Green Calgary

Biofuels and Global Hunger

Good evening Ashley,

I’ve heard a lot about biofuels over the past few years and while governments laud its potential, passing policies to support evermore ethanol and such, I can’t help to wonder how we’ll be able to grow enough crops to feed our vehicles and the, now, 7 billion of us that share this planet. Is it possible to have our cake and eat it too?

Sincerely,

Jessica

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Future Proofing Our Homes

Hi Ashley,

My husband and I live in an older home built in the mid-1970s and our energy bills are nothing short of outrageous. Though energy efficiency wasn’t high on the list of priorities when we purchased the home 25 years ago, it now occurs to me that almost nothing, save for a meager amount of pink insulation in the walls, was done to limit energy consumption in our home. We plan on upgrading the efficiency of our home but would like to do it to the highest standard, such that we aren’t looking back another 25 years from now asking ourselves why we didn’t do more. What is possible for an older energy hungry home like ours?

Thanks Ashley!

Sally

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Rabbit Ears, Converter Boxes, & Energy Efficient Televisions

I’m probably in the minority here but I’m one of those people that still use “rabbit-ears” to watch TV. Since I have an older TV the switch from analog to digital programming later this summer will affect me. I appreciate having a few channels to catch the nightly news, so I’m wondering if it makes more sense to purchase a converter box that allows me to keep my old TV or should I replace it altogether with a new and possibly more energy efficient one?

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Eneregy Efficient Food Preservation

Hi Ashley,

My husband and I have been attempting to cut back on our electricity consumption, replacing old lighting with energy efficient options, unplugging electronics when they are not in use, and we recycled an old power-hungry fridge that lived in the garage. Though we have noticed big electricity reductions during most of the year, it always spikes in the fall when our kitchen transforms into a small food processing facility, turning the garden’s bounty into jams, pickles, salsas, and various other canned goods. We expect our bills to go up during this time but we’re always surprised by how much they spike. We wonder if you have any tips on cutting back on electricity consumption in the kitchen during these busy times.

Thank you,

Anne & Bill

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Alternative Energy in Calgary

I understand that most of our electricity is generated from the burning of coal and while I’d like to generate my own electricity, the cost seems prohibitive. What intermediary options exist for someone concerned about the impact of burning fossil fuels for electricity but who cannot afford to invest in a $20,000 solar array?

Thank you,

Carole

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Going Green and the Return on Investment (encore)

Dear Mr. Lubyk,

What is the return on investment (R.O.I.) for the various water and energy saving upgrades? I ask because I have a limited budget and I want to know how to best prioritize the changes I want to make. Should I replace toilets or should I upgrade my windows? Should I replace my 15 year old fridge or the 20 year old dishwasher? A few examples of how to best prioritize these investments would be extremely helpful.

Thanks,

Phil

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Going Green and the Return on Investment

Dear Mr. Lubyk,

What is the return on investment (R.O.I.) for the various water and energy saving upgrades? I ask because I have a limited budget and I want to know how to best prioritize the changes I want to make. Should I replace toilets or should I upgrade my windows? Should I replace my 15 year old fridge or the 20 year old dishwasher? A few examples of how to best prioritize these investments would be extremely helpful.

Thanks,

Phil

» Read Ashley's Answer

Taking the Heat Off CFLs

Dear Ashley,

I recently watch a clip on Global television that suggested that energy saving bulbs were unsafe. I can’t recall all of the details but I’m wondering what your take is on the whole issue. Should we be getting rid of the energy saving bulbs or is this just another scare tactic to keep everyone guessing?

Thank you.

Melanie

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Making the Most of Your Tankless Hot Water Heater

Dear Ashley,

Last year I installed an on-demand tankless hot water heater to replace my old hot water tank and although it seems as though I’m saving natural gas, I have to run my taps for longer to get hot water to them. This water waste really concerns me. I’ve heard of recirculation pumps but I don’t know much about them. Do you have any information or advice?

Thank you,
Douglas

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Let the Breeze Do Your Dirty Work.

Dear Ashley,

With spring quickly approaching I was reminded of an incident involving a next-door neighbor last year. It involved my clothesline. This particular neighbor claimed that my clothesline was not only unsightly but it brought down property values in the neighborhood. He went so far as threatening to call bylaw services if I did not remove it promptly. Although I have since moved I am still curious to know if Calgary has a bylaw that would favor aesthetics over my right to do something good for the environment.

Kindly,
Anne

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