Great misconception #1: Going “green” may sound like the latest trend to you. It seems as though in today’s day and age everyone is doing environmentally friendly things because it’s the “in” thing to do, as if it’s a fad.
Great misconception #2: That having a 0 carbon footprint = not driving, using electricity only in the most crucial of times, and tree hugging?
The definition of being environmentally friendly is “to minimize harmful impact on the natural world”. So, it’s not a fad, its here to stay! Our environment has gotten substantially worse over the years, and it’s up to us to slowly bring it back to what it was! Nowhere in this definition does it state that being an environmentally friendly person means tree hugging with no electricity and protesting (phew!).
Whatever small amount each person can do, can mean making our world a slightly more pleasant place to live. Each person, depending on their lifestyle, will have their own definition. For some that may mean car-pooling to work, recycling, & using biodegradable ingredients. For others, that may mean only taking public transportation, and having geo-thermal heating. Whatever you choose to do, is completely up to you.
With that said…what does green mean to you?
Tiffany A.
Photo by Andy Singer
Have you been wondering if sustainability is just a fad? We have all seen a dramatic increase in the use of eco-friendly buzzwords and popularity of keeping everything ‘green’. But will sustainability become just another meaningless word used in our everyday lives?
Some might say that people are just following along in the ‘eco-friendly’ movement. Andrew Winston founder of Winston Eco-Strategies and author of “Green to Gold” thinks otherwise.
He feels that consumers and retailers alike are demanding sustainable practices from the products they buy and from the methods used in manufacturing.
The greatest demand Mr. Winston says comes from the consumers themselves. These types of conscious consumers “want it all, they want price and quality.” He believes that consumers want to know where the product came from, what its energy use is, and if it is non-toxic.
Mr. Winston feels that companies must gives consumers what they want at the same price and quality but they have to give them the sustainable attributes.
It is very clear that sustainability is not just a trend that will fade away like the colors of the season. Sustainability will become a new way of living, and this transformation starts with us; the consumers.
Continue to follow the Westmount EcoSquad throughout our movement towards a sustainable lifestyle. You’ll be able live ‘greener’ in no time!
Melissa I.
Are you buying a car this spring? Save on gas and pump up the tires on your bicycle to use it as your new means of transportation. You will be exercising as well as lowering the pollution in your local area.
Take a look at the BIXI bicycles in Montreal! Take it to work, to school or even to shop around downtown Montreal. Bicycling around the city is a healthy, cost effective and eco-friendly alternative mode of transportation. Make the obvious choice this spring, when the BIXI will be installed for use in May.
How does it work?
- Go to the BIXI station nearest you.
- Put your credit card in the machine to pay – click here for rates.
- Take your assigned bike out by unlocking the stand.
- And enjoy the ride!
When your done, just bring the BIXI to the nearest station around the city. If you need to run a quick errand, the first 30 minutes on the bike is free.
By having more BIXI users around the city, the overall air pollution from car’s exhausts will be diminished. Now it’s your turn, Westmount, to think of something as innovative, creative and ecologically friendly as the BIXI.
Here is a video of what NOT to do with a BIXI.
Have you tried the Bixis in Montreal? What do you think of them?
Have fun, keep the air clean, and don’t forget your helmet!
-Melissa O.
Sure an organic grocery bill will ring up a large tab at the cashier (hopefully you get your air-miles worth!), but what if you were able to save 40% with a coupon?You may love that organic coffee place on the corner because of the free trade coffee they serve, but cant afford a 6$ cup every morning. Wouldn’t you be happy to know you can get it for 3$ every morning instead?
So how can we support costly free-trade or green initiatives consistently if we dont have the budget to do so? The answer is simple……COUPONS, COUPONS, COUPONS!
Think of the widely popular Entertainment coupon book, paint it green, and fill it with deals to green products and services availably locally or online and BOOM!, you have MONTREAL’S FIRST AND ONLY GREEN COUPON BOOK! The “Green Consciousness Guide” gives buyers the opportunity to save more than $3,000 on green or fair trade initiatives, all for the low cost of 20$! Save big on massages, foods, art etc!
The “Green Consciousness Guide” is available in many bookstores such as Chapters and Indigo and online. Get your hands on it today! I know I’m going to grab one!
-Lorne S
Since the ongoing trend is to be eco-friendly, many car companies have decided to launch hybrid models of their vehicles. Will you sacrifice power, speed and design to be eco-friendly? If so, do you believe hybrid cars are TRULY eco-friendly as advertised? There is quite a bit of controversy about whether hybrid cars are in fact green.
So let’s lay out the facts.
Hybrid cars are the most gasoline efficient car out there however, they do cost more up front.
On the other hand, I bet you did not know that the amount of carbon dioxide released to generate electricity to power a hybrid vehicle and the emissions released to fabricate the vehicle is just as great if not greater than the amount of emissions released with a normal gasoline vehicle!
So what car should you drive? Do you think that hybrid car manufacturers will soon be able to TRULY make hybrid cars eco-friendly, from the fabrication to the car being on the road?
Out of the list provided rank which cars you think are the most eco-friendly?
(1 being the most fuel efficient with the lowest carbon dioxide emissions)
1. Smart for Two
2. Volkswagen Jetta TDI mit Clean Diesel
3. Rolls-Royce Coupe
4. Ford Fusion Hybrid
5. BMW 335i Coupe
6. Toyota Prius Hybrid
7. Lexus CT 200h
8. Maserati GrandTurismo
To find out how fuel efficient your car is visit
Mark your calendars…March 26th, 2011 is Earth Hour!
Join the largest grassroots movement in history by simply flipping the switch!!
The Ad campaign for Earth Hour
Grab a book, have a candle lit dinner or play an old fashioned board game with friends. Whatever you decide to do make sure on March 26th, 2011 to turn off your lights for one hour starting at 8:30 pm (local time)
- 128 Countries
- 4616 Towns and Cities
- 1.3 Billion People ….be part of the largest voluntary action ever witnessed!
Not yet convinced?!? Did I mention Miranda Kerr would be there? She is this year’s global ambassador.
Miranda Kerr- Global Ambassador for Earth Hour
Go beyond Earth Hour by checking out http://www.beyondthehour.org/ to share with the world what you can do in your daily life to make a difference!
If you’re looking for how you can participate in Montreal, Westmount is hosting an Earth Hour Event. Get more information at http://www.westmount.org/calendar_view.cfm?Event_ID=305
Earth Hour, don’t you be left out in the light!
Will you be part of the movement? If not, why? What are your comments/opinions of Earth Hour?
-Samantha F.
HEY WESTMOUNT! We all know people are afraid of “change” sometime, especially when it comes to your home…But have no fear, the Westmount Eco Squad is here to bust all those nasty myths you may have heard from going green!
Myth #1: Green homes cost more than other homes.
Sustainable buildings often requires more expensive building materials, smarter technology and complicated systems than conventional buildings. But when thinking long-term, green building actually saves money because the materials won’t have to be replaced as often. So while initial costs may seem like a lot, green building offers better value when you consider the life-cycle costs.
Myth #2: You need solar panels to be truly green.
Solar panels were once the universal symbol for green building. But the reality is that sustainable building means integrating a variety of energy efficient solutions that work together — from heating systems to interior finishes. When building green, focus on the house as a whole, not just particular green features like solar panels.
Myth #3: Mansions cannot be green.
We know this is one of your main concern, Westmounters.Whether or not a big house is green depends on how the building’s materials and resources are being allocated. For instance, a 10,000-square-foot house built for a family of four can’t be considered green, no matter how many sustainable features it has. But it would be green if 20 people lived in that same house. Lowering consumption is an important benchmark in sustainable building, and that thinking extends to the materials that go into a house as well as the energy that’s required to heat and cool it.
Myth #4: You can’t make an existing home green.
Altering your home’s structure and operating systems — foundation, framing, wiring, plumbing — can be very expensive. But “greening” an existing home doesn’t have to be a complete overhaul. Upgrading windows, putting more insulation into the walls or attic, sealing air leaks, and installing energy-recovery ventilation equipment are all examples of upgrades that will make a house more energy efficient.
Find the rest of the myth-busting click here.
-Lorne S.
When it comes to the environment, how do we take matters into our hands? You may be thinking, how do we have any control at all? Well, quite a few movements have started since 2005, to turn certain communities into transition towns. Now, you might be asking what is a transition town? It’s a community that is remodeling itself to decrease their use of gas and oils, which will contribute to bettering our climate, and hopefully (fingers crossed) diminishing the effects of global warming. What’s more is that if properly done, the town can become “more resilient, more abundant and more pleasurable than at the present.” Why do you think that is?
In my opinion it’s a town reaching it’s level of self-actualization, and becoming the best it can be, through the motivation of its community. Isn’t that worth a shot? There’s something to be said about an initiative to better one’s lifestyle. Any doubts that Westmount can’t make the cut? Belsize Park, a prestigious area in London, England with beautiful homes and landscaping has qualified as a transition town as of September 2008! If a town in one of the biggest and most popular cities in the world can do it, can’t we?
Belsize Park, London, England
Transition Culture, Transition Culture, Transition Network
Tiffany A.
What will our earth look like in 20 years from now? It’s impossible to know exactly, but what we do now will be reflected in the future.
Whether you’re a sibling, parent, guardian, aunt, uncle or godparent, you can help your younger loved ones learn about the importance of being ecologically friendly and helping the earth remain sustainable.
The Metro Inc’s Green Apple program, which began to encourage schools to start eco-programs, recently presented St George’s High School in Westmount with two $1000 cheques. Their initiatives include:
- Implementing a zero-waste lunch by having the school invest in traditional dinnerware and cutlery, as well as a dishwasher.
- Reducing the use of plastic water bottles by upgrading water fountains to be more appealing and user friendly.
Encourage your siblings, cousins, friends, nieces and nephews to start a program and apply for a Green Apple Grant for their school.
Teach children the importance of the up keep of the earth by replacing plastic bags in their lunches with:
- Credo bags – convenient, reusable drawstring bags. These can also be used for groceries.
- Re-usies – cotton lined bags with velcro closures that are easy to clean and come in a variety of colors, sizes and vibrant patterns.
What will you do for your younger loved ones?
Here is what the earth could be like if we ignore our ability to teach the next generation to respect the earth and its resources.
- Melissa O.
You know why we waste so much energy? It’s because we can’t actually see how much we are using until we see our end of month hydro bill! If you were able to see your usage of energy on an ongoing basis, don’t you think you’d be more prudent in your use of energy?
Well, leave it to Google to understand that to make a change you must SEE what needs to be changed. In 2009, Google introduced Google PowerMeter to the world. The software allows homeowners to see their daily electricity use on a personalized iGoogle home page-and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before it hits the mobile/app market so that you can track your home’s energy usage from anywhere in the world. This neat software works by using energy information provided by utility smart meters and specialized energy monitoring devices. Although not yet available in Montreal (only Toronto for now), Google PowerMeter would be an ideal initiative for Hydro Quebec and HydroWestmount to take part in if we are to meet the Mayor’s sustainable goals for the future!
Check it out, and keep your eye out for the Google PowerMeter!
-Lorne S
