Van Go Green’s top 5 green giving tips.

We challenge you to dig deeper and make a difference this holiday season. Many of us have already done our holiday shopping, but as you rush around to buy your final gifts, plan parties, and prepare for festive dinners challenge yourself to do things differently.

[Read more]

BCIT Gets Green Nod

A UK magazine has named BCIT “Canada’s Greenest” campus.

All right !

If making it a competition means more institutions will become greener, I’m all for it

BCIT won the gold green star from Achieving Business Excellence magazine - a UK based magazine that recently did an article on Canada’s Greenest Campuses.

“I am thrilled that Achieving Business Excellence has featured BCIT as Canada’s greenest campuses,” says Jennie Moore, director of Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship within the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment (SoCE). “It is thanks to the foresight and team approach between BCIT operations and academics that we are reducing our footprint.” read the full press release

Congrats to BCIT.

The article is on page 63 of the hard-copy version of the magazine.

They do have a very fancy flash version of the magazine online - you know, with pages that turn - essentially what looks like a PDF on steroids. It looks great but it’s really tricky getting the pages sized so that you can actually read the copy.

A little tip: use this direct link instead, and you’ll get a larger version without having to futz with the pop-up window on the magazine site.

BC Company Makes Water from Thin Air

Based in Kelowna, Element Four hopes to solve water problems with a unique water maker called the Water Mill.

Designed to help combat the worldwide shortage of clean drinking water, the WaterMill pulls water from an unlimited, untapped source: the air. It draws moisture from the air outside the home or inside and, through the process of condensation, turns it into pure, fresh drinking water - supplying enough drinking water for a family of six.

The company is getting a huge boost from Wired Magazine. The mag is featuring the Water Mill its annual Pop-Up Christmas store in New York, and also online,

Element Four was originally a hydrologic research and development company called Freedom Water.

Earlier this year they rebranded and became Element Four to move into the consumer market with the WaterMill.

On a personal note, it would be great if they made a 12 volt or better solar powered version we could use on a sailboat.

Clean and Green - Podcast

Finding environmentally friendly cleaning products is a big challenge around our house.

Vancouver entrepreneur Munu Hicken-Gaberria is hoping to solve this challenge with his new eco-friendly line of products called Live For Tomorrow.

They include laundry detergent and fabric softer for home and commercial use.

His approach goes even further than finding eco-friendly chemical mixtures – the household use products are sold in re-usable glass containers.

Munu’s also grounding his products on local production model – so while he does have to source some of his base ingredients outside of BC, the final product is created here, to reduce shipping.

LFT products are now carried in a variety of stores in Vancouver and Fort Langley.

I spoke with Munu in June, just as he was taking his idea to local retailers…

 

 VanGoGreen - Living For Tomorrow products [10:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Resources:
Live for Tomorrow web site
Munu Hicken-Gaberria’s bio (pdf)

Quick facts about LFT products:

• are manufactured and distributed locally
• incorporate ‘recycleability’ in as many components of the product design
• factor in ‘re-usability’ into the maximum number of product components
• bio-degradable
• follow sustainable best practice in the sourcing and manufacturing of products
• are available in unscented formulations, and are sensitive and safe for use by individuals with sensitive skin conditions
• are free of animal testing

Podcast details:

Runs: 10:09
Munu Hicken-Gaberria, president and CEO of LFT Group Brands Ltd.
Interviewed by Robert Ouimet, June 2008, Pt. Moody BC

ISBN: 978-0-9809054-8-9

Copyright 2008, Bigsnit Media Consulting Inc.
Rebroadcast with permission only. Contact info@bigsnit.com

BC’s Green Film Industry

Last February we told you about Vancouver Film Studios and their move to become carbon neutral.

Now, BC’s film production community has a gateway web site to provide information and promote the greening of the film and TV industry in our province.

ReelGreenBC.Ca is part of the BC Film Commission…

Reel Green BC encourages partnership with green initiatives already being implemented in the community and provides tools and information for companies and individuals wishing to become more environmentally responsible in carrying out the business of motion picture and entertainment production.

The site features contact information for companies providing services to the industry, environmental best practices and resource links.

Find them at www.reelgreenbc.ca

Nov 20 | WE Sustainable Sushi Challenge: Sushi Bento Express

It’s certainly a better habit than McDonalds, but the vast majority of your neighborhood’s sushi restaurants need a sustainable overhaul. Styrofoam take out containers, endangered seafood (look no further than the giant prawns in your dynamite roll), and that is just what you see in the front of the house.

[Read more]

James Glave and Community Engagement

Author (and friend) James Glave has been making some hilarious videos to promote his book Almost Green.

Produced with Cam Hayduk, they are pure Glave - cheeky, gutsy, and irreverent. Check them out at Glave.com

Go Green in a Teepee

I got this email the other day and think it will make for a really interesting way to spend the day a couple of days. I love the idea of something as old and proven as a TeePee being super environmentally friendly…

I work for Mukwa Teepees, and we are currently setting up a Teepee Cultural Camp this summer. Most of the time, our company is offering camps and workshops to schools and First Nations groups, but this summer, for 10 days, we will have an open authentic Native cultural camp.

From August 14th-24th only, people of all ages and backgrounds will have the opportunity to discover teepee living, learn about Native culture, philosophy, and spirituality. Visitors will experience our sacred dances, songs, arts and crafts, and will get the chance to learn about our traditional medicine, and holistic view of life.

Teepees are green and very practical portable dwellings. They have virtually no impact on the environment. Indeed, they are laid directly on the grass floor, letting the earth breathe. They are also fresh in the summer without any need for artificial air conditioning (its architecture creates natural air conditioning). When the weather gets fresh, they can host small fires made from dead branches inside, and it would efficiently warm up the living space. Our teepees are made of cotton and wooden poles. During the camp, we will share the traditional love and respect for Mother Earth and its creatures, and our environmental philosophy.

Our camp will probably be in Musqueam, close to the Fort Langley, and at the time of the camp, there will be a great Pow Wow event for people to enjoy.
For more information, please call us any time from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
Our phone is: 604-436-0335
Our website: www.teepeesatschool.com

PS: I forgot to say that people must stay at least 2 days, as it is an overnight camp, offering the people the opportunity to sleep in a teepee.

Ecotourism Conference in Vancouver

Later this year, Vancouver will be hosting an ecotourism conference. Conference dates are October 27-29 and registration is slated to open in mid-June. [Read more]

Salmon shortage.

We are on the edge a salmon crisis on the West Coast. California and Oregon have shut down their Chinook salmon fishing for the first time in 150 years, and fisherman are seeking disaster relief. What does this mean for us in BC?

[Read more]

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