Posts for Green
Looking to beautify your home or neighourhood? The City of Ottawa has a Trees, Reforestation and Environmental Enhancement (TREE) Program a tree planting program that you can take advantage of. Started in 2007, the City hopes to plant 100,000 trees by 2010.
To reach the City’s goal, Ottawa residents are eligible to register for a tree to plant on their property, which will be delivered right to your door at no cost. As this is the last year of the TREE program, residents may be eligible to receive a second tree if they already received one in the past. Trees come delivered in a pot, with instructions, compost and mulch. See this link to find out what kinds of tree species are available.
The City of Ottawa is looking to recruit volunteers for this program. Volunteers can plant trees, find a location for a tree, learn about the Grant opportunities or take part in the National Challenge. Individual volunteers are welcome, as are groups such as communities, schools, businesses or churches.
Why not help out a good cause and join forces to make the environment a better place? Registration can be completed online or you can also call 3-1-1. Help exceed the City of Ottawa’s expectations and become a TREE volunteer. To register online please visit the following site: http://www.ottawa.ca/survey/tree/delivery_en.html.
Filed under: Green, Green Ottawa | Submit A Comment
Many of us have heard about Habitat for Humanity, but did you know about the Habitat ReStore? In the Ottawa area, the National Capital Region Habitat for Humanity runs two nonprofit retail home renovation centres, where you can find a ton of discounted ‘previously owned’ home hardware. The ReStore accepts donations of quality new and used building, home renovation, and home decor materials and then resells them at a discount.
Types of items that can be found at the ReStores include: windows, kitchens, bathroom fixtures, lights, tiles, paint, hardware, lumber, tools and much more.
Funds generated from the sales go to support Habitat for Humanity’’s operations and their Home Building Programs. It also reduces the amount of material ending up in growing landfills. Habitat for Humanity estimates they divert over 350 tonnes of reusable materials from local landfills every year.
The two Ottawa locations are: 170-2370 Walkley Rd at St. Laurent Blvd (613-744-7769) & 7 Enterprise Avenue (613-225-8400)
Call the store before bringing something to donate, or if you have a large item, the ReStore may be able to come to you and pickup your donations. The ReStore is also happy to accept corporate donations.
If you have the motivation to help out, Habitat is always looking for Volunteers - not only at the ReStore, but througout the organization. Call 613-744-7769 or visit www.habitatncr.com to find out more!
Filed under: Green, Green Ottawa, Ottawa Real Estate | Submit A Comment
It’s Environment Week again in the City of Ottawa. This year’s theme is “Living Green”. To encourage people to think green, the city is running a number of interesting programs:
- Plant a tree! Green your own corner of the city by registering for a free tree to plant on your property. One tree per household is available on a first-come, first-served basis, while quantities last. To register for your tree, send an e-mail to TREE@ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1.
- Household Hazardous Waste - The City of Ottawa is hosting a one-day household hazardous waste collection depot from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 7 at the Waste Services Inc. (WSI) facility, 3354 Navan Road, south of Innes Road. This depot provides a convenient way for you to help keep the environment free of hazardous household waste. Only household waste will be accepted (maximum 100 litres) at the depot. No commercial waste accepted. For a complete listing of acceptable household hazardous waste, visit ottawa.ca/hhw.
- Take it Back! - To safely dispose of products used in your home you can often Take it Back!, including non-rechargeable batteries that can now be returned at many City facilities. For product return information and a list of over 500 partner retailers visit ottawa.ca/takeitback. Did you know you could return paint products and batteries to various Ottawa hardware retailers? Visit dowhatyoucan.ca for a location near you.
- The 2009 Spring Give Away Weekend will take place at the end of Environment Week, Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2009. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. So don’t put your unwanted items in the garbage, set them out at the curb on Give Away Weekend. Treasures could include:
- Old furniture and small appliances
- Construction materials - including drywall and hardware such as nails, bolts and screws
- Kitchen gadgets, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans
- Unwanted gifts.
- Books, CDs and DVDs
Good luck searching for those treasures! For more information visit ottawa.ca/giveawayweekend.
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Ontario recently passed a groundbreaking Green Energy Act which outlines a strategy to improve conservation, increase renewable energy generation and create green jobs. The bill passed on May 14th by a vote of 59 in favour and 13 against, and will be effective immediately after it gets Royal Assent.
The new act has earned praise from a wide variety of individuals and groups. “This is an exciting time for Ontario; it’s never been clearer that environmental solutions and economic solutions are one and the same,” said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence. “Today, Ontario not only takes action on its international obligation to reduce greenhouse gases and pollution, it becomes a leader in an emerging industry.”
According to the Ontario government’s website the new act will:
• Spark growth in clean and renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass and biogas in Ontario.
• Create the potential for savings and better managed household energy expenditures through a series of conservation measures.
• Create 50,000 jobs for Ontarians in its first three years.
• Create a Feed-in Tariff that guarantees specific rates for energy generated from renewable sources.
• Establish the right to connect to the electricity grid for renewable energy projects that meet technical, economic and other regulatory requirements.
• Establish a one stop streamlined approvals process, providing service guarantees for renewable energy projects that meet regulatory requirements.
• Implement a 21st century “smart” power grid to support the development of new renewable energy projects, and prepare Ontario for new technologies like electric cars.
What the bill does not contain is the requirement that every home sold in Ontario have an Energy Audit. In an earlier draft of the new act, all sellers were obligated to conduct energy audits on their homes before they could be sold. This would give potential homebuyers information on the energy-efficiency of the home. This part of the law was altered before the Act was passed. Now, audits are not mandatory for all home sales. However, if the purchaser requests information on the energy efficiency of the home, the seller must provide such information. Despite the fact that they are not mandatory, energy audits remains an important way for home owner to not only learn about the energy use in their home, but the audits also allow homeowners to access thousands in dollars in home improvement grants offered by both the federal and Ontario governments.
What are your thoughts on the new Green Energy Act?
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The following is from a a free report offered by Deborah MacDonald, an Ottawa area Health and Wellness Consultant.
All of us can do a few simple things to “green” our homes. I am especially conditioned to think about our space and planet in a healthy way because of my upbringing on a farm in Alberta. Growing up, it was all about organic food and living off the land. This is where I developed my passion for healthy, vibrant living.
Here are a few tips for you to consider integrating into your life – they are easy and simple so the whole family can be involved. Enjoy!
7. Water
Filter tap water instead of using bottled water. Make sure to use a filtration system that not only takes the contaminants and chlorine out of the water, but also has the function to put minerals back in. It’s healthier! Save hundreds of dollars while saving the environment from excessive plastic bottles in landfills.
6. Energy
Switch to Energy Star Certified appliances and lighting. They are rated among the most energy-efficient and save you money on your energy bills. Try: Power5 Air Filtration by Nikken, Energy Star Certified, to remove contaminants from the air.
5. Showers
Take shorter showers – every two minutes you save on your shower can conserve more than ten gallons of water. Consider using a shower system purifier that gets rid of contaminants and chlorine. The cleaner water will give you healthier skin and hair.
4. Heat
Use a programmable thermostat and set it a couple of degrees lower for heating and higher for air conditioning. Save 2 percent on your energy bill for every degree Celsius you adjust on your thermostat.
3. Cleaning
Buy non-toxic cleaners or use natural methods such as vinegar, borax, baking soda, water and phosphate-free dish soap. They are inexpensive and help to make our homes healthier and our planet less toxic.
2. BYOB
Bring your own bags! Reduce and reuse before you recycle. Refuse to use plastic bags and excess packaging to help reduce pressure on our landfills. You will feel great knowing you are helping the environment!
1. Lights
Save $50 over the lifetime of each bulb when you switch to compact fluorescent. Don’t forget to shut off the lights and consider using timers and sensors to help you green your home.
Thank you for signing up for the newsletter. I hope you enjoyed this free report on greening your home. If you have any questions, please contact me at dm@deborahmacdonald.com.
For more information or to sign up for Deborah’s newsletter, please visit www.DeborahMacdonald.com. Come by and chat with Deborah and dozens of other health specialists at the Green Wellness Expo this Sunday, April 19.
Filed under: Green, Green Ottawa, Home Buyer | Submit A Comment
The Green Wellness Expo is the second green show being held this weekend.
This show will take place this upcoming Sunday, April 19, from 11 am to 4 pm at 6600 Carrière Street, Orleans.
The Green Wellness Expo is the only show of its kind in Ottawa East. The Expo aims to save attendees time and money by providing the opportunity to sample the most innovative health, lifestyle and green enhancing products within their community.
Show visitors will have the unique opportunity to spend one-on-one time asking questions and learning from an incredible group of leading natural healthcare professionals and environmental specialists all under one roof…all in one day!
Visitors will also be entered into a draw to be eligible to win one of many unique Green Wellness Expo Door Prizes. Winners will be announced at the end of the day and will be contacted by email or by phone.
The show is being organized by Dr. Nathalie Beauchamp, D.C. , owner of Beauchamp Chiropractic (www.beauchampchiropractic.ca), and Deborah MacDonald, a Health & Wellness Consultant, Speaker & Trainer (www.deborahmacdonald.com).
Don’t forget to come by The Mortgage Group booth and ask us about our Green Mortgage products and energy efficiency rebates!
Filed under: Green, Green Ottawa | Submit A Comment
For those of you who love learning about all things green, you should find plenty of opportunity to discover the latest and greatest this weekend! There are two major green events this weekend, both of which will be filled with activities and exhibitors.
This Saturday the 5th annual Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair is being held at the RA Centre on Riverside Dr. This celebration of Green Living ideas, products and services will feature:
- Free give-aways and door prize;
- Cooking Demonstrations & Tastings;
- a Children’s Eco-Carnival;
- Speakers giving presentation on everything from vermicomposting to solar water heating;
- Local volunteer organizations;
- Dozens of Green Businesses.
Admission and Parking are FREE and doors are open from 10 am to 5 pm. Make sure to come by The Mortgage Group booth and say hi!
To find out more, please visit www.OttawaEcoFair.ca
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Late last year one of our blog postings focused on TD Canada Trust’s Green Mortgage product. One of the main features of TD’s ‘Green Mortgage’ is that it provides a cash rebate on the purchase of any Energy Star products, such as a furnace, windows, doors, appliances, etc.
Today TD announced that it will be increasing its rebate from 1% to 1.5%. That means if you get a $200,000 Green Mortgage, you will be able to get a rebate for up to $3000 worth of upgrades. When you combine this with some of the other rebates out there, such as the new Home Renovation Tax Credit, the ecoEnergy program, and CMHC’s insurance rebate, you can literally get thousands of dollars of renovations and upgrades for free!
At the moment, the interest rate on the 5-year fixed rate version of the Green Mortgage is 4.79%, which is really a great deal if you are able to use the 1.5% rebate.
To learn more about TD’s Green Mortgage, take a look at our previous blog posting. Have you had any experience with this mortgage product? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Filed under: Green, Home Buyer, Mortgage Information | Submit A Comment
At GreenMortageSolutions.ca we are all about helping everyday homeowners and buyers find the right mortgage to meet their needs, and also guide them to programs and services that will make their homes energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Of course, we’re not the only ones trying to make it easier for you and your neighbours to ‘go green’!
CBC’s George Stromboulopoulos has been promoting the website/social movement “One Million Acts of Green” for some time now. This site has been encouraging Canadians to sign up to taking everyday acts to help the environment, including everything from air drying laundry, to carpooling, to sealing drafty windows. The campaign has been so successful that in just 105 days, Canadians from across the country have pledged to make OVER one million acts of green.
Just last week on George’s show “The Hour”, he interviewed famous home contractor Mike Holmes about greening homes. Most people can make the biggest impact on the environment by improving their homes. This is because our homes are responsible for most of our environmental and carbon footprint. In the interview, Mike talked about how the public needs to stop buying “the cheap stuff” and instead invest in quality materials that in the long run will be cost effective and good for the environment. Specifically he mentioned the need to use paints with little to no VOC (volatile organic compounds), mold resistant drywall, and low-flush toilets. Luckily there are dozens of government rebates for eco-friendly renovations, such as the Ottawa Toilet Replacement program. Contact us for details on all the rebates!
Filed under: Green, Green Ottawa, Home Buyer | Submit A Comment
While Canada’s federal budget may not have been as ‘green’ as Obama’s stimulous package, there are a few goodies for homeowners, along with some additional funding for the government’s green reno program.
A total of $7.8 billion dollars in the 2009 budget is directed towards housing tax credits and programs. The Home Renovation Tax Credit has been getting a lot of press lately. This program is aimed to help about 4.6 million families by giving a 15% rebate (in the form of a tax credit) for any type of renovation made to a home. The maximum credit amount is $1,350, making it a great time to do some renos.
First-time home buyers get a number of bonuses in this budget. The RRSP First-time Home Buyers’ Plan withdrawal limit was increased to $25,000 from $20,000. This allows first-time home buyers to borrow more money from their RRSPs to make a downpayment on their first home. In addition, first-time home buyers can get up to $750 in tax credits to compensate for their closing costs (legal fees, disbursements and land transfer taxes). For more great tips for first-time home buyers, request our Guide for First-time Home Buyers.
Finally, there are the green renovations. The ecoEnergy program, which we mention often, can provide up to $10,000 in rebates to homeowners in Ontario (the federal government funds half of that). The 2009 budget provides an additional $300 million in funding over two years for the ecoENERGY Retrofit program to support an estimated 200,000 additional home retrofits. Combining this retrofit program with the Home Renovation Tax Credit mentioned above and other ‘green rebates’, can save you thousands of dollars and gives you a great incentives to make your home green!
Filed under: Economy, Green, Home Buyer | 2 Comments
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