Green Calgary

Do Something GREAT this Earth Day!

Earth Day is Sunday April 22nd and we want to help you make this year GREAT! Green Calgary has a few events taking place this week - check out our ‘Fraction for Environmental Action Campaign’ and help support our initiatives as well as some wonderful local businesses by voting with your dollars! We also kick off our busy Rain Barrel and Composter Sale season with a family fun filled day at the Saddletowne Library as part of Ecopalooza! Come on out on Saturday April 21st and enjoy tons of fun activities, music and entertainment for all ages, and while you are there, why not pop by and pick up a Rain Barrel or Composter? They weather is rumored to be PERFECTION (fingers crossed!) so get outside and enjoy this beautiful city of ours! Lastly, be sure to check out the Earth Day Canada Website – there are a TON of great ideas for families, businesses or anyone looking to do something extra special this Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day, Everyone!!

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Pre-Order your Rain Barrels and Composters today!

Green Calgary Rain Barrel & Composter Sale!

Coming Soon to a Neighbourhood Near You!

Pre-Pay Website Now Live!

For more than 30 years, Green Calgary has pursued the vision of greener yards, healthier homes and communities, and a sustainable City.  Help make this vision a reality by buying a rain barrel and composter at Green Calgary’s Rain Barrel and Composter sales events in 2012!

Water collected in rain barrels has a natural temperature that doesn’t shock plants, it’s chlorine-free and your garden and yard will love it! You can conserve water at home while diverting water from storm drains that carry pollutants back to our rivers.  Rain barrels are low maintenance and easy to use. These are just a few of the benefits associated with rainwater harvesting.

Food and yard waste make up to 40% of the garbage from our homes.In the landfill they create large amounts of a very powerful “greenhouse gas” - methane. With a composter from Green Calgary, you can easily do your part to reduce the amount of organic waste that goes to our landfills.  Compost helps soil hold water better, discourages weeds, and adds essential microorganisms. The result is a healthier, green garden and yard with a reduced need for toxic chemicals.

Rain barrel packages start at $65, or we can tailor-make a combination for your needs. Composters are $40.  Green Calgary will also provide support and advice on using rain barrels and composting.  For more information please call Lynn at 403-230-1443 ext 232.

Your Green Yard savings are possible through the generous sponsorship of the City of Calgary Water Services and First Calgary Financial. All proceeds from the Sales go to supporting Green Calgary’s award-winning programs that empower Calgarians to create healthy homes and communities.

Visit our rain barrel sale website and pre-order your barrels and composters today!

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Look into Community Supported Agriculture

For those of us who don’t have access to a garden or the time it takes to tend one, becoming part of a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture project, makes a whole lot of sense. CSAs first appeared on the scene about fifteen years ago, and have become common throughout much of this country and the world.

The concept of a CSA is as follows: interested households secure either a full (4-6 person) or half (1-2 person) share in the production of a local farmer’s gardens or greenhouses by making a financial commitment (and sometimes a labour commitment), and in return they receive a weekly delivery of locally-grown, certified organic produce for approximately 4 to 5 months during the growing season! Additionally, your investment in a CSA provides farmers the security of knowing that everything they produce is pre-purchased, and they can focus their efforts on growing high quality food.

A CSA is one of the means by which consumers can assure that their food is not only certified organic, but produced in a fashion which minimizes the impacts of agriculture on the environment. Other benefits to investing in a CSA are a) produce that’s locally grown means it is as fresh as possible and b) the produce is affordable, nutritious and (in our opinion) delicious.

If becoming involved with a CSA appeals to you, don’t hesitate - shares sell out quickly every year!

Here are some CSA’s that serve Calgary:

Eagle Creek Farms - www.eaglecreekfarms.ca
Noble Gardens – www.noblegardenscsa.com
Eat Food For Life (Meat only) www.eatfoodforlife.ca
Greens Eggs & Ham – www.greenseggsandham.ca

Happy eating!

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Green Fido’s Diet

There are sustainable options for almost everything these days, and dog and cat food is no exception.  Many companies are making pet food with higher quality, organic and even local ingredients.  These food options will surely keep your family pet healthier and happier than most of the commercially available brands that are largely unregulated and contain many unsavory ingredients. 

Read more about why it’s important to purchase good quality food for your pet.  Here is an ingredient directory for pet food that allows you to search specific ingredients in the pet food you use.  The ingredients coded in red are those that you should always avoid. 

Look for healthier alternatives at natural food stores like Community Natural Foods, Amaranth, Blush Lane, Planet Organic and Sunnyside Market or several local businesses like Back to Basics or Optimal Pet Food specializing in raw food made from local meats.

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Redefine Green in 2011 Holiday Celebrations!

Christmas is a time for family, friends, celebrations and well…unfortunately a lot of waste. Canadians spend on average $800 per person on gifts, specialty foods and general “stuff” resulting in an additional few million tons of waste to our landfills and the most greenhouse gas intensive holiday of the year. Unwrap the following tips and tricks to put the “green” back into your holiday season.

Why spend money on Christmas cards, party invitations and stamps for something that will just end up in the recycling or garbage bin? Canada Post adds 575 daily flights to deliver the 787.3 million cards, letters and parcels during the holiday season. Reduce this demand by using electronic alternatives that can be customized with meaningful music and will easily track your guest lists.
Evite
123 Greetings
Blue Mountain

All too often the most “convenient” solution to a house full of hungry guests is to stock up on disposable plates, cups and cutlery. The consequence and effects of these conventional plastic products in our landfill is well known. Biodegradable and compostable varieties appear to be a great alternative at first glance, but there is a big difference between these categories that requires some attention. For instance, not all biodegradable products are created equal and a compostable product is only compostable if you actually put it into a composter, not the garbage bin. Do your homework and dispose of these products properly.

Permanent dishes, cutlery and glasses give your party a classy edge. Ask a few friends to bring their party supplies to supplement yours. The effort and water needed to wash a few dishes will be far less than the ongoing legacy of your celebration in the landfill. If washing the dishes isn’t your cup of tea, many local party supply rental companies will do them for you!

Your home can also look beautiful and festive, while remaining a healthy and sustainable place to celebrate. Use LED lights instead of wasteful incandescent varieties. Avoid petroleum-based candles with synthetic fragrance and off gassing plastic decorations. Instead, opt for beeswax or organic soy candles usually scented with non-toxic essential oils and make compostable garlands with popcorn, cranberries, and pine cones. Keep in mind that real cut trees can and should be composted and are a more environmentally sound choice than their articifical pvc counterparts.

The average meal in Canada travels 1500-4000 kilometers to get to us, and Christmas dinner and party foods are no exception. By purchasing local and organic foods, you can support a local farmer, eat delicious and health giving foods all while saving upwards of 12 tonnes of carbon emissions. Order a free range or organic turkey through Winter’s Turkeys and check out Community Natural Foods for exciting new party food ideas!

The commercial side of Christmas has exploded over the past few decades and many argue it has distorted the meaning of this holiday. While some people may be happy to have a gift free Christmas, others will be looking for a greener alternative to the consumerist frenzy and the one time wrapping job with shiny paper made in China. Some great ideas found at Planet Friendly include a Community Supported Agriculture membership, tools to plant a backyard garden, Fair Trade products or resources that educate about creating a more sustainable future. Seek out Canadian made gifts and support local businesses by purchasing gift certificates for a service that we all use anyway- like a haircut or an oil change. Purchase an ‘experience’ over something that will sit on a shelf, like theatre or concert tickets. Support local artists by shopping at Christmas art markets or better yet make your own gifts. Also, be sure to check out some of the great alternative gift wrapping and packaging ideas on our blog.

As we enter this holiday season, we will all do our planet and each other a world of good to remember what is truly important- time with family and friends, a strong community, loving gestures and conscious thought.

Happy Holidays everyone from the Green Calgary Team!

Other references woth checking out:
Julie-Ann Amos Green Christmas Party Guide
Green Muze: Green your Christmas
The Center for the New America Dream’s Simplify the Holidays Brochure

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Have a Green Halloween!

There are many ways you can make this year’s Halloween fun and GREEN, because we all know it’s not really about the candy. When kids are with their parents and friends, with everyone getting dressed up and participating, that’s where the fun is! This year, why not focus on people and activities instead of junk food and things. Here are some creative ideas from http://www.greenhalloween.org to get you started:

  Make a big deal of your child’s costume – getting dressed, taking pictures, etc.
  Have a neighborhood party and forgo trick-or-treating all together.
  Have a charity-themed party. Instead of giving out prizes for games, allow children to pick from a list of charities and make a donation in their name.
  Have a Halloween gratitude party. Deliver handmade cards to your local farmer and take a tour of his/her field. Arrange before hand for each child to bring a mini pumpkin home.
  Talk to your neighbors about what they will be giving away in advance.
  Show your Green by displaying your own Green Halloween sign and ask your Green Halloween neighbors to do the same.
  Give kids a full, healthy meal before they go out trick-or-treating so they are not hungry.
  Talk to your kids about what is in candy and why it is not healthy. Ask them to come up with creative, kid and Earth-friendly alternatives that your own family can hand out and feel good about.

If your child does collect candy:

  Invite the Halloween Fairy to come to your home to pick it up in exchange for a green gift or present.
  Have a candy trade: let your kids trade their candy towards other little gifts.
  Let them choose a limited amount of candy to eat (for example, one piece for each year your child is old).

What to hand out INSTEAD of candy:

  Something from nature like acorns, seashells, feathers, packets of seeds
  kids band-aids with fun themes or stickers
  Barrettes or other hair things, yarn bracelets or beads
  Coins
  Cookie cutters – mini
  Copies of pages from a colouring book tied up with a soy based crayon
  Jokes
  Whistles or Bells
  Use your imagination!

For more creative ideas on how to make this year’s Halloween as Green as possible, check out this inspiring website http://www.greenhalloween.org. Boo!

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Get your School to go Idle-Free!

Tragically, one of the most common places to find idling cars is outside of schools. Parents and guardians, waiting to drop off or pick up their children, unwittingly release over 40 harmful toxins into the air in and around the school. This means that many of the air pollutants being released every day in the city are concentrated around the people most easily affected by it: children. Children breathe faster than adults, and inhale more air proportionally to their body weight, which puts their developing bodies at a much higher risk of respiratory diseases, heart diseases, and cancer. You can make a difference at your school by declaring it “Idle-Free”.

Take these four steps and breathe easier!

  Make a plan to go Idle Free with your school’s administration
  Educate everyone involved or affected
  Sign up for and commit to Green Calgary’s Idle Free policy
  Celebrate the fact that your school is Idle Free in posters and newsletters!

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Prioritize your Pesticides!

So you like the idea of buying organic produce, but cannot afford to buy everything organic? Or maybe you are concerned about your health and potential chemical residue on your food? The Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, published annually by the Environmental Working Group, provides a clear guide to pesticide contamination on your favourite foods that fill your shopping cart, fridge and tummy.

The Dirty Dozen list contains fruit and vegetables with the highest pesticide residuals. Eat your five a day from this list and you will be consuming on average 14 different pesticides a day. Prioritize these foods for your organic purchases.

Or snack on the Clean Fifteen (foods with the lowest pesticide residuals) for your five a day and reduce your pesticide intake by a whopping 92%!

For a complete listing of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen, click here.

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

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Ride your Bike!

- Many people are nervous about starting to bike commute to and from work, so why not ease into it by taking your bike somewhere like the grocery store or the movies- see how you like it and go from there.

- Looking for a good way to get back on track after a few too many Stampede pancakes? Riding your bike is an awesome form of exercise! It also makes for a great (free) date night or leisurely Sunday afternoon with friends- just pack a small picnic and the possibilities are endless!

- Though the amount of cars in the world has grown substantially in the past twenty years, the number of bikes has risen even more! The City of Calgary is working hard to improve bike infrastructure and make bike commuting easier for all of us!
- Biking can get you where you’re going faster; especially if it is less than three kilometers.

- Live too far away to commute to downtown? The City offers 7 ‘Park & Bike’ lots within a 5 - 8km radius of the downtown core. Park for free, avoid traffic congestion, save on gas and enjoy a lovely bike to and from work each morning.

- Don’t have a lot of money to spend on a new bike or your old bike needs a bit TLC? Check out our friends at The Goodlife Community Bike shop - They have tons of quality second hand bikes available as well as a wealth of knowledge to get your bike back in tip top shape! You will also be supporting an amazing non-profit organization by going there!

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Dandelions: If you can’t beat them – eat them!

No matter how many tons of chemicals are dumped onto suburban lawns to kill them, dandelions reign. Before you bring out that bottle of herbicide – consider what Dandelions can do for you:

The greens are one of the best sources of beta-carotene

They supply high amounts of potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and fibre

They contain many trace minerals and nutrients. In fact, 1 cup of raw Dandelion Greens has more vitamin A, vitamin K, Calcium, and Iron than 1 cup of Broccoli

Dandelion Greens have both a tonic and cleansing action in the body, especially in the kidney and liver.

They support digestion, reduce swelling and inflammation, treat viruses, jaundice, edema, gout, eczema and acne.

Some recipes to get you started:

Honey-Preserved Blossom Spread

Dandelion Apple Drink

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Purchase a rain barrel to harvest rain water from your roof

• Water use in Calgary doubles in the spring and summer month due residents watering lawns and gardens.
• Rain water is better for your garden and lawn because it has no added chemical and it is the right temperature for the plants.
• The average Calgarian will get 200 barrels of rain from their roof during the growing season.
• Harvesting rain water decreases the amount of storm water entering the river without treatment.
• Using a rain barrel decreases your greenhouse gas emissions associated with water treatment.

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The Scoop on “Green” De-Icers

Using rock salt as a side walk de-icer has long been an easy and inexpensive way of clearing snow and ice from our sidewalks.  Unfortunately the environmental impacts of using rock salt, which is usually sodium chloride- NaCl, are numerous. This popular alternative to a good ‘ole shovel is known to destroy the surrounding soil which grows valuable vegetation in the summer months.  Vegetation that acts as a buffer, slowing run off from entering the water ways.  This run off which typically carries the left over salt and other contaminants, then makes its way into our freshwater and builds up to concentration levels that further affect aquatic plants and organisms.

Some de-icers claim to be a “green” alternative.  It’s very difficult to read through the lines to determine whether many products truly are green, and de-icers are no different.  Some eco-friendly de-icers claim they use ‘natural’ ingredients but sodium chloride is still an active ingredient in many of these products. 

As an alternative, we suggest clearing all snow with a shovel before it builds up to ice.  If you happen to forget or need to be extra cautious, using coarse sand, kitty litter or even sawdust are great substitutes.

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Bullfrog Power: 100% Green Electricity!

Support the renewable power industry by putting your dollars towards 100% wind power generated right here in Alberta! By signing up for Bullfrog Power, you are doing your part to reduce your environmental impact by addressing climate change and air pollution.

Signing up for Bullfrong power couldn’t be easier! Just click here to quickly sign-up online. There will be no charge to your electricity provider, no special wiring or equipment is required, and payment options are convenient.

Use the Green Calgary promo code to get your first month free (up to $25).
Promo code: GC

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Check your Sunscreen!

Many sunscreens contain products like oxybenzone – a known hormone disruptor – and retinyl palmitate, which may become carcinogenic when exposed to sunlight. New research regarding many ingredients found in personal care products, including sunscreens, suggests we must be more prudent with what we lather on our skin. This isn’t to say we should not wear sunscreen but rather we should choose safer sunscreens. The Environmental Working Group has a terrific website dedicated to helping people find effective and safe sunscreens. Search your current sunscreen and if it contains suspect ingredients, choose a healthier alternative!

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Check out a Farmers’ Market This Summer!

Calgary is home to a growing number of farmers’ markets, with a growing number of local producers selling fresh, local produce, milk, eggs and meat, much of which is organic or at least grown without pesticides. This is a great place to learn more about food in our local bio-region while talking to the very people who grow it. For a listing of farmers’ markets in Calgary click here.

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Be a ‘Green’ Diva

What product is good for your health, your pocketbook and prevents billions of tonnes of disposable waste from being dumped into landfills each year? The Award-Winning, revolutionary menstrual solution – The DivaCup! 

The DivaCup is:

• reusable and reliable,
• non-absorbent, clean and convenient,
• latex-free, BPA-free and plastic free, and
• contains no dyes, colors or additives. 

When you consider the costs, pollution, and waste inherent in the use of disposable tampons and pads, replacing one’s feminine hygiene products with The DivaCup makes good sense every month!

You can find out more at http://www.divacup.com. The DivaCup is available at Green Calgary’s Ecostore.

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Pull out the Rain Barrel

This is the time of the year when the robins return, the temperature climbs steadily higher and the precipitation turns liquid. April is the time to pull out the rain barrel and put it to use for yet another season. There is no better time to start catching free, non-chlorinated water for your plants, trees, shrubs and veggies. And if you don’t already have a rain barrel, you can always pick one up at the EcoStore or come out to our Annual Rain Barrel sale on Saturday May 1st at three locations throughout Calgary.

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Request Organic Milk and Sugar

While a growing number of coffee shops are serving organic and fair-trade coffee, the vast majority are still providing conventional (i.e. non-organic) milk and white table sugar. Request that your favorite coffee shop carry organic milk, cream and sugar. Fill out a comment card or tell the staff directly. And tell them you’d pay an extra $0.25 for your beverage if they made the switch. Everything is connected and it’s a shame to put conventional fixings into an ethical cup of brew.

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Choose Sustainable Sushi

According to SeaChoice – an initiative of Sustainable Seafood Canada - most global fisheries are poorly managed and many have been fully exploited (52%), over-exploited (16%), or depleted (7%). You can help stop this troubling trend by choosing the “Best Choice” species located in the Sea Choice Canada’s Sustainable Sushi Guide.By selecting “Best Choice” species you are supporting sustainable fishing and farming practices, thereby safeguarding the oceans for future generations.

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Invest in Your Home

With just 13 months remaining in the EcoEnergy Retrofit program, there is no better time to think about having a home energy audit done. Once completed, you will have a comprehensive and prioritized list of retrofit options that will make your home more comfortable and efficient. Eligible retrofits can fetch you up to $6500 in federal rebates and another $4350 in provincial rebates. With utility cost on the rise, investing in your home could be one of the best investments you ever make.

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Watch Your “C” Words

A few decades ago the corporately controlled media began referring to people as “consumers” instead of what they really were… citizens. What may appear to be a small detail was in fact the beginning of a momentous shift in how we looked at ourselves and, indeed, how we were looked at by those who sought to influence us. This is profound for the simple fact that consumers have two options: to buy or not to buy. Citizens, on the other hand, can vote, love, protest, heal, build community, teach, listen, learn, grow, and create change. To be called a consumer is to be called powerless. To be called a CITIZEN is to be reminded that we, not they, hold the power. To change this, we will have to pay careful attention to how speak of ourselves and others. Though not as easy at it seems, it is, perhaps, a first step in taking back our power… if only a little.

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Simplify the Holidays

The holidays are an opportunity to slow down, reflect and spend time with loved ones, but, for many, the holidays have become increasingly hectic, stressful, and exhausting. If you are looking to get back to the basics, focusing on the things that really matter – friends, family, good food, and winter fun – then check out the Simplify the Holidays brochure from the Center for a New American Dream. It is full of ideas on how to reduce stress, while increasing personal fulfillment during the holiday season.

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Drain your Rain Barrel

I’m sure most people are aware of this but for those of you who are not, autumn is the time to drain your rain barrel. Since we didn’t have an autumn this year a lot of people are likely in damage control. The good news is that it’s going to warm up in the next few days and if your barrel hasn’t already cracked, then this might be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Get your rain barrel into the sun and twist that tap open. Drain it, tip it upside down or move it into the garage, and reconfigure your downspout to direct the winter melts. Treat your barrel well and it’ll keep on giving you clean, chemical-free water for years to come!

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Avoid using your toilet as a garbage can

If you’re also interested in what actually happens to all the stuff that goes down the drain, then come and join us on a Waste Water Treatment Plant Tour on Sept. 26th, 2009.

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Buy Green for Back to School

Each year families go out to purchase a new round of school supplies for students. Try greening your supplies this year by:

• Simplifying what you need and buying less;
• Looking for items made of reused or recycled content such as recycled content binders (pictured below);
• Avoiding fragranced items such as smelly markers, white out and white board pens which may have adverse health effects;
• Looking for locally produced items;
• Investing in high quality items which will last over many years or reuse your supplies from last year.

Many times it is difficult for consumers to avoid greenwashing, even with school supplies. One example is compostable items being sold in Calgary; though better for the environment when going to a composting facility, they go to landfill here so are not a good choice. If you have questions about a manufacturer’s claims, please feel free to contact us for details.

Businesses can also green up their office supplies. For more information, contact our Commercial Environmental Services team or invite us to your office for a Green Procurement workshop.

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Go Styrofoam Free at Work

• Styrofoam, and other one time use disposable items, can account for up to 50% of waste coming out of an office environment.
• Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene, does not biodegrade and is potentially harmful to the natural environment when littered. Try implementing a Styrofoam Fee jar at your workplace and have people pay a penalty of $1-$5 for bringing Styrofoam into the office.
• Alternatives to Styrofoam are widely available and easy to use. Consider bringing your own reusable container with you when you go out for lunch. Alternatively, check out our EcoClamshell.

Want to learn other ways to go green at work? Contact our Commercial Environmental Service team or have us out for a Waste at Work workshop.

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Talk to a friend

• Many of us greenies may have trouble speaking with friends, family and coworkers. It can be a challenge to approach someone with a different worldview than your own but it is still important to start the conversation.
• Talk to someone close to you about one change you have made in your life and why. It is important not to preach but rather share your experience and the success you have had with it (i.e. cost saving, a good feeling etc.)
• Give up television one night a week when you would normally just veg out. Use the time to meet up with friends and strengthen your relationships.

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Give Love to the Dandelion

• Though often seen as a weed, dandelions are actually good indicators of poor soil quality in your yard. Use the wisdom a dandelion is trying to share with you by amending the area around it with compost to improve the soil quality.
• Dandelions play an important role in the springtime ecosystem, like the prairie crocus, they are early bloomers, providing valuable food to pollinators - they could provide food for you too!
• To prevent dandelions, keep your grass nice and long (about 7.5cm tall) and establish a plant ground cover, such as those found with native prairie grasses. If you need to get rid of dandelions, pluck the yellow heads to prevent them from seeding, pulls them out by hand or with tool such as The Dandy and try some organic remedies such as corn gluten or compost tea.

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Eliminate antibacterials from your home and life

Antibacterials, especially those containing triclosan, can have negative effects on your health and the surrounding environment. Antibacterials have been identified by Cosmetics Database as cancer causing, an irritant, an endocrine disruptor, having developmental and/or reproductive toxicity and as a substance which bioaccumulates in the environment and animal tissues.

To protect yourself and your family, use regular soap products such as Dr. Bronners castile soap. It is also recommended that you avoid soaps with artificial fragrance added as well.

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Sign up to be Idle Free

Although most people realize that engine exhaust decreases outdoor air quality, they probably do not realize that an idling engine actually releases more harmful emissions than an engine does during driving!

The City of Calgary calculates that if each Calgarian driver reduced their idling time by three minutes per day, we would emit 33,600 fewer tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. This is equivalent to taking about 27,000 cars off of Calgary roads.

By signing the Idle Free Commitment and joining Calgarians who are already Idle Free, you can make a big difference whether you are an individual, family, group, workplace or school.

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Get off the addressed ad-mail lists

Many people have No Flyers and Junk Mail stickers but still receive junk mail that has their name on it. It takes a few easy steps to get off those lists:

• You can stop a lot of addressed junk mail by registering online for the Do Not Mail/Do Not Call program at http://www.the-cma.org/consumer/donotcontact.cfm
• If you are an Air Miles collector remove your name from their distribution lists via e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Simply say you would like no more paper advertising
• Other rewards programs may also send you addressed admail, contact them as well to be removed.
• If you have a Junk Mail sticker but it is not respected by your letter carrier, download the following letter and simply put in the mailbox for the carrier; there is no need to put it in an envelope; http://www.reddotcampaign.ca/downloads/RedDot-LettertoCanadaPost.pdf

No Flyers and Junk Mail stickers are available from Clean Calgary Association’s EcoStore for $2 each. Thank you for supporting our fundraiser.

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Make your own window cleaner

Many harmful chemicals are released into the air and water from our cleaning products. Window cleaners are really easy to replace with chemical free alternative or make your own.

Recipe # 1
1 c. white vinegar
1 c. water

Mix together (always equal parts) and store in a pump spray container for easy use.

Recipe # 2
1 c. white vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 c. Water

Mix with water and you can clean windows or any other glass, countertops and tile.

For more information on Green Cleaning, Check out our Green Cleaning workshop or download our Green Cleaning Guide.

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Clean or change your furnace filter

• A clean furnace filter will help to minimize your energy costs in the winter and maximize the efficiency of the furnace.
• For the best results, a furnace filter should be replaced or cleaned once a month, especially during the winter months.
• Reusable furnace filters are the best way to reduce waste and save money. If you have a replaceable filter, find out if a reusable option exists.

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Be a thoughtful shopper

• Support local businesses and buy local products and services to help our local economy and reduce emissions associated with transportation.
• Make a point of asking about how products are produced and consider the environmental impacts of producing a product. This is especially important in protecting our health and the health of our families.
• Think about where the product will go once you are finished with it. Avoid purchasing items which are one-time use disposable or items which have no reuse or recycling options.

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Use the Leaf and Yard drop off

Until November 9th, 2008 you can recycle your bagged leaves and pumpkins free of charge at several locations around Calgary. Go to calgary.ca and type “Leaf and Yard” into search for locations.

Calgary’s waste to landfill goes up significantly in the spring and fall due to yard clean ups. This organic matter breaks down aerobically in the landfill creating methane gas emissions: a very potent greenhouse gas.

Alternatively, you can compost them at home. Clean Calgary sells $25 compost bins year-round and fall is the perfect time to start!

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Try composting and enjoy a stink free garbage

• Fall is probably one of the best times to start composting because of the ample amount of leaves. Leaves should be collected and stored to add to the bin throughout winter.
• Over half of Calgary’s waste to landfill can be composted and subsidized composters are available for just $25 year-round at Clean Calgary Association’s EcoStore.
• If you already compost and want to know more or to help others compost, sign up for our Master Composter course.

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Remember your Cloth Bag

Many Calgarians have cloth bags and want to do the right thing by bringing them to the grocery store, retail stores and the mall but many of us forget. Here are a few tips to help you remember your bag:

• Store your cloth bag where you keep your keys, purse or coat;
• Hook your cloth bag by the door;
• Have a small, foldable bag in your backpack, purse or coat;
• Stash your grocery list in your cloth bag;
• Fine yourself when you forget and;
• Store your cloth bag in your trunk.

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Take your bike

• Many people are nervous about taking their bikes to the grocery store or to the movies. Try taking your bike somewhere you normally wouldn’t this month and see how you like it.
• Though the amount of cars in the world has grown substantially in the past twenty years, the number of bikes has risen more quickly!
• Biking can get you where you’re going faster; especially if it is less than three kilometers.
• If you have a car 1995 or older, trade it in to Car Heaven for a $300 bike credit. Check out www.carheaven.ca for details.

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Avoid drinking bottled water

• Bottled water costs more per litre than gas for our cars.
• Bottled water often travels hundreds of kilometers to be sold while tap water travels from the rivers to our taps in Calgary.
• Every year, millions of water bottles end up in landfills in Canada.
• Calgary’s drinking water is very high quality and comparable to or even better than bottled water.

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Save water and money with your toilet

• Toilets are the single biggest water user in our homes and account for 34% of our water use.
• 1 in 4 toilets leak so test and fix yours regularly.
• To save water each flush, place a plastic bag full of water in your toilet tank.
• To modify your toilet, install a two-flush handle to give a big-flush, little-flush option (Available at the EcoStore).
• Upgrade to a new two-flush toilet and get a $50 rebate on your water bill.

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Green Spring Clean

• The main sources of human exposure to toxic chemicals are the areas we once thought were safest: our own homes, offices and cars (Scientific American, Feb. 1998). Try to eliminate chemical based products in you home.
• Many companies offer green cleaning options which are usually non-toxic, bio-degradable and phosphate free
• You need just a few simple things to make you own cleaning products: vinegar, borax, baking soda and castile soap.

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Choose to Walk

• Transportation is Canada’s largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Calgary has the highest transportation-generated carbon dioxide emissions of any city in Canada.
• Every year an estimated three million people die and an even greater number suffer serious health effects from air pollution, primarily respiratory diseases, asthma and cardiovascular disease.
• This mortality figure represents about 5% of the total 55 million deaths that occur annually in the world.

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Reduce water use in your bathroom

• Repair toilet leaks.
  • To test your toilet, put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl you have a leak.
• Fix leaky faucets. A tap that drips one drop per second wastes about 10,000 litres per year.
• Install water saving aerators on your water faucets and low flow shower heads in the shower.
• Avoid running the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, washing up and cleaning.

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Save money and energy with your fridge

• Place a jug/container of water outside and let it freeze. Once frozen, put it in your fridge and let the ice, not your motor, do the cooling.
• Set your refrigerator temperature between 1.7 and 3.3°C (35-38°F) and the freezer compartment at -18°C (0°F) for maximum efficiency and food safety.
• Refrigerator motors and compressors generate heat, so allow enough space for continuous airflow around your refrigerator. If heat can not escape, the refrigerator’s cooling system has to work harder and use more energy.

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If you chose to have Christmas lights, make them LED

• In Alberta, the majority of our greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity generation. Any steps taken to reduce electricity use are beneficial especially during the 5pm-10pm peak hours.
• LED lights use only 0.04 watts per bulb; 1/10th the energy of mini-lights and 1/100th the energy of C-7 bulbs.
• LEDs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent lights.
• If you can’t make the switch to LEDs this year, seek exchange programs next year (i.e. Home Depot Holiday Light Exchange).

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Purchase green gifts for Christmas

The season of giving is upon us and though reducing the amount of gifts purchased during the season will have a great impact, so will buying green gifts. Green gifts are generally more environmentally friendly than their traditional Christmas counterparts. Green gift can be either material items or services.

Some ideas for green gifts include:

• products made from recycled materials
• gift certificates or tickets to concerts, theater productions or sporting events
• an annual pass to our National Parks
• a carshare membership or bus passes
• green energy credits for you home, computer or laptop
• composters or rain barrels
• seeds for flowers and trees
• clothing made from organic cotton

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Help to stop idling and idling myths

• Idling for 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting your engine.
• Frequently turning off and restarting a vehicle has little impact on a vehicle’s battery or starter motor. Component wear caused by restarting an engine adds little to annual repair costs – and can be recovered several times over in fuel savings from reduced idling.
• Idling produces more emissions per minute than driving.
• Driving is the best way to heat up your engine. A vehicle’s catalytic converter needs to be hot (400 to 800 degrees Celsius) before it can effectively clean pollutants from its exhaust.
• Traffic areas around schools – where vehicles are often left idling – often show significantly higher pollution levels outside – and inside – their buildings.
• Calgary has the highest transportation-generated carbon dioxide emissions of any city in Canada.

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Drop off old, unwanted cell phones at Clean Calgary

• Cell phone recycling programs, including one set up by the Clean Calgary Association, attempt to prevent cell phones from fouling our soil and water by keeping them out of the landfill.
• According to INFORM Inc., cell phones are replaced every 18 months and less than 5% are recycled. This means that, in Canada alone, roughly 14 million cell phones enter the waste stream every 18 months.
• Call Clean Calgary to set up a cell phone collection week at your workplace or school.

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Start Grass Cycling

Grasscycling is the process of recycling grass clippings by leaving them on your lawn. You don’t need a special mower, just take the bag off your current mower.

Grass clippings are free fertilizer and they are very high in nitrogen. When clippings decompose, they release their nutrients back into your lawn.

Grasscycling has many benefits including saving time, reducing waste and leading to a deeper, healthier root system which will increase your lawn’s resistance to disease, drought and insects.

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Unplug all your electronics and appliances, especially before you go on vacation.

Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. Unplugging the appliance or using a power bar to cut all power to the appliance will save you money, especially when you are away from home.

These “vampire or “phantom” electricity draws account for up to 10% of a homes energy costs.

Phantom loads occur in most appliances such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, laptops, and kitchen appliances.

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Have a container of water in your fridge for cool summer drinking

• Letting the faucet run to get cold water is a big water waste. Keep a water jug or water bottle in the fridge will ensure you have cold water when needed.
• Water use doubles in Calgary in the summer putting extra pressure on our water treatment and wastewater treatment plants.
• For other tips on water conservation visit www.cleancalgary.org

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Purchase chemical free cleaning products

• Chemicals from our cleaning products are building up in the environment and proving to be deadly for some creatures. In the Bow River we are experiencing a build up of phosphate (mostly from laundry detergent) which increases algae growth.
• Green cleaning products are cheaper and often work better than the toxic alternative.
• These products are healthier to have in your home both for you and your family.

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Purchase a rain barrel to harvest rain water from your roof

• Water use in Calgary doubles in the spring and summer month due residents watering lawns and gardens.
• Rain water is better for your garden and lawn because it has no added chemical and it is the right temperature for the plants.
• The average Calgarian will get 200 barrels of rain from their roof during the growing season.
• Harvesting rain water decreases the amount of storm water entering the river without treatment.
• Using a rain barrel decreases your greenhouse gas emissions associated with water treatment.

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Take at least one cloth bag with you every time you go shopping

Canadians take home over 55 million plastic bags every WEEK.

• Though plastic bags are a better alternative to using paper bags, using neither a plastic nor paper bag is the best option.
• If each person in Canada used just one reusable bag per week, we can save 171 million bags a year.
• Plastic bags, when littered, can get stuck in sewer and drains causing water back ups or floods. Plastic bags are banned in Bangladesh for this reason.

Source: Raven Recycling Society and Clean Calgary Association

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Wash your clothes in cold water

Since 80-90% of the energy used in doing the wash is used to heat the water, you too may save both energy and money by switching your washing machine dial to cold and leaving it there!

If all households in Canada that currently use either hot or warm water to wash their clothes switch to cold water, approximately 1.5 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent would be prevented from entering the earth’s atmosphere.

Many companies now offer special cold water wash detergents so you don’t have to switch cleanliness for environmental benefit.

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Change at Least One Light Bulb to a Compact Fluorescent

Compact fluorescent:

• 750 hours is the average life span of an incandescent lightbulb;
• 10,000 hours is the average life span of a compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL);
• Use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer;
• Save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime;
• Generate 70 percent less heat, so they are safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling; and
• Are available in different sizes and shapes to fit in almost any fixture, for indoors and outdoors.

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