7 Places You Shouldn't Put a CFL

I recenty posted comments on my moe recent use of LED lighting, in favour of CFLs.  The most common concern I hear with CFLs in the use of mercury.  Here's an article reiterating the use of CFLs in many instances is still a cost-effective environmentally sound choice -- IN MOST INSTANCES. 

here's where they should NOT be used: 
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/recycling-design-technology/cfl-facts

Bill C-38 aka Jobs, Growth and Long‐Term Prosperity Act

I don't know how many of you have stopped to read all 400 pages of Bill C-38 and, if you did, fathom the full extent of changes this single piece of legislation makes on numerous other Canadian Acts.  My sources tell me that it will eventually result in substantial changes to federal environmental law in Canada.  In all, at least 10 other pieces of federal legislation will be amended or repealed, resulting in changes to federal environmental assessment law, fisheries law and the operation of the National Energy Board.  It also impacts the Income Tax Act which may have implications for many of Canada's NGO environmental organizations.

Briefly:
*  the number and scope of federal environmental assessments will be reduced;
*  the level of protection to fisheries has been reduces and is limited to commercial, recreational of Aboriginal fisheries;
* Decisions previously left to the National Energy Board will not be made by federal cabinet and the potential impacts of proposed pipelines on critical habitat of species at risk no longer has to be considered.

The passing of Bill C-38 also results in amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Parks Canada Agency Act, Canada National Parks Act, Canada National Marine Conservation Act, Coasting Trade Act, Lyoto Protocol Implementation Act, National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy Act, Nuclear Safety and Control Act, Seeds Act and Species at Risk Act.

In other words, the impact of  Bill C-38 has broad and far-reaching implications that will affect each and every Canadian at some level.

Want to learn more?  Check out the following links:
http://wcel.org/category/keywords/bill-c-38

http://www.nationtalk.ca/modules/news/article.php?storyid=53956

http://www.elc.http://environmentallawcentre.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/an-overview-of-bill-c-38-the-budget-bill-that-transformed-canadas-federal-environmental-laws/

http://www.cpj.ca/en/content/bill-c-38-implementing-environmental-neglect

http://www.fin.gc.ca/n12/12-050-eng.asp

http://openparliament.ca/debates/2012/5/10/dave-mackenzie-1/only/

http://www.afn.ca/index.php/en/news-media/latest-news/Technical-Bulletin-Update-on-Bill-C-38-Jobs-Growth-and-Long-term-Prosp

UPDATE! LED -- You've Come a LONG Way, Baby!

Eartheasy has provided a very useful update which includes a great chart to help you understand how many lumens are required for your replacement lighting based on the various replacement options:  http://eartheasy.com/blog/2014/12/how-to-get-started-using-led-lights-in-your-home/?utm_source=Eartheasy+Newsletter+Subscribers&utm_campaign=8fc919ec26-December_Newsletter_201412_3_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4c37d9d05d-8fc919ec26-310703853&mc_cid=8fc919ec26&mc_eid=317950f2e5

For several years now, I've been using a mix of incandescent, halogen and CFL lighting in my home.  Let's face it, they all have their best uses and they all have drawbacks.  Incandescent bulbs come in a variety of options -- cool, warm, soft, etc. but they burn bright and aren't very energy efficient. CFL bulbs, while being considerably more  efficient, provide a cooler light, are slow to reach full capacity, are usually not dimmable and contain the much dreaded mercury.  That means, CFLs require special handling for disposal. While halogen lighting produces the best light for these tired eyes; alas, they are not only expensive, they produce a considerable amount of heat -- great in the winter; not-so-great in the dog days of summer.

Then, along came LED lighting for the home but, as much as I wanted to believe in it, earlier models didn't work out so well for me.  Not only was the lighting poor quality -- for the most part, I couldn't even get them to work in my light fixtures.  But I have to admit, over the past couple of years, LED lighting has come a long way.   So far, in fact, that about half of my lighting needs have been met with LED.

Recently, I replaced about half of my halogen bulbs with LED, and about the same ratio for CFLs and incandescent lighting.  The LEDs provide a great spotlight effect but don't produce enough task lighting so I've mixed them in with my regular halogens.  LED lighting seems to work best where high intensity task lighting is not required.  I'll be monitoring to see whether these bulbs have the lasting power advertised and I'm hoping to see a decrease in my electrical bills very shortly.

Take a look at the comparison chart below.  If the cost savings are even remotely close to being accurate in Canada, I see a beach vacation in the near future. 

Cost Comparison between LEDs, CFLs and Incandescent light bulbs

LED CFL Incandescent Light bulb projected lifespan 50,000 hours 10,000 hours 1,200 hours Watts per bulb (equiv. 60 watts) 10 14 60 Cost per bulb $35.95 $3.95 $1.25 KWh of electricity used over 50,000 hours 300 500 700 3000 Cost of electricity (@ 0.10per KWh) $50 $70 $300 Bulbs needed for 50k hours of use 1 5 42 Equivalent 50k hours bulb expense $35.95 $19.75 $52.50 Total cost for 50k hours $85.75 $89.75 $352.50 Energy Savings over 50,000 hours, assuming 25 bulbs per household: Total cost for 25 bulbs $2143.75 $2243.75 $8812.50 Savings to household by switching from incandescents $6668.75 $6568.75 0

Notes: - Cost of electricity will vary. The figures used above are for comparison only, and are not exact. Residential energy costs among the various states range from 28.53 cents (Hawaii) to 6.34 cents (Idaho) per KWH. - The cost per bulb for LEDs may vary. We used the figure of $35.95 (for a 60 watt equivalent LED bulb) as an average among lighting retailers. - Estimates of bulb lifespan are projected, since it would take about 6 years of continuous lighting to test. Some manufacturers claim the new LED bulbs will last up to 25 years under normal household use, but this is not proven. - Bulb breakage and bulb replacement costs have not been factored into this comparison chart. Incandescent bulbs and CFL bulbs are more easily broken than LEDs, which increases their cost of use. - Most LEDs come with a minimum 2-year guarantee. Any defective LED bulb will usually fail within this time. Source:  http://eartheasy.com/live_led_bulbs_comparison.html

Walkable Neighbourhoods

Did you know:

• that New York City, with a population of 8,174,290, is the most walkable City in the US? No wonder everybody loves to go there!
• that Red Deer is considered very walkable, with a score of 78?

Walkability offers surprising benefits to our health, the environment, our finances, and our communities.
Health: The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 6-10 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.
Cities with good public transit and access to amenities promote happiness.
Environment: 82% of CO2 emissions are from burning fossil fuels. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.
Finances: Cars are the second largest household expense in the U.S.One point of Walk Score is worth up to $3,000 of value for your property.
Communities: Studies show that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.


^{Want to know more?  Check out this website: http://www.walkscore.com/}

HEY MR. PRIME MINISTER, WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF -- UPDATE

I posted this link more than two years ago and just revisited it.  It's interesting to note that the only thing that has really changed is that Canada's Minister of the Environment is now Leona. Aglukkag, apointed in 2013.

What's clear to me?  The face may have changed:  the mindset didn't. Try this link below and decide for yourself.

http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=11818

Dawson Creek -- One of Canada's Most Sustainable Urban Communities

Last September,  Dawson Creek BC announced a new initiative to help cut greenhouse gas pollution.  The City  pays $100 for each tonne of carbon emissions from the city's buildings, vehicles and other operations to Dawson Creek Carbon Fund which, in turn supports project which reduce greenhouse gas pollution within the comnmunity.  This innovative approach to reducing its own greenhouse gas pollution works towards meeting its own commitment of carbon neutrality in its operations by 2012, as committed to under the B.C. Climate Action Charter.  Dawson Creek worked closely with the Pembina Institute to design the Carbon Fund.

Dawson Creek is a recognized leader in British Columbia in implementing forward thinking

energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and policies. We recognize that taking

action to reduce emissions is one of the most significant things a municipality can do to

combat climate change, and we are excited to meet this challenge head-on. We have

successfully taken some first steps towards fulfilling our commitment to be carbon neutral

by 2012, and there is much more to do.(1)

The B.C. Climate Action Charter was developed to encourage local governments to make operations carbon neutral by 2012; to measure and report on community emissions; and to work towards creating more compact, complete, energy efficient communities. Dawson Creek is amongst the signatories of the Charter and is committed to being carbon neutral in its municipal operations by 2012.

For more information on the subject, refer to the following link

http://www.planningforpeople.ca/is/index.asp
Dawson Creek’s Strategy

(1)  On the Path to Carbon Neutral 

The People’s Food Policy

Another interesting read about the status of Canada's Food Policy
http://www.margaretwebb.com/apples_to_oysters/fire-in-their-bellies/

When it comes to Alberta’s agri-foods sector, is bigger really better?

http://albertaventure.com/2012/06/when-it-comes-to-alberta%e2%80%99s-agri-foods-sector-is-bigger-really-better/

The following is an excerpt -- for the entire article please refer to the link above

Sizing up the competition - Jun 11, 2012  by Robin Schroffel

If there’s one thing that stands out about Alberta’s agri-foods industry, it’s that nobody stands out. While there are plenty of big companies selling into the Alberta market (Cargill, Olymel, Maple Leaf Foods, Lucerne, Agropur and McCain, to name a few), only one – meat processor XL Foods – is actually headquartered in the province.

What exactly are agri-foods, anyway?

In this industry report, we’ve used the term “agri-foods” to refer to items that have been somehow processed or manufactured, to which value has been added. But Lynn Stegman of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development says the phrase is often used as an umbrella term covering both processed and primary agricultural and food products. It would then include things like basic crops and livestock along with manufactured goods and biofuels.
Primary products (agriculture)
Basic crops and livestock produced from the natural resources of the Earth
Examples: cattle, unprocessed grains such as wheat and barley, legumes such as chickpeas and lentils
Value-added products (food and beverage manufacturing)
Primary agricultural products that have been manufactured to increase their value
Examples: meat, prepared mustard, pet food, beer, spun yarn
Biofuels
Fuels in which energy is derived from a biological carbon source, including vegetable oils, animal fats and crops
Examples: methane from biomass, ethanol, biodiesel

Tips to Earn Points on LEED Project or How to Cheat* at LEED for Homes

it might be a little older but it's still worth the read:

file://http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green-building-curmudgeon/how-cheat-leed-homes

 

Posted on May 24 2011 by Carl Seville, GBA Advisor

Connecting the Fractal City

http://zeta.math.utsa.edu/~yxk833/connecting.html

This essay describes distinct types of cities as characterized by their connective geometry. The pressure to accommodate both the automobile and increased population growth led twentieth-century urbanists to impose anti-fractal geometrical typologies.  The distribution of the sizes of urban components and connections can define fundamentally different types of cities.  In his essay, Nikos A. Salingaros discusses the hierarchy of connections necessary to sustain urban life. Competing networks of connections exist on several scales, each scale being necessary for separate functions. Understanding these interconnections is essential if we wish to incorporate the electronic city into the physical city.  He criticizes the policy of eliminating small-scale connections in favor of large-scale connections -- the city needs both, and in the proper balance.

Urban Gardening and Upcycling

 

The concept is that you water the top plant and it drains through to the plant below that and then to the plant below that.  www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com.

Some great ideas for container gardening!  And he has an entire series to meet all your city dwelling green thumb desires.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TONjtv6uuKI&feature=relmfu