Learn to love your CFLs
by MELISSA BREYER
I was in a beautiful 19th-century building when I spotted a glaring compact fluorescent light bulb spiralling from the base of an antique sconce. This is great, I thought, countered immediately by: Eeew, that looks awful. Every list of tips to save the planet pleads with us to switch our light bulbs—but nobody tells us how to do that without sacrificing warmth and ambience. It’s time for some practical tips about how to use CFLs for the best lighting.
Simple Solution
OK, OK, we know. According to Natural Resources Canada, if every Canadian switched just one bulb in their home to a CFL, we would collectively save over $73 million in energy costs that year. We would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 367,000 tonnes—the equivalent of taking more than 66,000 cars off the road. We know. So we dutifully buy an armful of CFLs, replace all our old bulbs, shudder at the soul-baring glare, remove CFLs, reinstate incandescents, and banish the CFLs to a drawer.
The problem is that, without a little know-how, CFLs are not a very elegant replacement for our old light bulbs. The first thing to know is that there are two families of energy-saving light bulbs: light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and CFLs.
Light-Emitting Diodes (LED)
LED bulbs last a whopping 10 times longer than CFLs, and more than 100 times longer than incandescents. This writer has a few and can’t recommend them enough—but since CFLs are more readily available (and affordable), that’s the bulb we’ll tackle today.
TIP: For more information and to order LED bulbs, go to ccrane.com.
Why Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs?
In an effort to hold your attention, we’ll skip the science lesson here. We will say that incandescent bulbs are highly inefficient since the light they generate is really just a by-product of heat generation. Incandescent bulbs lose 90 per cent of the electricity consumed as heat and only last 750 to 1,000 hours, whereas CFLs use 75 per cent less energy for the same amount of light (producing no heat) and last 10,000 hours. For the homeowner this means a savings of $30 or more over each bulb’s lifetime, not to mention the significant decrease in pollution.
Shining the Light on Brightness
Most people inadvertently buy CFLs that are way too bright. Light is measured in lumens, but we have come to quantify brightness by watts, which is actually the amount of power a bulb uses. Since 90 per cent of the watts used to light an incandescent bulb go to producing heat, these bulbs require a lot of watts to create their light output (lumens). A CFL requires far fewer watts to create the same amount of lumens. So if you buy a 60-watt CFL, it is the equivalent of a 150-watt incandescent bulb!
TIP: To find the equivalent brightness, the rule of thumb is CFLs use about a quarter of the wattage to produce the same light.
Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT)
The colour of light is important in creating ambience if you don’t want your dining room table lit like a parking lot. The colour of light in a bulb is measured by its correlated colour temperature (CCT), which is a measure of how warm or cool light is, and designated by Kelvin (the scientific measure of temperature). Most CFLs come in 2,700K, 3,000K, 3,500K and 4,100K—which range from warm white to a bluish white. Too high a CCT (above 3500K) and your light will look blue and feel cold (even if labelled as “natural” or “daylight”).
TIP: Try a CCT range between 2,700K and 3,000K; these may be labelled as “warm white” or “soft white.”
Colour Rendering Index (CRI)
Have you ever bought a shirt in a store only to take it outside and discover the colour looks different? Different types of lighting render colour differently, and this has been codified into a numeric representation known as colour rendering index (CRI). The CRI rates a light bulb’s ability to show colours “realistically” as compared to a standard incandescent. The CRI scale ranges from 0 to 100—the higher the number, the closer the CFL will render colour like an incandescent bulb.
TIP: Look for CFLs with a colour-rendering index of 80 or above.
My Friend the Dimmer Switch
Dimming is a quick road to ambience, but only recently have some CFLs been designed to work with dimmer switches. These do not have the same dimming precision of incandescent bulbs, with a range of only 20 to 80 per cent of the brightness, but hey, that’s good enough for me!
TIP: Use the chart on the U.S. Environmental Defense Fund’s website, edf.org (search “dimmable”), for information on what kind of bulb to use with your dimmer switch.
The Right Bulb for the Job
CFLs were once available only in the spiral shape, but the industry has responded to the needs of those who require some grace with their greening. One can get a traditional bulb shape, a globe, and even a candelabra-shaped CFL now. CFLs also fall into three categories: bare (like the spiral), covered (like a traditional-looking bulb), and reflective (like flood lights).
TIP: Use the Energy Star chart at energystar.gov (click “Lighting”>“CFLs”) to choose the right bulb for the job.
Mercury
Alas, CFLs contain mercury. The good news is that the new generation of CFLs possesses only a trace amount of mercury (4 mg), far less than in thermometers (500 mg) or old thermostats (3,000 mg). In terms of environmental mathematics, a power plant actually emits 10 mg of mercury to fuel the power needs of an incandescent light bulb compared to 2.4 mg required to produce the electricity to power a CFL. While the amount of mercury is minimal, you should take precaution in cleaning up a broken CFL.1
TIP: How to clean up a broken CFL• Using gloves, carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard, place them in a sealed plastic bag, and wipe the area with a damp cloth. DO NOT USE A VACUUM! Doing so will spread mercury-containing dust throughout the area and can potentially contaminate the vacuum.
• Place all cleanup materials in a second sealed plastic bag.
• Take it to a recycling centre.
How to Recycle CFLs
It’s important to note that as of yet there is no legislation prohibiting B.C. homeowners from chucking their CFLs into the garbage, but recycling is really the best option.
TIP: Many hardware stores, including Canadian Tire, Rona, Home Depot, and Kerrisdale Lumber provide recycling services for CFLs.
Melissa Breyer is a care2.com senior producer who has learned to coax oodles of ambience from her low-energy light bulbs. Reprinted with permission from care2.com.
1 While the safety of mercury levels in CFLs is being debated, it is important to note that mercury poisoning can lead to severe health problems, particularly for infants and small children. Low-mercury CFLs, identifiable by their green stems and marketed as “environmental” CFLs, are now available.
Move over Martha Stewart and Tipper Gore: it’s Friday, and you’re about to throw a sustainable dinner party worthy of Gourmet Magazine (if you do say so yourself!). There’s the 100-mile menu made up of organic veggies and Ocean Wise seafood, cloth napkins, beeswax candles, and even Earth-friendly cleaning products for when you have to do the dishes (drat, there goes the Gourmet fantasy). But wait, what about the wine?
Going green in the world of vino means more than just using organic grapes. As wine is shipped around the world, finding ways to lighten the carbon footprint of transport and reducing packaging are essential, too.
Luckily, when it comes to finding great wine that’s good to the Earth—whether it’s organic, sustainably or locally grown, or in eco-friendly packaging—there are now plenty of options to ensure you and your guests can drink to your health and the planet’s. Here are a few of our favourites.
 Wellbrook Winery Blueberry Wine (750 ml, $12.90)
Local: Yes (Delta)
Organic: Almost. While awaiting organic certification, Wellbrook gets top marks for using eco-friendly farming methods (including hand-weeding, hand-watering, and the use of hand tools instead of machinery).
Packaging: Glass
Details: Even though the bottle is recyclable, the packaging weighs more than the product—and thus produces a greater amount of greenhouse gas emissions in manufacturing, transportation, and recycling, compared to other packaging options.
Blue Box friendly: Yes
Bonus points: Blueberry wine is high in resveratrol (the antioxidant, anti-cancer, and cholesterol-lowering compound found in red wine) and, like all berry wines, is low in headache-causing histamines.
wellbrookwinery.com
 Garry Oaks Pinot Gris
(750 ml, $23.99)
Local: Yes (Salt Spring Island)
Organic: No. However, the winery has registered a comprehensive plan under the B.C. Environmental Farm Plan Program.
Packaging: Glass
Details: The packaging weighs more than the product (see Wellbrook).
Blue Box friendly: Yes, and the natural cork can be composted.
Bonus points: Garry Oaks employs organic practices such as large-scale mulching and composting that converts by-products (such as mowings, prunings, and pomace) into nutrient-rich material for enhancing the soil, and only uses fertilizers made from mined minerals and peat.
garryoakswine.com
 Cheviot Bridge
Thirsty Lizard Shiraz
(1 L, $13.99)
Local: No (Australia)
Organic: No
Packaging: Tetra Pak (aka B-Pak)
Details: Made predominantly from paper (74 per cent), polyethylene plastic (22 per cent), and aluminum foil (4 per cent). Reducing packaging waste by 90 per cent and greenhouse gas emissions by 75 per cent, Tetra Paks require the lowest total energy output of all wine packaging.
Blue Box friendly: No, but can be recycled at any BC Liquor Store or authorized Return-It Depot (see encorp.ca for locations).
Bonus points: The quality of the wine is equal to that of bottled wines. The cost of the one-litre Tetra Pak is the same as a 750-ml glass bottle—savings for your pocketbook and the planet.
cheviotbridge.com.au
 Lotusland Enigma
(750 ml, $21.90)
Local: Yes (Fraser Valley)
Organic: Yes. All Lotusland wines are made with local, organically grown fruit.
Packaging: Glass
Details: The packaging weighs more than the product (see Wellbrook).
Blue Box friendly: Yes, both the bottle and the screw-off cap. You can also return the bottle for deposit at any BC Liquor Store.
Bonus points: Lotusland redesigned its trellis system to reduce trips through the vineyard by 60 per cent, allowing the production of more fruit using significantly less labour and tractor time, and therefore less fuel. With the winery 11 feet underground to stabilize the temperature throughout the year, associated electricity and natural gas consumption have also been reduced.
lotuslandvineyards.com
 Summerhill Pinot Gris
(750 ml, $18.95)
Local: Yes (Kelowna)
Organic: Yes
Packaging: Glass
Details: The packaging weighs more than the product (see Wellbrook).
Blue Box friendly: Yes, or return for deposit at any BC Liquor Store.
Bonus points: Summerhill, Canada’s largest certified-organic vineyard, adds glacier rock dust to the vineyard’s soil to provide trace minerals for a healthier wine, and ages its vinos in a pyramid wine cellar. The sacred geometry of the pyramid is said to have positive, flavour-enhancing effects.
summerhill.bc.ca
 Pentâge Pinot Gris
(3 L, $67.80)
Local: Yes (Penticton)
Organic: No
Packaging: Plastic bag in cardboard box
Details: The bag-in-box takes less energy to produce than bottles, and can be transported at a fraction of the weight, shipping expenses, and greenhouse gas emissions. One box is 38 per cent lighter than the equivalent of four 750-ml glass wine bottles.
Blue Box friendly: Yes, both the bag and the box.
Bonus points: The winery is creating a 4,000-square-foot wine cellar from natural rock, which will eliminate the need for a temperature regulation system in its winemaking facilities.
pentage.com
 Boisset Yellow Jersey Chardonnay
(750 ml, $14.95)
Local: No (France)
Organic: No
Packaging: PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a lightweight plastic
Details: PET bottles can be recycled into textile fibres for carpet, pillows, or polyester clothing. (26 recycled PET bottles can create an entire polyester suit!) PET packaging reduces waste by 90 per cent and, because of its low weight, conserves fuel and reduces greenhouse gas emissions during transport.
Blue Box friendly: Only the screw-off cap, but the bottle can be recycled at any BC Liquor Store or authorized Return-It Depot (see encorp.ca for locations).
Bonus points: PET plastic bottles are made with MonOxbar, an oxygen “scavenger” that protects the wine from oxidation (which changes its taste, aroma, and colour).
boisset.com
Why you should start tossing those yogurt tubs into the blue box
Although the 1950s housewife with her rainbow of Tupperware may be an ideal of the past, the quest for a well-organized kitchen persists. Seeing stacks of food-filled plastic containers in the fridge is comforting, in a primal kind of way. But then comes the procession of warnings about leaching chemicals, and hormone disruption, and… ACK! So here it is: the lowdown on plastic food containers.
A Simple Solution
Step one: Flip over your plastic food storage containers and check their recycling code numbers. If you spy a number 3 or 7, well, those containers should probably be used to store buttons or screws or something. If there is no number listed, contact the manufacturer. (And to be fair to Tupperware, they do manufacture products that are not made of these plastic types.)
No. 3 is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), also known as vinyl. PVC has garnered the moniker “the toxic plastic” for the presence of DEHA—one of several plasticizers (softeners) used in its production. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, long-term DEHA exposure has the potential to cause reduced body weight and bone mass, damage to the liver and testes, and cancer. The manufacture and incineration of PVC also releases carcinogenic dioxins into the environment and food chain.
Recycling code no. 7 includes several plastic types (it’s the catch-all “other” category—see tips below) but it is predominantly polycarbonate. The problem with polycarbonate is that it harbours bisphenol A (BPA). Studies have shown that BPA damages the reproductive systems of lab animals by interfering with the effects of reproductive hormones, and has other serious health effects. BPA has the ability to mimic the human hormone estrogen—it has been linked to prostate and mammary gland cancers, early onset of puberty, and reproductive-organ defects.
As might be expected, given the strength of the plastic industry, there is controversy. Although there have been more than 100 studies showing BPA to be a concern, the plastics industry says it is harmless. The U.S. Food and Dug Administration admits that “substances used to make plastics can leach into food,” but they maintain that the levels are safe. Safe?! If you aren’t quite ready to give up your plastics, but like me, you find the FDA a rather lackadaisical regulator, why not follow these tips for safer plastic use?
Know your plastics. Plastic items are marked with a resin identification system (the number surrounded by arrows), which stand for:
1 – polyethylene terephthalate (PETE)
2 – high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
3 – vinyl, polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
4 – low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
5 – polypropylene (PP)
6 – polystyrene (PS)
7 – other (includes polycarbonate, acrylic, polylactic acid, fibreglass)
- When you need to use plastic food containers, these are the safer choices: 1, 2, 4, and 5.
- Avoid polycarbonate (no. 7). Polycarbonate plastics are hard and clear.
Common items made from this BPA-containing plastic are food storage
containers, baby bottles, water bottles, and tableware. (And the lining inside food and drink cans, by the way.)
- Retire old, worn, or heavily scratched containers. Plastics tend to leach more toxins as they age.
- Be careful of serving and storing hot foods or foods made with fats or oils in plastic containers, as these more readily facilitate the transfer of plastic toxins.
- Never microwave foods in plastic containers. “Microwave safe” only means the container won’t melt or warp. Heating plastics increases their potential for
leaching chemicals.
- Never microwave food in yogurt tubs, takeout bowls, or other one-time-use
containers. These containers can warp or melt, possibly causing harmful
chemicals to migrate into the food.
- Avoid using plastic sandwich bags or plastic wrap products.
- If you must use plastic wrap, make sure it is a brand free of both BPA and PVC. Ziploc, Glad, and Saran are promoted as being free of BPA and PVC. (But
remember they will still live for 1,000 years in our landfills.)
- When sliced cheese and meats are sold in plastic bags and/or plastic deli wrap, transfer them as soon as possible to unbleached wax paper or a safe container.
- Remember that if you are pregnant or nursing, BPA chemicals are passed through your bloodstream directly to your baby.
- Use alternatives such as glass and ceramic rather than plastic containers, or
simply store food in bowls covered with a plate.
Melissa Breyer is a care2.com senior producer who loves the clink of glass storage containers in her kitchen cabinets. Reprinted with permission from care2.com.
These arched abodes are easy on the eyes - and the planet
by KIM DAVIS
“It’s like coming home when you enter the dome,” says yoga instructor Madeleine McCarthy. She’s talking about the wooden dome building where she holds her regular Kripalu classes in the small West Kootenay town of New Denver. Without any sharp edges, the flowing lines of the dome’s sloping walls create a space that feels open, restful, and harmonious.
“When a new student first enters, immediately their body language speaks of delight, or wonderment and awe,” McCarthy says.
Likened to giant beehives or wooden igloos by some, and conjuring images of Tolkien’s Hobbit houses for others, the monolithic domes of New Denver’s Villa Dome Quixote Lodge have been garnering attention ever since they were built seven years ago.
Consisting of four conjoined domes, the unique lodge and adjacent guesthouses were erected as prototypes by Canadian inventor and engineer Salah Eldeib. Eldeib was motivated by his work on residential concrete domes and inspired by the thought of using discarded wood trim ends as a sustainable building material. The result? A structural system that has proven not only visually arresting but also strong, economical, energy-efficient, and environmentally sensitive.
Since building the lodge, Eldeib has also designed a modular dome for easy portability between sites. When representatives from Mongolia met Eldeib at the GLOBE 2006 environmental conference, they quickly realized how his company, Canadian Wooden Domes, could help solve their country’s complex housing needs. In January of last year, Eldeib was invited to meet with Mongolia’s president, who was sold on the domes’ affordability and ease of construction. There are now plans to build some 14,000 domes—as housing, service buildings, and, in some cases, whole villages—across the country’s 21 provinces.
“Ten years from now I can see CWD structures in at least 50 countries,” says Eldeib. “I can see these structures used for housing, commercial applications, schools, and sports facilities.”
He also foresees eventually combining his Canadian-born technology with regionally available building materials and labour wherever they are built. In Egypt, for example, CWD is already looking at making the boards for the domes’ frame from fibres left over from sugar cane production.
Closer to home, several local architects, including Rodney Cottrell of Rodney F. Cottrell Holistic Architecture and Sharif Senbel of Studio Senbel, have begun incorporating the innovative technology into their projects. Senbel, whose studio has designed several local mosques, used two domes in the Masjid al-Salaam and Education Centre (Burnaby Mosque) being built at 5060 Canada Way: one above an entry portal, another to top a minaret. The building won’t be finished until spring, but Senbel says the zinc-tile-clad dome is already turning the heads of passing motorists—not to mention those who enter the mosque to pray.
“Most framed dome systems,” Senbel says, “produce some form of faceted dome. Canadian Wooden Domes produce a near-smooth curvilinear surface without resorting to more costly monolithic or bent-steel systems.”
Cottrell recently designed a multi-storey luxury dome residence in the Okanagan. He says he appreciates not only the system’s sustainable attributes—resource- and energy-efficiency—but also how it lends itself to the creation of distinctive and unique spaces he describes as “a more perfect emulation of nature.”
“Cozy,” “harmonious,” and “intimate yet spacious” are terms visitors and guests have used to describe the interior of Villa Dome Quixote. “As a society we are so used to square and sharp edges, so a dome is unique in that regard,” says Tim Magee, a regular guest at the lodge. “You go into these rooms and they are not harsh; they are welcoming. The curvature is comforting, a kind of cocoon-like feel.”
Laurie Silfven, a resident of Alaska who travels to New Denver every year to ski, couldn’t agree more. “It is kind of nice that no one feels like they are in a corner,” she says, describing the lodge’s large gathering room. “It is very intimate, and the curved spaces add sophistication.”
“Wherever you look your mind comes to rest,” adds yoga instructor McCarthy.
Entering a dome, it’s easy to see why. There’s just the continuous curve of a wall up to the top and then back down again: no beginning, no end, no corners to punctuate the conclusion of one space and the beginning of another.
As McCarthy explains, “The dome has an unmistakable resonance that is not present in rectangular spaces. It promotes being in the moment.”
Kim Davis is a Vancouver researcher, writer, and designer who is working on living in the moment, with or without angles.
Consider an intentional community in Central America
by STEPHANIE MACDONALD
Surfer Donn Wilson first landed on Nicaragua’s Pacific shore after hearing rumours about the country’s untouched coastline and world-class breaks. Now a father of three, the Southern California native has made the Central American country his permanent home. The reason? “It’s a place where my children can learn about another culture and have an opportunity to step away from an over-consuming society into a simpler life,” he says.
Knowing what happens when word gets out about a beautiful beach in a tropical place, Wilson, along with Juan Manuel Caldera, a native Nicaraguan, decided to create an “intentional community” near San Juan del Sur. The pair formed a company, Nica Dev, and rolled up their sleeves to commence building.
The term “intentional community” means any group of people with shared values living in the same place. This could conceivably describe every arrangement from nudist colonies to kibbutzim. But Nica Dev’s Las Fincas de Escamequita, and the nearby Alma Verde, in Costa Rica, are two intentional communities more concerned with sustainability and living in balance with nature than naked badminton or religion.
“We do no advertising—we find that the people who belong here find their way to this place,” explains Stephan Rechtschaffen, a partner in Alma Verde. Rechtschaffen—a holistic MD and co-founder of the renowned Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in New York State—has a very specific vision for this community, located in Nosara on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. He envisions Alma Verde to be a “loosely knit community of people who want to live close to a centre of wellness, healing, and spirituality.”
Alma Verde is still in the process of being built, and many Omega faculty members and their friends have seized the opportunity to buy property and construct homes there. The 48 lots range from a quarter of an acre to just over an acre. Some have eye-popping views of the ocean and mountains, while others are just a stone’s throw from the retreat centre and the beach.
“The retreat centre will be the axis for the residents of the community,” explains Rechtschaffen of the planned complex, which will include the centre, a spa, a store, and a café. He hopes the centre will be a gathering place where people will come to practice yoga or get a massage, have a cup of tea, or just sit around and gab.
Meanwhile, Las Fincas de Escamequita is being hailed as the premier eco-friendly community in Nicaragua. Its focus is specifically on respect for the environment and support of local residents.
Overlooking the Bahía de Salinas, which divides Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Las Fincas is now in its second phase of building. The community borders a 300-acre nature preserve; as construction guidelines are strict, residents can relax knowing that their tropical paradise will retain its natural appeal.
Energy is provided by solar power included in the purchase price of each property. Wilson is in the process of creating a system where all grey water will be repurposed, and is even exploring the re-use of aguas negras (that means “sewage,” muchacho). What’s more, all trees and vegetation are protected from clearing. Dwellings are confined to a modest size and a single storey, but lots are generously sized at three to five acres—and all have ocean views.
A significant part of Nica Dev’s philosophy concerns the Nica Dev fund, which is earmarked to improve the quality of life for the local community. Part of the purchase price of each property goes toward improving roads, building schools, planting trees, and other community projects.
 The chance to commune with local people is, in fact, one of the main draws for buyers. Brian Smits, from Courtenay, who purchased his own little piece of paradise at Las Fincas last year—sight unseen—couldn’t be happier about the lack of tourists in the area. “At Las Fincas, if you look on the beach, it’s all Nicaraguan families. What Donn and Juan are doing is admirable, and it’s such a commitment for them.”
 Because lots are offered on the market—unlike with Alma Verde—Las Fincas is not, strictly speaking, an intentional community. But Wilson maintains that, by default, he’s created one based on the stringent rules each property owner must adhere to.
“If someone is willing to conform to our restrictions and live on solar
energy—which we provide—[and] agree not to build a two-storey home, agree to limit the total roof area of their house, agree not to cut trees, etc., we have in fact weeded out anyone who doesn’t hold those values to be dear to their existence.”
Stephanie MacDonald is a Vancouver writer and designer who has the urge to divest herself of all possessions and take up subsistence farming in the tropics. For more info on Las Fincas de Escamequita, visit nicadev.com; for Alma Verde, almaverdecostarica.com.
'Tis the season to show the Earth you care
by EMILY MURGATROYD
The holidays are a rare time when cranberries trump BlackBerrys, waistlines give for chocolate and fine wine, and the urge to decorate and sing has been known to overcome even the surliest grinch.
As we near the end of 2007—the year when green finally went mainstream—many of us are thinking beyond the usual shopping, wrapping, cooking, and decorating madness, and trying to find ways to celebrate that are gentler on the planet.
With this in mind, we bring you some ideas for having an even greener holiday season than the kind we’re already accustomed to on the West Coast.
Décor
Lighten Your Footprint
Snuff out traditional paraffin candles and light up with beeswax or soy candles instead. Paraffin is a petroleum waste by-product containing major carcinogens that are released
as the candles burn. Soy and beeswax candles burn cleaner and last twice as long. Beeswax candles also smell sweet naturally, while many soy candles are scented with essential oils. I’ve bought lavender-scented ones in the past and they smell heavenly.
Don’t Trash Your Tree
Because Christmas trees are grown on farms, you can bring home a tree without worrying that you’re clear-cutting a forest. But be sure to reduce waste by “recycling” the tree once you take it down. If you live in a household with yard-trimming collection, you can put your old tree out on regular collection days.
Or you could extend the spirit of givingbeyond the New Year and take your tree to a charitable tree-chipping event. For a small cash or non-perishable-food donation, local non-profits transform trees into wood chips. These in turn go into the municipal compost, which is used by the City of Vancouver’s Park Board and engineering departments and sold to local landscapers. Using the key words “Christmas tree,” you can search the City’s website, vancouver.ca, for a wood-chipping event near you.
String Along
LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are the rage in Christmas lights—indoor and out. The soft glow of these colourful lights are up to 90 per cent more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and they last for about 200,000 hours! (Bonus: if one light burns out, you don’t have to worry about the whole string losing power.)
Gifts
It’s a Wrap
I used old magazines to wrap gifts for my family last year, and nobody turned to me and said, “I really missed the Rudolph-and-Jesus-making-dreidels-under-Santa’s-watchful-eye wrapping paper you used before. It’s a shame you’ve turned into such a hippie.” So hatch a new tradition—while saving yourself the trip, the time, the trees, and the money—and wrap your gifts in old magazines and newspapers. (Hint: this issue of SharedVISION will make great wrapping paper once it’s been read from cover to cover.)
Tasteful Treats
Organic and fair-trade teas, coffees, and chocolates make great stocking stuffers. Muzi Tea is a local company that sources organically and ethically grown teas. In addition to supporting low-impact, traditional farming operations, their cute tins are recyclable and reusable. And their vanilla rooibos is to die for.
Local and handmade Mink Chocolates are beautiful, and include several organic options. Their “Artist Series” Bon Bons features whimsical designs by local artists on each chocolate. Careful buying these though: if you’re like me, you might find yourself stuffing your face instead of stuffing the stockings.
Gifts That Keep on Giving
Services aren’t shipped from afar, they never break down, and they don’t take up any space. So when shopping for loved ones, consider a gift certificate for a cooking class, a massage, or—if it’s been a season filled with cocktail parties—a private yoga or Pilates session.
For long-lasting gift ideas, the key is to think before you buy. Consider giving only local or fairly traded goods. Products made out of natural materials are also a great idea. Not only are these Earth friendly, but they show that you’ve put care and thought into your gifts—which, at the end of the day, is what giving is all about.
Emily Murgatroyd is the owner of Greenprint Events (greenprintevents.com), Vancouver’s premier sustainable event-planning company. She considers herself a hippie disguised as a businesswoman.
Where to Get the Goods
Candles
Local craft fairs are a great source for beeswax and soy candles, as are natural food stores like Choices, Capers, and Whole Foods Market. Circle Craft
(Granville Island), circlecraft.net and Moulé (1994 W. Fourth Ave., Vancouver; 2016 Park Royal South, West
Vancouver; moulestores.com) also stock them.
Christmas lights
Finding a good string of LEDs is as easy as walking into a Rona, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, or Home Depot store.
Wrapping paper
Another great alternative to wrapping paper is to use funky, reusable shopping bags. Sole Gear Design is my favourite: solegear.ca.
Locally made treats
Muzi Tea, muzitea.com
Mink Chocolates, minkchocolates.com
Ethical Bean (fair-trade coffee), ethicalbean.com
Salt Spring Coffee Co., saltspringcoffee.com
Denman Island Chocolate, denmanislandchocolate.com
Services & Experiences
For the person who has everything, why not opt for a non-material gift? Some popular options include:
Cleaners who use natural products
Everclean Building Services, everclean.ca
Organizers
The Art of Organizing, theartoforganizing.ca
Personal assistants
Les Clutter Services, lesclutterservices.com
Massage
Spa Ethos, spaethos.com
Cooking
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, picachef.com
Tickets to EPIC:
The Vancouver Sun Sustainable Living Expo April 18-20, epicvancouver.com
How to winter-proof your home against the blues
by NADINE PEDERSEN
 It’s a dark, drizzly evening. Your after-work jogging buddies will be at your doorstep any minute, but the couch and that bag of organic potato chips are looking mighty appealing.
Surely your workout partners will understand if you pass just this once. After all, for most of northern human history, winter has been a period of downtime. Short days, cold weather, and scarcity of food limited outside activities and brought people into shelters to rest (and presumably, eat potato chips).
But with the invention of the electric lightbulb, all this changed. We stopped living by the seasons and instead became wired, putting in the same long workdays we put in the rest of the year—often without the benefit of the exercise, fresh air, and exposure to sunshine we enjoy in warmer months. For many Vancouverites, the winter blues and the more serious Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)—a condition marked by oversleeping, lethargy, overeating, social withdrawal, and depression—are as regular as November rain.
Fortunately, it’s easy to beat back the winter doldrums. Getting regular exercise, watching your diet, having a pet, and listening to uplifting music are proven ways to boost your mood. Here are some other ways to transform your home, delight your senses, and brighten up your winter.
1. BRING COLOUR INTO THE CAVE
 Colour-response research has shown that certain colours elicit specific responses from people and affect our moods, energy levels, and even appetite. So why not play with colours that make you feel good about yourself and your home? A colourful throw, a cheerful painting, or a new wall colour can change the look and feel of any room.
In the Chinese practice of feng shui, certain colours are believed to increase yin or yang energy. Yin colours (including blue, black, purple, white, pink, and green) tend to be more soothing, while yang colours (red, orange, yellow, tan, brown, mauve, maroon, lavender, and gold) produce enthusiasm and the positive energy required to do something or to feel motivated.
A word of caution: Feng shui is a complicated philosophy, and adherents believe it’s best left to professionals who understand the relationship between objects and the flow of chi, or energy. “It’s just too simplistic to say, ‘Oh, just use red because it’s a bright, vibrant colour,’” says Sheila Wright, a feng shui consultant. “You have to be careful about using too much red, because from a feng shui perspective, putting it in an inappropriate place can activate negative energy.”
2. PURIFY THE AIR YOU BREATHE
According to the American Lung Association, while high levels of pure oxygen can be detrimental to one’s health, low levels of oxygen can improve sleep and mood, increase mental alertness and stamina, and improve body functions. Many common houseplants can transform carbon dioxide into oxygen and trap unwanted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that seep into our homes.
Research by NASA—which studied houseplants as a means of getting rid of some of the 300 chemicals found aboard spacecrafts—also found that spider plants, golden pothos, aloe vera, and philodendrons are excellent at removing formaldehyde from indoor air, while gerberas and chrysanthemums can remove benzene, a carcinogen found in plastics, dyes, and detergents.
3. MAKE IT SMELL LIKE SPRING
“There are countless studies out there that show how essential oils are beneficial not just to the mind but to the body as well,” says Nikki Creamore, wholesale and amenities manager for Escents, a Vancouver-based aromatherapy company.
With a diffuser and a few drops of essential oil, anyone can infuse their home with a scent that is energizing, relaxing, or grounding.
While Creamore says selecting an aroma is a very personal experience, she notes that in winter many people are drawn to uplifting and energizing citrus blends. In fact, Escents’ “Rejuvenating” blend, which combines bergamot and grapefruit, has been a company bestseller for the past 15 years.
4. LIGHTEN UP
 For many people the first sunny days of spring are the most powerful antidepressant in the world. Their energy levels increase, and they feel happier and more motivated. Light therapy—which involves sitting near a “light box” for 10 to 90 minutes a day—mimics this effect of increased daylight.
According to the Mood Disorders Clinic at UBC Hospital, light therapy is an effective and safe treatment for SAD. The clinic recommends buying light therapy devices that are approved by the Canadian Standards Association or Underwriters Laboratories, another product safety certification organization.See your doctor before getting one, as devices may be harmful to people with medical conditions such as eye disease.
Feng shui consultant Wright also recommends light therapy devices. “The most important thing from my perspective even being a feng shui practitioner is to use a full-spectrum light where appropriate,” she says. “And doing things to keep yourself balanced, whether that’s exercise, meditation, or eating healthy—because if you’re balanced overall, then the externals don’t affect you that much.”
Writer Nadine Pedersen understands how it feels to be torn between yoga and yogurt-and-herb potato chips.
How to Beat the Blues
Feng Shui
Sheila Wright, 888-689-2378, fengshuiservices.com ; Marlyna Los, 604-339-8878, balancing-essentials.com
Plants
Tapestry Florist, 604-925-3237, tapestryflorist.com
Aromatherapy
Escents Aromatherapy, 800-964-1150, escentsaromatherapy.com ;
Saje Natural Wellness, 604-583-7151, saje.ca
Struggling with SAD? Check out Winter Blues, Revised Edition: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder by Norman E. Rosenthal, and Fight the Winter Blues by Celeste A. Peters.
The UBC Mood Disorders Clinic (psychiatry.ubc.ca/mood/sad/home.htm) has invaluable information on SAD and treatment, as well as information on what to look for and where to buy a light box. Most light boxes cost between $250 and $500.
Simple Steps for a Healthier Home
by JULIE HARDY
Shelley and her family had been living in their beautiful 24-year-old house in the Lower Mainland for four years when she realized that each time they went away on vacation, her children’s persistent respiratory problems cleared up. A little investigating led her to suspect that mould caused by the dampness in their home might be responsible for her children’s health issues.
Shelley’s suspicions were confirmed when an environmental home assessment revealed her house had absorbed moisture through its unfinished concrete foundation. The inspection found higher concentrations of the toxigenic moulds Aspergillus and Penicillium indoors than out.
The family could have upgraded the foundation—an expensive endeavour—but decided to look for a new, dryer house instead.
While Shelley’s family’s situation sounds extreme, their story is not uncommon—particularly in areas like Vancouver where the usual weather forecast of “cloudy with a chance of showers” makes it challenging to keep moisture at bay.
Interestingly, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found most Americans spend on average 90 per cent of their time indoors, home (and office) environments are rarely considered as part of the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of health problems.
Diagnosing your home
Whether you live in a house, condo, or apartment building, it helps to understand that your home is a system with three parts that work together to form a living environment. That system consists of the foundation and building envelope (roof, walls, windows, and doors), which protect you from the outdoors; the mechanical systems that control the indoor environment (heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems); and finally, your home activities and the products you bring in.
Living as we do on the “Wet Coast,” a key place to begin is examining your home’s foundation and building envelope. Your windows, doors, roof, walls, and gutters should be in good condition, and not allow water to seep into the house. Excessive moisture in a home creates a space that’s conducive to mould growth, and will allow other allergens—such as dust mites—to flourish.
Somewhat paradoxically, though, you don’t want a home that is built too tight without proper ventilation. Ventilation (the air exchange between the indoors and outdoors) is important to control moisture, odour, and carbon dioxide levels. Today’s tighter, energy-efficient construction methods make it even more important to ventilate your home, as often there is not enough breathability in the building material.
Finally, you need to look at sources of moisture. Showering, laundering, and cooking contribute to the amount of moisture in the home, as do leaky appliances that go unnoticed.
Prevention and treatment
Sound overwhelming? Don’t worry. Taking action to reduce the amount of mould and other allergens in your
home can be relatively simple. Here are four easy ways to improve your home’s prognosis:
1. Use exhaust fans. Ventilation is key to maintaining healthier indoor air. Although they’re often clunky and
noisy, exhaust fans should be used when showering and cooking.
2. Inspect your home for any water leakage from the outside or around your plumbing. When water
leaks or spills occur indoors, act quickly to clean up and dry the area.
3. Check for signs of moisture in your home such as condensation on the windows, or use a device
called a hygrometer to measure relative humidity. Maintain the relative humidity in your home at or below 50
per cent to reduce conditions conducive to mould growth by using the exhaust fan, turning on the heat, or
using a dehumidifier.
4. Vacuum with a High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) filter. Typical vacuum cleaners with
bags re-release about 70 per cent of what they suck up—including mould. When purchasing a HEPA vacuum
cleaner, look for vacuums that trap 99.97 per cent of particles down to 0.3 microns in size by checking the
manufacturer’s efficiency test results. And choose a vacuum with a long warranty.
Julie Hardy, founder of JMH Home Environmental Solutions, an environmental assessment company, doesn’t appreciate mouldy carpets, but she confesses to liking a good blue cheese. For more information: jmhsolutions.ca.
We ask the Frog some elementary eco-questions
Ah, September: the weather is cooler, the colleagues are back around the water cooler, and the kids are back in school. Even for those of us who don’t have children or have been out of school for years, the unavoidable school supply sales are a reminder of how September marks a time of new beginnings, growth, and learning.
So with this in mind, it’s a good time to review some basics about what we can do to make a difference in our home and office environments. Of course, studying is always a little easier when you’ve got a good teacher, so we’ve turned to Vancouver’s new green guru, the ever-so-helpful website happyfrog.ca.
As introduced in the last issue of SharedVISION, happyfrog.ca is an online community where readers find and review local businesses and services, learn about upcoming events, and “Ask the Frog” (other readers) for advice on everything from ethical investments and renewable energy to massage therapists and organic restaurants.
While the website is still in its tadpole stage, we were impressed by the kind of answers we got by dipping into the collective knowledge pool. Certainly, the Frog was able to provide answers to some of our most elementary green questions. Got a better answer, or a burning question? Visit happyfrog.ca.
Q. I dread the moment that comes in almost every checkout line: “paper or plastic?” Which is really better for the environment?
A. Neither.
The solution is to bring your own reusable cloth shopping bag (or knapsack, or pannier). Forgot to bring your own? Then buy another cloth bag or quit shopping for the day.
The environmental cost difference between plastic and paper bags is insignificant. The production of plastic bags generates less water pollution, less air pollution, and less solid waste. Plastic bags burn better in solid waste incinerators, and take up less space in landfills.
The production of paper bags uses more material—albeit renewable—and generates more pollution. But paper bags biodegrade much more quickly, both in a landfill and alongside the road. Also, paper bags are accepted by more local recycling programs.
Q. Which is more efficient: washing dishes in a dishwasher, or washing them by hand?
A. A study at the University of Bonn in Germany found that the dishwasher uses only half the energy and one-sixth of the water of hand washing.
Even the most sparing and careful washers could not beat the modern dishwasher. The study also rated the cleanliness achieved, again in favour of the washing machine. There have been studies before, but this is one of the few that pits man against machine.
Q. Should I leave the light on? I heard that it takes more energy to restart a fluorescent bulb than to just leave it on.
A. No. Turn the lights out whenever you are the last person to leave a room—even fluorescent lights—unless you are returning within a moment or two. It takes no significant amount of additional energy to start a bulb.
Q. What materials can I leave at curbside for recycling? What’s not allowed?
A. Vancouver’s Blue Box Recycling Program enables residents of single-family, duplex, and some smaller multi-family dwellings to recycle materials such as newsprint, paper, and cardboard, as well as metal, glass, and plastic containers.
Each residence is supplied with a blue box (for metal, glass, and plastic containers), a reusable yellow bag (for paper products), and a reusable blue bag (for newsprint). Residents sort their recyclable materials into the appropriate bag or box and on collection day set them out for pickup.
Here’s a list of what materials can go in which container:
• Blue Box: Plastic bottles and jugs (types 1, 2, 4 & 5), glass bottles and jars, metal cans, aluminum foil, and foil containers.
• Yellow Bag: Magazines, office paper, small pieces of cardboard, and phone books.
• Blue Bag: Newspapers, newspaper inserts, and TV guides.
Note that the one plastic that cannot be in-cluded in curbside recycling is #3, also known as polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. Polyvinyl chloride creates dioxins during manufacture, during the useful lifetime of the product, and upon disposal. Dioxin is a carcinogen that settles in fatty tissues. It disrupts hormonal systems and may cause reproductive- and immune-system damage. If possible, avoid buying products or packaging made of PVC (or #3) plastic.
Q. I keep reading about green building, sustainable building, LEED standards, and the like. What do all these terms really mean, and where can I learn more about what I can do to make my home more environmentally friendly?
A. Throughout their life cycle, buildings consume massive amounts of natural resources and make a significant impact on the environment. Green buildings represent the latest technologies and best practices of high performance, healthy, and low-impact development.
The relationship between buildings and the environment is significant and only now becoming properly understood. In Greater Vancouver buildings account for 40 per cent of the municipal solid waste destined for our landfills, and 35 per cent of our CO2 emissions.
Traditional building development is driven almost exclusively by first-cost economics that do not factor in long-term environmental, social, and occupant impacts. The net result is accelerated ecosystem degradation, both at the site and in remote places where energy is generated and where raw materials are extracted. It doesn’t end once the building is built—today, occupants are exposed to increasing levels of toxins, lack of daylight, and poor indoor air quality.
The Light House Sustainable Building Centre (sustainablebuildingcentre.com) on Granville Island is one place to begin learning more about green building. Light House is a non-profit society dedicated to sustainable building.
Guests are invited to relax in a comfortable modern environment, explore and discuss the latest eco-friendly or “green” resources, and find the solutions they need to make their buildings, houses, communities, and lives more sustainable. Workshops such as Green Building 101 help homeowners make their first foray into the world of green home improvement. Guest experts are in residence every Saturday 2–4 pm to answer questions on all aspects of green building. (Check the online calendar for details.)
Q. I’ve calculated my household greenhouse gas emissions, and begun to reduce or offset my personal carbon use. But my gut sense is that I am responsible for far more carbon use during my workday than during my personal time. What can I say to get my employer interested in carbon reduction?
A. Every day a company waits to take advantage of energy efficiency and clean power technology options, money is lost. Whether a company manufactures goods or provides services, there is a straightforward process for developing a carbon reduction strategy. By learning about what competing companies are doing, your employer can start capturing the benefits with low risk and fast payback.
Cool Companies (cool-companies.org/homepage.cfm) is a good place to start. This “how-to” guide outlines strategic opportunities to reduce energy use, save money, and clean up the environment for commercial buildings and industrial plants, and covers options such as lighting, heating and cooling, cogeneration, green power, motors, fans and steam processes, and more.
You can also check out the Green Workplace Program (eya.ca/gwp). This local initiative, a partnership between the Environmental Youth Alliance and Sustainable Community Enterprises, offers green business consulting and corporate training services. The program will analyze your company’s use of paper, lighting, transportation, and water, as well as its waste and corporate social responsibility, and make recommendations on how to improve.
Ask the frog, be the frog. Get hopping at happyfrog.ca.
Low impact? These cabins don't even touch the ground
by BEVERLY CRAMP & photos by CORY DAWSON
Imagine dreaming an idea into reality. In a sense, that is what Tom Chudleigh did when, over a span of almost two decades, he first conceived of a unique spherical habitation structure. Chudleigh’s dream became reality eight years ago when he completed the first of his “tree spheres”: round treehouses suspended in the forest.
“The idea came to me probably about 20 years ago while meditating,” says Chudleigh, as he sketches some of his earlier visions and influences on a paper napkin in a small Vancouver Island café. “At first I thought I would build a spherical houseboat. I had already been building boats for 10 years at this point. And I’m a believer in the concept of the oneness with all of creation. Conventional architecture is all about separation…But in a sphere, the walls, floor, and ceiling all become one. If you believe in the concept of oneness, then why not immerse yourself in a unified structure?”
Originally from Calgary, Chudleigh trained as a power engineer and worked for many years on survey ships. “Shipwrights and boat builders are really good with curves,” he says. “I built dinghies and little sailboats while I lived in Calgary. The first big boat I made from scratch was a 45-foot steel ketch.”
Chudleigh was inspired by a floating wheelhouse in Thailand that survived cyclone forces. “It took an amazing beating in a cyclone…Wind flows around a sphere rather than ramming into it as it does with a square.”
It was after Chudleigh moved to B.C. that he began to work out ideas for his spherical dwelling. “I just started building it. I got halfway through and along came the treehouse idea. I thought I would hang it off ropes and make it a big tree ornament. I’ve always enjoyed treehouses and climbing trees. There’s something incredible about that environment up there; it’s so peaceful.”
Chudleigh made his first tree sphere, “Eve,” from five-centimetre yellow cedar wood strips—400 in all. The outermost layer is covered with two layers of woven fibreglass roving set in epoxy.
 Chudleigh insulated the sphere and stapled vinyl upholstery fabric to the inside frames. He made reference to yacht style by using brass trim, varnished wood, and cane doors. All of the brass fittings were cast by hand using Chudleigh’s designs.
Eve is just over two and a half metres in diameter and weighs 354 kilograms. Inside there is room for a bench-like table and chair, bed, and counter space. Bubble windows on either side let natural light through. Eve is wired for power, sound, and telephone.
The second tree sphere, Eryn, is roughly three metres in diameter, weighs 500 kilograms, and is made from Sitka spruce wood strips. Spruce wood also works better than cedar with glue as the latter is oilier, and that interferes with the gluing process. Eryn has closets on either side of the door and a galley area with a counter, cupboards, and a sink. A microwave oven and a small refrigerator have been installed, and above the galley area is a loft bed with circular shelf segments connecting it to the cupboards on either side of the entrance door.
For his third tree sphere, Chudleigh took a mold off Eryn and created one of fibreglass. “Fibreglass is durable and strong. The maintenance is down to nothing. The wooden ones need a coat of varnish once in a while. Fibreglass is also a blank canvas. You could paint so many different things on it so it blends into the forest.”
Fibreglass spheres are also much less expensive to build. “The wooden tree spheres take one man’s labour for eight months. Three of us can make a fibreglass sphere shell in a week.”
Chudleigh estimates that an outfitted wooden sphere costs about $150,000 and the fibreglass spheres cost $38,000, plus another $10,000 to install, including the spiral staircase leading from the ground to the tree house.
Each sphere is hung in a triangle of trees about six to 12 metres apart, using 3/4-inch poly-steel rope as the main tethers. The first time Chudleigh lifted Eve into the trees, it was done by hand with come-alongs. He now uses an electric winch.
Chudleigh frequently gets asked about safety. He says the mere shape of the sphere makes it safer in a forest than conventional square architecture: falling trees will almost certainly crash directly into square buildings, while spherical shapes have a good chance of deflecting falling objects. In a windstorm, each of the three supporting trees will absorb some of the force so that the tree-suspended spheres are buffeted less directly and without the total effect of force.
Chudleigh’s “Free Spirit Spheres” are located on an acreage outside Vancouver Island’s Qualicum Bay. Eryn and Eve are rented as unique bed and breakfast units ($100 to $150 per night). A fourth fibreglass sphere is under construction; Chudleigh plans to use it as a massage studio.
Reprinted with permission from Cottage (March 2007). For more information, visit freespiritspheres.com.
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