international business.

PATRIOTIC CONSUMPTION. Hummer owners believe they are defending America’s frontier lifestyle against anti-American critics, says study.

CARBON CLEANSE. No Impact Project challenges people to adopt a carbon-neutral lifestyle for seven days.

JOBS. Climate Action Network Canada, Events and Outreach Intern. Ottawa,due 2 October …Environmental Defence, two positions: Blue Green Canada/ Regional Campaign Coordinator for Hamilton and Sudbury. Both due 7 October … Clean Air Foundation, Retire Your Ride Coordinator. Toronto, no due date.