Cornwall, Ontario - First Green/Sustainable Facility

Local News - Friday, May 25, 2007
by Elisabeth Johns

Ron Chenier joined with Chris Markell (LEED accredited builder), of Bourgon and Associates, to develop Place Dominion Place Inc., a nearly 54,000 square-foot, four-storey building that will incorporate initiatives like: wood from sustainable forests, low flow toilets and in-door bike racks for commuters, complete with change rooms and showers.

The cost for the state-of-the-art building is an estimated $5 million, which will account for a number of green building supplies that will cost more initially, but reduce energy costs, Chenier said. They hope to attain a silver rating for Dominion Place, Markell said.

ABC News - What 2100 Might Look Like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XClNHfmFDog
Dr. James E. Hansen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hansen

"The Heat is On" (U.S.A. Waking Up)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQNwh4nLxws
http://www.heatison.org/content/index

2007 AIA Convention Emphasizes Building Green

Convention and Design Exposition concluded with a keynote presentation by former Vice President Al Gore on the importance of architects taking all necessary steps to help curb climate change. Dr. David Suzuki, environmentalist and author also addressed the convention about steps people can take to help lead a more sustainable lifestyle with less negative impact on nature.

AIA 2007 National Convention and Design Expo

In five years, all buildings -- new and existing -- will be green

May 23, 2007
by Randyl Drummer

"The takeaway from the (Chicago 2007) ULI conference was that we’re at a tipping point," Lord said. "In five years, all buildings -- new and existing -- will be green. Unlike new construction, the greening of existing buildings has to be implemented by the building property management team. New green buildings are about design and construction. Existing green buildings are about operations."

The average building certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program uses 32% less electricity, 26% less natural gas and 36% less total energy. LEED-certified buildings in the U.S. are reducing CO2 emissions by 150,000 metric tons each year -- equal to taking 30,000 passenger cars off the road. Yet the vast majority of the 715 buildings and tenant spaces certified under the LEED program in the U.S. are new construction. Only about 50 are existing buildings.

Source: http://www.costar.com/News/Article.aspx?id=59F5177C83639C28FF1697AF358BE671

NASA Earth Observatory - Potential Effects of Global Warming

Very interesting section to the NASA Earth Observatory site (ie not a politician or celebrity or even unknown with an ax to grind) with all the famous graphs and global images used elsewhere. This is one of several chapters presented.

The most obvious impact of global warming will be changes in both average and extreme temperature and precipitation, but warming will also enhance coastal erosion, lengthen the growing season, melt ice caps and glaciers, and alter the range of some infectious diseases, among other things...

Also see their section:
Predicting Future Warming (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/GlobalWarmingUpdate/global_warming_update5.html)

The 11th Hour (documentary)

http://www.11thhourfilm.com/

2007 feature film documentary created, produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprionatural environment. Directed by Leila Conners Petersen and Nadia Conners. Financed by Adam Lewis, Pierre André Senizergues and Doyle Brunson. Distributed by Warner Independent Pictures. World premiere at the 60th Annual Cannes Film Festival.

To be released Fall of 2007.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Hour_(documentary)

Al Gore - Role of Government in Changing Business Practice

Severn Suzuki @ Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro (1992)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAedbD2pIwY

Doors Open Toronto (May 26/27, 2007) - The Green List

Free admission to all sites. Some only Saturday, some only Sunday, and some have photograph restrictions (wow) so check before you go.

From the 150 buildings participating, here's a list of all those showcasing green/sustainable design ideas or principles:

• Beach Solar Laundromat
• Bloorview Kids Rehab
• Cecelia Murphy Building
• Design Exchange
• Eco-suite at Tridel's Element Condominium
• HOK
• Horse Palace: Green Roof
• Levitt Goodman House
• Mountain Equipment Co-op
• Ravina Project
• Robertson Building
• SAS Building
• St. Gabriel's Passionist Parish
• Thomas L. Wells Public School
• University of Guelph-Humber
• University of Toronto: BCIT
• University of Toronto: Multi-faith Centre - Koffler Institute
• Zeidler Partnership Architects Building

Maybe I'll see you at one or two! Can't wait.

Off-grid Oregon community (USA)

Behind the manned gate of the Three Rivers Recreation Area lie 4,000 acres of property and 450 homes, but not a single phone or power line.

Residents in this subdivision of full- and part-time homeowners are entirely off the electrical and telephone grid, proud of it and wanting it to stay that way. They rely on solar power to provide houses with electricity.

Most people in the neighborhood have the same kinds of appliances and devices that people in an urban area would have.

Source: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12796

Green Daycare (UK)

Meanwhile Gardens by Constructive Individuals

• green roof
• timber surfaces
• south window and skylights
• super insulated walls and roof of cellulose fibre insulation
• rain and grey water recycling system to run the toilets

Suffolk, The eco-house (UK)

Clinton Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program

Wow! Look what you can do when you're no longer in office. Have I mentioned how much I like this Clinton fellow...

Toronto is among 15 cities (Bangkok, Berlin, Chicago, Houston, Johannesburg, Karachi, London, Melbourne, Mexico City, New York, Rome, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Tokyo) that will be cutting carbon emissions through a project spearheaded and funded by former U.S. president Bill Clinton's foundation.
"The big difference in Toronto comes from the fact that our biggest single contributor of the greenhouse gases is heating and cooling our old buildings. It's about 60 % of Toronto's contribution." Miller told CTV

Source: http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20070516/clinton_green_070516/20070516/?hub=TorontoHome

Clinton's Foundation:

75%

of emissions come from cities

50%

of cities’ emissions are generated by buildings

40

global cities partnering with CCI to fight climate change

Strawbale Mobile Home

What a lovely idea and given the popularity of the 'modular' home trend... timely.

First mobile home in the world (in East Yorkshire, England) made from straw. A cosy, one bedroom straw cabin with renewable electricity, solar hot water and a host of environmentally friendly features.

ecoAUTO Rebate Program and Car list

OK... not a building product but most of us drive and it's money back!!!...

As part of the Government of Canada’s plan to protect the environment, the ecoAUTO Rebate Program encourages Canadians to buy fuel-efficient vehicles. How? It offers rebates from $1000 to $2000, to people who, beginning March 20, 2007, buy or enter a long-term lease (12 months or more) for a fuel-efficient vehicle.

Source: http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroZine/english/issues/72/any_questions_e.cfm?Issues=May2007

1st Zero-carbon and Zero-waste City

How cool is this (although the picture makes it look rather dank and dingy)! And when can I move to one in Canada? lol

Source: http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/05/09/norman-fosters-green-desert-utopia-in-dubai/

World Sustainable Building (SB) Conference 2008

World Sustainable Building (SB) Conference series, which is held every 3 years, is the peak gathering of the world’s leading technical experts and researchers on sustainable built environments.

September 21 - 25, 2008
Melbourne, Australia

The event provides the opportunity for the world’s leading technical experts and researchers to advance their knowledge by focusing on technical developments and case studies; 17 countries showcased projects to over 1,800 delegates at the 2005 conference (Tokyo, Japan)

Source: http://www.cmhc.ca/en/inpr/enews/enews_001.cfm

Canadian Solar Buildings Conference

32^nd Annual Conference of the Solar Energy Society of Canada is held jointly with the 2^nd Conference of the newly formed Solar Buildings Research Network that brings together top researchers from 10 Canadian Universities to develop the solar-optimized building of the 21^st century.

June 10 – June 14 , 2007
Calgary TELUS Convention Centre

Source: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/evca/evca_002.cfm?event=561&fr=1176490091656

CDN Architect

Measures of Sustainability site:

• Embodied Energy
• Operating Energy
• Exergy
• Durability
• Externalities
• Ecological Footprint
• Eco-Labeling
• Life Cycle Assessment