Sustainable Travel: Easy Tips to Minimize Your Eco-Footprint

With summer officially upon us many of us are thinking of our next travel adventure. When booking your great escape, take a moment to consider your vacation’s environmental impact. With sustainable travel a rapidly growing industry there are ample resources for travellers seeking ways to trek lightly. Here we outline easily implemented yet valuable steps to reduce your ecological footprint, whether touring a remote island or relaxing in your own backyard.

Before Leaving Home

Before heading off on your trip unplug appliances to reduce Standby Power, energy used when appliances are in standby mode. (Global Standby Power consumes up to 480 TWh/year, nearly triple Mexico’s total electricity consumption.) Turn off or lower thermostat and water heater settings and suspend newspaper delivery. Such measures will help you save energy and money. Lastly, leave pets at a shelter or with a sitter.

Transportation

Vacationing need not be distant or exotic to be memorable and fun. “Staycationing” is the easiest way to save money and the environment. By vacationing within driving distance and overnighting at home you not only support your local economy and save money on accommodation but also help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.

But whether home or away, try to opt for greener or shared modes of transportation such as trains or buses. If renting a vehicle select a hybrid or low emissions compact model. Compared to other forms of transportation, planes produce the most emissions. To reduce your travel footprint, fly in the daytime, fly direct or combine flights and pack light. Finally, purchase carbon offsets to counteract the environmental impact of your plane’s emissions. (Learn more about airplane emissions in our article about The Green Passport Initiative!)

Accommodation

In selecting accommodation, look for certified green hotels that carry Green Seal, LEED, Blue Flag or equivalent designation. Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec provide a visual breakdown of criteria that make them LEED certified.

Travel websites like Travelocity maintain a directory of certified green accommodation and multiple ecotourism websites like the Rain Forest Alliance, Green Globe and Sustainable Travel International list earth-friendly tour operators and travel companies.  

While staying in a hotel there are several simple steps to you can take to reduce your footprint. Be active in your hotel’s environmental conservation program. When out the room, turn lights off and lower your room’s thermostat. Close drapes and blinds in warmer climates to keep the room cool and the opposite in cold climates. Leave unopened bathroom amenities in the hotel.

Conserve water by turning off taps when not in use and taking shorter showers. Hand wash clothes in the bathroom sink and hang to dry.

Many hotel bathrooms include retractable clotheslines mounted between bathtub walls for this express purpose! When shopping for souvenirs buy locally produced goods and avoid goods made from endangered species or valuable, historical or cultural artifacts.      

Activities

Local, sustainable tourist activities support the environment and local economies. Visit farms, participate in guided walking tours or wine tasting, hike local park trails or take a cooking class. Gather activity ideas from travel guides like Lonely Planet that are available in digital format and use digital maps or applications. As much as possible self-propel: walk, rent a bicycle, or support a community bike-share program like Bixi. Alternatively, use local public transit systems, many of which now have real-time schedules available via mobile app.

Reduce plastic waste by carrying a reusable water bottle. Use local recycling facilities and carry trash until you can properly dispose of it – i.e. pack out what you pack in! Stay on marked trails when hiking or camping and refrain from disturbing local flora and fauna.

Regardless of your destination be mindful of your impact both culturally and environmentally. Seek to educate yourself on local traditions, practices, and culture and environment; limit any negative impacts you may have on the local environment.

Practicing any of these simple measures you will easily have a fun, memorable and sustainable vacation. Happy travels!

Sources: Blue Flag, CaGBC, David Suzuki Foundation, epa.gov, Green Globe, Green Seal, Lonely Planet, Natural Resources Canada, Rainforest Alliance, Sustainable Travel International, Travelocity, UNESCO, WWF, Yale University

50 Facts About Your Environment

As people become more aware of our changing environment and their part within it, the interest in information and facts on environmental and green issues has grown.  We have put together a list of 50 such facts, titbits, and pieces of information.  We hope that you will enjoy learning about our world, the environment, and how we all interact with it! 

Environment

The global area of oxygen depleted dead zone now covers an area roughly the size of the state of Oregon.  These are areas of water that have become uninhabitable due to a lack of oxygen for marine life to breathe.  Learn more.

The air quality in China is so low that by European Union standards, only 1% of the population is breathing air that is considered safe.  This has led to cancer becoming the main cause of death in China.  Learn more.

The Pacific Ocean is home to various island chains, the Great Barrier Reef, beautiful resorts … and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.  This is a mass of waste and garbage that has formed, covering an area twice the size of the continental United States and weighing an approximate 100 million tons.  Learn more. 

In the last 100 years, ocean levels have risen by almost 18 cm.  They had not changed previously in over 2,000 years.  Learn more.

There are many clothing material alternatives today.  Cork has been used as a leather alternative, bamboo grows quickly enough to replenish itself, and silk made from soy is being used in high fashion.  All of these use no chemicals and are renewable material resources.  Learn more.

For every organic cotton t-shirt you purchase instead of a normal manufactured one, you help eliminate the need for 150 grams of agricultural chemicals.  Learn more. 

The best estimate of the age of the Earth is 4.6 billion years.  If this was scaled into 46 years, humanity would have only existed for 4 hours.  The Industrial Revolution would be 1 minute old.  It is in this minute where the majority of environmental damage has occurred.  Learn more.

Environmental damage is, for the most part, reversible.  It requires awareness and a desire to actually realize change.  It also requires time.  Learn more.

Changing 75 light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs will prevent 1 ton of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually.  Learn more.

Roughly over 15% of electricity used in the United States goes towards air conditioning.  Learn more. 

Canada contains 25% of the world’s wetlands, 10% of the world’s forests, and 7% of the world’s renewable fresh water.  Learn more.

Only 11% of the Earth’s surface is used for growing food.  The land available for food growing is decreasing.  Learn more. 

Energy

If Australia tapped into only 1% of their potential geothermal energy, they could provide enough energy to last 26,000 years.  The Australian Geothermal Energy Association is hoping to produce up to 2,200 MW of geothermal energy by 2020, representing over 40% of the government’s renewable energy target.  Learn more. 

The United States is building enough wind turbines to provide 20% of their energy requirements.  Learn more.

In 1990, history was made when an aircraft flew across the United States with no fuel.  It was a solar powered aircraft and required 21 stages to complete the flight.  Learn more. 

The use of nuclear energy has increased in the United States.  Fifty years ago, there were no nuclear power plants.  Today, more than 20% of America’s electrical energy comes from nuclear energy.  Learn more.

The United States is planning to double energy efficiency by 2030.  This will equal a savings of $327 billion.  Learn more.

If the United States is able to achieve their double energy efficiency goal, carbon dioxide emissions will decrease by 4 billion metric tons.  Learn more.

Some countries are making big changes.  Iceland is on the path toward zero fossil fuel usage by 2050, Switzerland has some cities that are carless, and China has been able to lower their plastic bag usage by 50%.  Learn more. 

By signing up for a 100% renewable energy plan, you will avoid pumping more 7,250 kg of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.  Learn more.

Hydropower is relatively cheaper than most other forms of energy.  Washington State in the United States gets 66% of their electrical energy from hydro and has one of the lowest costs for energy in the country.  Learn more.

The screensaver on your computer’s monitor is not an energy saver.  Put your computer into a sleep mode when not in use.  This will save up to 500 kW per year from your home energy bill.  Learn more.

For every 1 MW of increased wind energy capacity, 4.85 full time jobs are created in clean renewable energy.  Learn more.

The greatest source of renewable energy in the United States currently comes from biomass.  Approximately 1.5 million homes are powered by biomass.  Learn more.

The first hydroelectric dam built in the world was in Niagara Falls, Canada.  It was constructed in 1879.  Learn more. 

One of the first known uses of solar energy was by British astronomer John Herschel.  In 1830, he used a solar collector box to cook food while on an expedition in Africa.  Learn more.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

One ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees from being cut down, 2 barrels of oil, 4,100 kW of energy, 3.2 cubic yards of landfill area, and 60 lbs. of air.  Learn more.

Paper can be recycled up to seven times before the fibres are too soft.  Learn more. 

Kitchener, Canada was the first city in the world to create a curbside recycling program for their citizens.  It began in 1981.  Learn more.

Per capita generation of waste has decreased in the United States since 1990.  Learn more.

If every newspaper was recycled, 250 million trees could be saved each year.  Currently, only 27% of newspapers are recycled.  Learn more.

Over 75% of the materials used to make a car are recyclable.  Learn more.

Guess what?  Most mail delivery services will take old packing peanuts for reusing.  Office supply stores will also take old printer ink cartridges and refill them.  Two more things removed from your garbage!  Learn more.

Your old glasses can be donated.  Many charities take old glasses and send them to developing nations.  More than 284 million people who need glasses cannot afford them.  Learn more. 

Reuse our old ink cartridges by taking them to centres to be refilled.  A ink cartridge will take over 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill.  Learn more.

Social Issues

The bailout packages for Wall Street cost an estimated $700 billion.  It would take only 4% of this total to end world hunger.  Learn more.

It is estimated that $3 trillion would pay for universal healthcare for all Americans, the entire country switching to solar power, a national rapid transit system, pollution clean-up in all major urban centres, a push to universal literacy, completely repairing all damage left by Hurricane Katrina, creating global training programs for 10 million leaders around the world, and paid for clothing and school supplies for 10 million children.  The cost of the Second Iraq War is conservatively estimated to be $3 trillion.  Learn more.

For every $100 billion invested transportation and green industries, the economy will expand roughly $160 billion in annual outputs and create just under 1.2 million jobs.  Learn more. 

An American government study found that medium-sized retail buildings could easily achieve 50% more energy savings.  This would account for 18% of the entire United States’ energy usage.  Learn more.

If Americans used public transport at the same levels as Europeans, roughly 10%, the United States would reduce its dependence on foreign oil by over 40%.  This equals 550 million barrels of crude oil.  Learn more.

North America has 4% of the world’s population.  They use 25% of the world’s resources.  Learn more.

The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 by approximately 20 million people.  Today, more than 1 billion people recognize it.  Learn more.

Albert Einstein’s Nobel Prize in 1921 was for his work in photovoltaic, a science that has led to the entire solar energy industry.  Learn more. 

What You Can Do at Home

Certain household plants can do great things for the environment of your home.  Aloe vera, lillies, Chinese evergreens, and bamboo will filter out most toxins in the atmosphere.  Learn more. 

Use high R-value insulation in your home.  The higher the R-value, the better your home will be insulated and the less money spent on heating and cooling bills.  Learn more.

Use lighter colours on your exterior roof.  This will reflect the heat of the sun as opposed to absorbing it as darker colours do.  This will lower energy bills and help you to use less energy.  Learn more.

Use a reusable mug when buying coffee or other drinks.  Over 8 billion disposable cups are thrown out in Canada every year.  Learn more.

Shower instead of bathe.  In a week, you can save up to 400 litres of water.  Learn more.

Being environmentally conscious can start at any age.  Get your kids involved in recycling and reusing in order to instill behaviours that will last a lifetime.  Learn more. 

A baby will use approximately 10,000 disposable diapers in their life.  Cloth diapers are reusable and remove the need for disposable ones.  Learn more.

Incinerating 10,000 tons of garbage creates a single job.  Putting 10,000 tons of garbage into a landfill creates 6 jobs.  Recycling 10,000 tons of garbage creates 36 jobs.  Learn more.

Additional Sources: Green Revolution, Vosizneias, Flickr, Green Optimist, Wired, Commons, My Zero Waste

How Canada is Working Towards a Positive Environmental Strategy

In December 2012, Canada became the first signatory nation to formally withdraw from the Kyoto Accord, an agreement between nations to limit and reduce greenhouse gases. This follows a long line of negative global publicity that the Canadian government has taken when it comes to global environmental issues. In reading and researching Canada’s role as an environmental advocate, it can become disheartening, however, Canada is not just sitting back and doing nothing.

In this article, we explore what Canada is doing when it comes to several key areas of the environment. Instead of focusing on the negative, we want to know, what role is Canada taking domestically and internationally to deal with environmental issues and climate change? How are these initiatives being achieved? Have they had any success? In this piece, we dig deeper to find those areas of environmental action that are positive!

Air

The quality of Canada’s air has long been something to be proud of, especially with the amount of wilderness Canada has.  The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) was established in 2005 in order to help people understand how air quality can affect their health and how to protect themselves from long term damage. This is a scale between 1 and 10 can be easily found with real time information. The risk level varies from low (1) to high (10+) and the index provides information on who is most at risk during that time.

The AQHI was established to do much more than provide information to people, it also provides information to researchers and government organizations.  This allows them to trend air quality patterns in order to understand how Canadian air changes over time, which regions of the country are worst, and what can be done about it.

As per the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, all industries are required to provide reports on their air pollution.  This is done through the Environment Canada and is made available for Canadians through the National Pollutant Release Inventory.  As a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Canada is also required to make this information available to the UN.

Climate Change

In 2009, Canada signed the Copenhagen Accord, where reduction targets in greenhouse gases were set for 17% below 2005 levels. This is to be reached by 2020. In order to reach this goal, several initiatives are required in multiple industries, regions of the country, and in the changing of societal views.  The government of Canada has contributed to several individual projects, such as carbon capture and storage at the Boundary Dam in Saskatchewan to a mandate for all gasoline to have 5% minimum renewable fuel. 

The majority of Canada’s contributions are based in investments and the funding of individual programs; however, legislative changes have occurred as well.  In late 2010, Canada supported the Cancun Agreement on climate change as well as the Durban Platform in late 2011. All in all, between 2005 and 2010, the Canadian economy grew 6.3% while greenhouse gas emissions fell 6.5%. As of August 2012, Canada reached the halfway mark of attaining their goal as stated in the Copenhagen Accord.

Enforcement

Canada’s Environmental Enforcement Act became active in late 2010 and serves three purposes.  First, it has consolidated six previous acts into one bill for more rapid and efficient act of the law.  Second, it has amended fines and sentencing guidelines to become more stringent and deterrent based.  Finally, through this Act, Canada has created partnerships within domestic enforcement agencies and with those around the world including the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Interpol in order to crack down on larger scale acts of environmental polluting or terrorism.

Nature

In late 2012, a survey was initiated by the Government of Canada through the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy.  As in other Canadian initiatives, the government is working towards an understanding of what Canadians know about the areas of wilderness in the country.  This includes understanding personal leisure behaviours such as camping, hunting, and fishing in both urban and rural areas.

Canada’s goal on biodiversity is to protect habits and species within them.  This is managed in conjunction with enabling our wilderness areas to be accessible to those who choose to use them and experience their beauty under what is known as Access and Benefit sharing.  Canada’s signing of the Convention of Biological Diversity is meant to protect natural habits for specifically this purpose, especially as biotechnology companies increase pressure on governments to extract from these areas.

Pollution and Waste

In 2012, Canada released a study that examined pollution in the air, water, and land between 2006 and 2010. Through reduction policies that target the manufacturing sector and natural resource industries, total pollutant annual releases have decreased 19% during this period. The Federal Action Plan of Pollution Prevention also has worked with specific large corporations in finding ways for them to reduce pollution to the environment while maintaining business sustainability.

Science and Technology

Canada is constantly investing is all areas of science and technology in order to preserve and maintain environmental goals.  While their involvement in this area is not direct, their funding of private programs has had a significant impact on the betterment of Canada’s environment.  Projects that have received funding include:

• $281 million for clean energy,
• $500 million in helping new construction projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and
• $1.2 billion for environmental development in developing nations.

What is even more positive about Canada’s investment strategy is that it is truly global.  By investing in developing nations, Canada is helping others to benefit from new and emerging technologies.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development has become one of the main components of any environmental strategy, whether you are an individual or a government.  This means acting based on the needs of today without sacrificing future generations.  On June 16, 2011, Canada released its first ever Progress Report on the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.  This was the first step as outlined in the Federal Sustainable Development Act, passed in 2010, to show what is needed to be done in Canada in terms of setting up a foundation for sustainable development.

This is an area that is still in its infancy stages in Canada.  However, the Act and subsequent report shows that action is being taken to outline areas of need.  Movement towards individual implementation plans have not yet occurred but are underway.

Water

Protecting Canada’s fresh water is not just a domestic issue; it is a global issue. Canada has over 7% of the entire world’s fresh water reserves, the most out of any single country.  We are also the only nation to border three separate oceans, which means a necessary action plan for these as well.

Canada has constructed more than 3,000 sites across the country that measures our waterways for physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. The goal is to know about any changes immediately so that action can be taken if issues arise. This is a part of the Action Plan for Clean Water.

The Oceans Action Plan sets out to protect our oceans and all marine species contains within them.  Right now, we are in Phase I of this plan. This is meant to deal with issues of overfishing, international management, and the creation of specific action plans for regions including the Scotian Shelf, Pacific North Coast, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and many more. Once the research has been completed (a 2 year project), work can begin on sustainable development, protection, and preservation.

Canada’s Future Role in the Environment

Canada will continue to adhere to its goals as set in the Copenhagen Accord.  While the nation has just passed the halfway mark toward reaching emissions of 17% below 2005 levels, there is still much work to do before the 2020 deadline. This will involve more investment into technologies and initiatives in the private sector. Canada’s Environmental Emergencies Fund, established from fines taken from enforcement policing, is also helping to deal with unaccounted for events in order to mitigate or minimize environmental concerns.

The majority of policies and initiatives mentioned here are in their stages of infancy.  Most are within two years old and have only have initial planning stages completed.  It will remain interesting to see how implementation takes place and what its effects will be!

Sources: O Canada, Environment Canada, CEAA, Climate Change, Adventure, Urbanity, Mens Journal, Niagara, Newfoundland, Environmental Science

Solar Power for a Sustainable City

Imagine a city where all electrical energy is from clean, renewable resources.  Does this sound like an implausible idea?  Well, this vision of the future is already in existence today and in one of the most famous cities in the world – Seville, Spain!  Seville is the fourth largest city in Spain and has been in the global eye for millennia.  It is where Ferdinand Magellan began the first voyage around the world and where the famous opera Barber of Seville calls home.  However, what makes it remarkable today is that it is almost entirely powered by solar energy!

How It Works

Seville gets over 3,000 hours of sunlight each year, which makes it a perfect place for solar energy.  The process works by focusing large mirrors called heliostats on a receiver which heats water into steam as it travels into a drum.  This is used to propel massive turbines creating electrical energy before being condensed back into water and beginning the trip all over again.

A solar tower power plant

The Solucar Complex

The Solucar Complex is where Seville will get all of its energy needs from.  It uses a wide range of technologies including solar towers and troughs.  As newer technologies are discovered, they have been incorporated into each new plant within the complex.  Its construction began in 2004 and the first tower, the PS10, began operations in 2007.

History

While the current Solucar Complex generates 180 megawatts (MW) of power, it has been a process to get there.  In addition, the total scope of the complex is only halfway built!  By the end of completion, it will have the capacity to generate power all of Seville, a city at almost 750,000 people.

The PS10 Solar Power Plant was the first completed portion of the complex, finished in 2007.  Capable of generating 11 MW or approximately 3% of Seville’s power needs.  This plant consists of 624 mirrors that heat water in a central unit and is the world’s first commercial solar tower. 

However, this was nowhere near enough for true power independence and a progression toward renewable sources.  The PS20 Solar Power Plant was added in 2009, capable of 20 MW.  It has double the number of mirrors and represents the 2^nd generation of solar technology which means that the energy conversion rate is higher as well.  It is the most powerful solar tower in the world.

The PS10 and PS20 towers

Combined, these towers account for 10% of Seville’s power requirements.  As of 2010, the construction of Solnova 1, 3, and 4 have massively boosted the complex’s capacity.  These are trough style parabolic mirrors that track the sun as it moves across the daytime sky.  Each of the three plants generates 50 MW, boosting the total capacity of the current complex to 180 MW or 60% of Seville’s power needs.

Future

There are still three more plants that are set to be completed in 2013.  There is the AZ20, a solar tower similar to the PS20 that will generate 20 MW of power.  There are also the Solova 2 and 5 trough plants, each with another 50 MW like their predecessors.  In all, this brings the total to Seville’s required 300 MW of power, all from solar energy!

The Solnova plants in front of the PS10 and PS20 towers

Benefits

The Solucar Complex is responsible for the creation of 1,000 jobs in construction and another 300 in operating the various plants.  It is estimated that over the course of the complex’s 25 year life expectancy, it will prevent 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere per year.  This amount of carbon dioxide reduction would be similar to the amount that could be processed by almost 1.5 million trees!

Abengoa Solar

Abengoa Solar have been involved in the construction and operation of the Solucar Complex since its inception.  They operate a total of five complexes throughout Spain and one in Algeria.  They are involved in the expansion of these current complexes as well as new projects in the United States and United Arab Emirates.  They are also involved in complex operations in Chile and Mexico as joint projects with other companies.

The Green Revolution

Many other cities all over the world are joining the revolution to attain their energy needs from 100% renewable, non-polluting resources and it doesn’t just stop at solar.  Wind, hydro, and other energy alternatives are constantly being researched and improved to increase energy conversion rates and to make it affordable.  This is also the plan followed by new urban planners for new cities and growth. 

What makes Seville so unique is that they are actively building infrastructure for their city rather than buying offsets from other areas.  Essentially, their power grid is unique for their citizens.  As the sustainable movement continues to evolve, so too will new ideas on how to make it possible.

Sources: Abengoa Solar, Andalucia, Estela Solar, NREL, EERE, Power-Technology, ENS-Newswire, Indigo Guide, Destination 360, Bytelib