Canadians raise the roof in solar project
January 26, 2008
Ryerson University is among 20 finalists in an international competition to build homes run only by solar power. The solar houses will be judged in 10 areas: architecture, engineering, liveability, marketability, comfort, power generation for space heating and cooling, water heating and powering lights and appliances.
The green goods
January 25, 2008
Cool green stuff we stumbled across this week
Kensington Market’s Left Feet and Heart On Your Sleeve will be hosting its first annual vegan chili cook-off this Saturday in support of homeless outreach. Amateur foodies, in addition to local restaurants Urban Herbivore, Sadie’s Diner and the Magic Oven will compete to find who’s got the best vegan chili in Toronto.
Organic sesame seed recall
January 24, 2008
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain pre-packaged and bulk organic sesame seeds because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. CFIA said some of the affected products are pre-packaged and some are in bulk, with a sell date between mid-October of last year and this month.
Green Arts Barns application deadline
January 24, 2008
The deadline is fast approaching for applications to Artscape’s Green Arts Barns studios for professional artists. Tenants of the work-only and rent-geared-to-income live/work studios will contribute to the creative synergy, imagination and community that will transform Toronto’s historic Wychwood TTC Streetcar Repair Barns in the St. Clair and Bathurst neighbourhood into a model for innovative creative redevelopment in North America.
Climate experts say city must make changes
January 24, 2008
Climate change experts spoke at a Toronto parks and environment committee meeting on Tuesday to discuss how the city can adapt to fight global warming in the coming decades. Speakers didn’t weigh in on moves the city already is considering, such as a potential ban on two-stroke engines in lawn mowers and snow blowers, but they did talk about how the city must improve its planning - including potential road tolls for GTA highways.
New report pushes for electronic waste diversion
January 24, 2008
The Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP) released Waste Bytes! Diverting Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment this week. While commending the Ontario government for launching the Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) process to divert electronic waste from landfill, the CIELAP report calls on the province to ensure that the industry-funded program has clear and aggressive diversion targets for reuse and recycling.
Solar power projects in the works
January 23, 2008
Ontario may soon be home to some of the biggest solar farms on the planet, if last year’s explosion of interest in building solar generating systems is brought to fruition. The Ontario Power Authority signed 145 contracts in 2007 for the future construction of more than 250 megawatts (MW) of solar-powered energy, enough to power more than 50 000 homes.
GTA cities to power down for Earth Hour
January 23, 2008
Markham, Mississauga, Brampton and Newmarket may turn off their lights on March 29 in support of Earth Hour, a worldwide effort to draw attention to climate change. Toronto was the first Canadian city to pledge commitment to the event, which will see residents and businesses turn off all non-essential lights and appliances from 8 to 9pm to symbolize a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
Province may hang clothesline ban
January 21, 2008
The McGuinty government is moving to hang the bans that prevent some Ontarians from using outdoor clotheslines to dry their laundry. In some areas of Ontario, builders’ covenants or other restrictions don’t allow outdoor clotheslines. The government is asking the public for input on how to best end these restrictions through a 60-day posting on Ontario’s Environmental Registry at www.ebr.gov.on.ca.
Green film competition
January 21, 2008
The deadline for the Greening Toronto: Ideas for a Living City short film competition has been extended until January 22. The project challenges post-secondary students in the Toronto area to take a green leap forward and imagine what it might be like to live in an ecologically sustainable metropolis. Selected videos will be featured in the Student Shorts series, screening regularly on the network of over 190 screens on TTC subway platforms – to an audience of 100,000 people daily.
