Red tape, green economy?
Some federal Conservatives are reportedly interested in finding “red tape obstacles to a green economy”. At one level, this is good news; I’m glad to hear of any government trying to build a green economy. The International Energy Agency issued an extraordinarily bleak report last week abou…
View the post titled Red tape, green economy?Water meters inexorable
Pay for use or flat rates? Flat rates are often popular, but they are poor public policy. Flat rates encourage waste. Flat rates discourage conservation of water and energy, and devalue their importance. Flat rates make conscientious citizens pay for the bad habits of wasteful neighbours. An…
View the post titled Water meters inexorableFederal budget 2011 and environment
The federal Budget plan mentions “environment” 74 times, but very few of those references relate to climate change, contamination, air, soil or water. The “environment” that the Budget focuses on is the economic one, such as:
View the post titled Federal budget 2011 and environmentChildren, toxins, energy and renovations
Are you thinking about renovating? As someone now living through a major renovation, I know that it is a big job. There are many complex factors to balance, to get the improvements you want, more or less on time and on budget, and preferably without too many surprises. The last thing you nee…
View the post titled Children, toxins, energy and renovationsRedefining conservation, or waste and duplication?
Redefining Conservation is the Ontario Environmental Commissioner’s annual report for 2009/ 2010. The report is full of good advice on the usual themes, including the chronic shortage of resources for environmental protection, the many ways that our land use planning fails to protect h…
View the post titled Redefining conservation, or waste and duplication?Real climate leadership
Canada’s inaction on climate change was underscored again by Monday’s stunning announcement from Barack Obama’s White House. Demonstrating a commitment to lead by example, President Obama signed an Executive Order (attached) that sets sustainability goals for Federal agenci…
View the post titled Real climate leadershipGreen Energy Act passed
For a statute that will make such fundamental changes in Ontario's energy policy, this was a stunningly quick transformation from "an intriguing idea" last September to law in less than nine months.
View the post titled Green Energy Act passedClotheslines- the right to dryHe
Clothes dryers are the third largest energy consuming appliance in the average home, after refrigerators and stoves. What could be a simpler way to conserve energy than hanging your clothes outside?Unfortunately, using the sun and the wind to dry clothes is illegal in many subdivisions, due …
View the post titled Clotheslines- the right to dryHeReceive Blog Posts
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