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Stories Tagged - Green Living
News
April 21, 2016 | Joel Schlesinger
Clean living
A green revolution is underway as more Calgarians seek to reduce their carbon footprint with increasingly energy-efficient homes
No one can accuse Chris Stevenson of being all talk and no action when it comes to living green. The 51-year-old Calgarian is walking the walk when it comes to reducing his carbon footprint.
So much so he built his own net-zero home – that is, one that generates as much energy from renewables, such as solar panels, as it consumes.
"I like to do things right, and I'm cheap: I didn't want to be paying a lot for utilities," joked Stevenson, who, until recently, made a living investing in real estate.
No one can accuse Chris Stevenson of being all talk and no action when it comes to living green. The 51-year-old Calgarian is walking the walk when it comes to reducing his carbon footprint.
So much so he built his own net-zero home – that is, one that generates as much energy from renewables, such as solar panels, as it consumes.
"I like to do things right, and I'm cheap: I didn't want to be paying a lot for utilities," joked Stevenson, who, until recently, made a living investing in real estate.
News
April 06, 2016 | Giselle Wedemire
Tiny homes trend faces big hurdle in Calgary
City needs to pave the way for small housing option
If Tiny House Hunters, the compact-sized spin-off of HGTV's hit show House Hunters, is anything to go by, tiny homes may be coming to a neighbourhood near you. That is, if the neighbourhoods near you are in the United States.
Up north, however, the question of whether tiny houses will be fully embraced by Calgarians is up for debate.
With their limited size – usually around 400 sq. ft. or less – tiny houses often come at a fraction of the price of their traditional counterparts. Though prices vary from builder to builder, Kijiji listings for tiny homes for sale in the Calgary area range from about $17,000 to $39,000.
If Tiny House Hunters, the compact-sized spin-off of HGTV's hit show House Hunters, is anything to go by, tiny homes may be coming to a neighbourhood near you. That is, if the neighbourhoods near you are in the United States.
Up north, however, the question of whether tiny houses will be fully embraced by Calgarians is up for debate.
With their limited size – usually around 400 sq. ft. or less – tiny houses often come at a fraction of the price of their traditional counterparts. Though prices vary from builder to builder, Kijiji listings for tiny homes for sale in the Calgary area range from about $17,000 to $39,000.
News
March 24, 2016 | Donna Balzer
What is your garden style?
Not everything is timeless when it comes to outdoor design
Do you have a high-end ultra-modern home with striking features that looks like it came out of a recent copy of Architectural Digest?
What about your yard? Does it look like it came from a Home and Garden magazine circa 1985?
This jarring contrast of cottage-style garden with modern home seems hard to understand until you think of the process. Homeowners do not design homes – builders and architects do. Yet homeowners are the ones often design their own gardens.
News
Feb. 26, 2016 | Rachel Naud
Soil-utions for your veggie garden
Want to bloom your own bounty? Here are four things to do to get your garden ready
Not much can beat a ripe, juicy tomato picked fresh from the vine, or a crisp cucumber that packs a nutritious crunch. Homegrown veggies are delicious, nutritious and cost-effective.
Yet as Calgarians also know, there's a small window in which to grow their bounty.
That's why those with a green thumb like to plan out their seasonal gardens – from determining the garden's design to, of course, choosing the variety of crops – to make the most out of the planting and growing season.
If this is your first crack at planting and you're not sure how to get started, don't be intimidated, said Chelsie Anderson, owner and operator of Chelsie Squared Gardening.
Not much can beat a ripe, juicy tomato picked fresh from the vine, or a crisp cucumber that packs a nutritious crunch. Homegrown veggies are delicious, nutritious and cost-effective.
Yet as Calgarians also know, there's a small window in which to grow their bounty.
That's why those with a green thumb like to plan out their seasonal gardens – from determining the garden's design to, of course, choosing the variety of crops – to make the most out of the planting and growing season.
If this is your first crack at planting and you're not sure how to get started, don't be intimidated, said Chelsie Anderson, owner and operator of Chelsie Squared Gardening.
News
Feb. 26, 2016 | CREBNow
Five questions with the 'No Guff Gardener'
Sneak peak at this year's Home + Garden Show
Nobody arguably knows more about how to succeed as a gardener in Calgary than Donna Balzer. The noted horticulturist and speaker is author of No Guff Vegetable Gardening, a regular CREB®Now columnist and trusted messiah for countless Calgarians trying to discover their green thumbs.
On Feb. 26 and 28, Balzer will take the stage at this year's Home + Garden Show to talk about how we can change our world, one cabbage at a time. CREB®Now recent sat down with Balzer to get a sneak peek.
CREB®Now: Why should I start thinking about my garden now when there's still snow on the ground?
Balzer: Gardening is two parts dreaming and three parts doing. The best ideas might be waiting for you right now at a talk, on Pinterest or in a gardening book. If you are serious about starting a garden, you will want to start looking and reading now because by the time the weather is perfect for doing it is too late.
Nobody arguably knows more about how to succeed as a gardener in Calgary than Donna Balzer. The noted horticulturist and speaker is author of No Guff Vegetable Gardening, a regular CREB®Now columnist and trusted messiah for countless Calgarians trying to discover their green thumbs.
On Feb. 26 and 28, Balzer will take the stage at this year's Home + Garden Show to talk about how we can change our world, one cabbage at a time. CREB®Now recent sat down with Balzer to get a sneak peek.
CREB®Now: Why should I start thinking about my garden now when there's still snow on the ground?
Balzer: Gardening is two parts dreaming and three parts doing. The best ideas might be waiting for you right now at a talk, on Pinterest or in a gardening book. If you are serious about starting a garden, you will want to start looking and reading now because by the time the weather is perfect for doing it is too late.
News
Dec. 06, 2015 | Cody Stuart
Zero sum
Mattamy Homes opens first Calgary net-zero home
Even though it's nearly winter, Calgary just got a little greener.
Mattamy Homes, North America's largest privately owned homebuilder, has opened its first net- zero home in the city.
The first of five such homes set to be added to the northeast community of Cityscape are part of a national project that will double the number of net-zero homes – energy-efficient residences that generate as much energy as they consume on an annual basis – in Canada.
Even though it's nearly winter, Calgary just got a little greener.
Mattamy Homes, North America's largest privately owned homebuilder, has opened its first net- zero home in the city.
The first of five such homes set to be added to the northeast community of Cityscape are part of a national project that will double the number of net-zero homes – energy-efficient residences that generate as much energy as they consume on an annual basis – in Canada.
News
Oct. 16, 2015 | Alex Frazer Harrison
The $17-trillion question
How Calgary is contributing to low-carbon living
It's a number so big, it's hard to comprehend: $17 trillion US.
According to the New Climate Economy report released by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, that's how much cities worldwide could realize in direct energy savings by 2050 by investing in low-carbon technologies. This includes public transportation, efficiency in building design and waste management.
Is such a target obtainable?
In 2014, the City of Calgary spent $140 million on energy, just for its own facilities, "to keep our pools warm, our street lights on and our LRTs moving," said Arsheel Hirji, leader of sustainable infrastructure with the City.
It's a number so big, it's hard to comprehend: $17 trillion US.
According to the New Climate Economy report released by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, that's how much cities worldwide could realize in direct energy savings by 2050 by investing in low-carbon technologies. This includes public transportation, efficiency in building design and waste management.
Is such a target obtainable?
In 2014, the City of Calgary spent $140 million on energy, just for its own facilities, "to keep our pools warm, our street lights on and our LRTs moving," said Arsheel Hirji, leader of sustainable infrastructure with the City.
News
Oct. 16, 2015 | Cody Stuart
Giving back
'Net-positive' home provides more energy than it uses
When talking about giving back, many people think of volunteer work or assisting in the community. For one Calgary household, however, it means something entirely different.
Situated in the southeast community of Ramsay, Cornelis Koster's home is giving back in the form of energy. Billed as Canada's first net-positive home, it uses several forms of green-friendly technology to not only provide its own heat and power, but also creates a slight excess of electricity.
"We have a 5.5-kilowatt system powering the suite, garage and the house plus we have a surplus," said Koster, who also serves as president of Ironcor Solar.
According to Koster, construction on the project took 17 weeks and came in at a cost of $220,000.
When talking about giving back, many people think of volunteer work or assisting in the community. For one Calgary household, however, it means something entirely different.
Situated in the southeast community of Ramsay, Cornelis Koster's home is giving back in the form of energy. Billed as Canada's first net-positive home, it uses several forms of green-friendly technology to not only provide its own heat and power, but also creates a slight excess of electricity.
"We have a 5.5-kilowatt system powering the suite, garage and the house plus we have a surplus," said Koster, who also serves as president of Ironcor Solar.
According to Koster, construction on the project took 17 weeks and came in at a cost of $220,000.
News
June 03, 2015 | CREBNow
Living with lovely landscaping
How making some adjustments to your yard can spur home sales
They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to buying a new home, curb appeal is often everything.
Dandelion décor and weathered wood decks won't work in your favour to draw buyers to your property, said Donna Balzer the gardener, speaker and TV personality behind www.gardenguru.net. Balzer cited a seller in Scarboro who contacted her after potential buyer's commented on his home's outdoor esthetics.
They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to buying a new home, curb appeal is often everything.
Dandelion décor and weathered wood decks won't work in your favour to draw buyers to your property, said Donna Balzer the gardener, speaker and TV personality behind www.gardenguru.net. Balzer cited a seller in Scarboro who contacted her after potential buyer's commented on his home's outdoor esthetics.
News
June 03, 2015 | Donna Balzer
Small bite approach
You don't have to get all your gardening done in one go
Are you doing all your own gardening this summer?
Are you ready to rock 'n roll in the radish patch and primp your patio?
While your internal kettle is boiling and your energy is high, you probably think you can do it all in one big push.
And then reality sets in.
You just don't have enough time. Instead of a marathon garden workout, you need the small-bite approach to gardening. Don't look at your garden as a huge mess needing to be tamed over a weekend. Lighten your load and start looking at tasks in tiny nibbles or tasty snacks wedged between your other daily tasks.
Are you doing all your own gardening this summer?Are you ready to rock 'n roll in the radish patch and primp your patio?
While your internal kettle is boiling and your energy is high, you probably think you can do it all in one big push.
And then reality sets in.
You just don't have enough time. Instead of a marathon garden workout, you need the small-bite approach to gardening. Don't look at your garden as a huge mess needing to be tamed over a weekend. Lighten your load and start looking at tasks in tiny nibbles or tasty snacks wedged between your other daily tasks.
