Columnists

Ash trees under threat

If you live in Western Ontario, you know all about the Emerald Ash Borer. The tiny irridescent green bug has devastated ash trees (genus: Fraxinus) across hundreds of kilometres. Like the mountain pine beetle in Alberta and BC, the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive species from Asia, is out of control.

The larvae of the beetle consume much of the living layer of the host ash tree, and cut off the tree’s upward flow of water and nutrients. The Emerald Ash Borer can kill a tree in as little as a year, although sometimes it takes three years for the tree to die.

How can you help? This helpful video from the University of Nebraska Lincoln shows how to identify the beetle as well as what symptoms you can look for among ash trees on your property.

If you find evidence of the pest, call your local municipality. Unfortunately the affected tree usually needs to be removed. It’s most important that you not move ash trees or wood from ash trees. Invasive species are often transported to new places in firewood; learn more about how this can happen here.

Have you dealt with insect pests attacking your trees?
What do you think should be done when a tree species is at threat?

Stop putting nasty chemicals down the drain. That was the message I got loud and clear while listening to a water treatment expert from the City of Toronto, who was speaking at a conference I attended last June. I went over my cleaning arsenal in my mind. Vinegar? OK. EcoLogo certified glass cleaner? Check. Dye-free, scent-free, phosphate-free, biodegradable detergent? Yes. Toilet bowl cleaner? Gasp! Yes, that drain matters too. And I was using something nasty to clean my bowl because, well, that’s what I’d always used.

I just finished testing several types of ecologically better toilet bowl cleaners (some general purpose cleaners that work well on toilets). That will appear in the December/January issue of Homemakers magazine. But I wanted to share this interesting interview with an expert from Nature Clean, a Canadian company that makes all its products here, gets them EcoLogo certified (the ultimate endorsement) and that seems to actually give a d*mn about the environment. Here’s that interview.

Jess: Is the goal of a toilet bowl cleaner to kill bacteria / other life or, like using a dish soap, are we really just trying to dislodge material so it can be suspended in water and washed away?

Nature Clean: The goal of our toilet bowl cleaner is to clean the toilet – meaning dislodge material so it can be suspended in water and washed away. If you’re cleaning your toilet regularly, there really shouldn’t be any need to disinfect it. However it is a good idea to disinfect the seat and bowl every so often as you see fit. We recommend our disinfectant spray (100% natural ingredients). You just spray the surface, let sit for a few minutes and then rinse clean.

Jess: Why do you have a dedicated toilet bowl cleaner while others are offering a general purpose bathroom product?

NC: Our product is specially formulated to clean toilets. The liquid is more viscous so that it clings to the bowl – the product can then soak into stains and work better to clean the toilet.

Jess: Why should we concerned about what cleaning products we flush?

NC: Yes we should be concerned with the products we flush into our waterways. Not just the toilet, but also sinks, tubs, any drain! There are many chemicals used in traditional cleaners which are not necessarily earth friendly. Take a look at phosphates and the destruction they had on our lakes! Now most companies have limited or removed phosphates from laundry and dish products, but what about household cleaners? EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid) is another widely used ingredient that doesn’t biodegrade! It accumulates in our waterways, lakes and rivers after it’s flushed down the drain. It can remobilize heavy metals such as zinc, nickel, mercury, copper in our waterways. This sediment can eventually end up in our food chain!

So that’s it, folks. Consider the toilet bowl cleaner you’re using, and look for a better choice next time you’re shopping. If you have questions about this or other green living products, please ask me about them by posting a comment.

Have you changed to a more eco-friendly product because of environmental or health concerns?

Canada’s provincial elections are just around the corner. Should you be strategic or vote with your heart? Should you focus on immediate issues, like taxes, or vote for changes that will take a while to pay off? Should you just give up on politics making beneficial change and avoid voting at all?

The health of our environment and human health are directly connected. The purity of our water, our air, our soil, our carbon usage all effect our ability to survive and live well, just as they affect other species. It seems like governments today are focused on short-term pocketbook issues and divisive us-versus-them policies, but ecological and human health affect us all.

Here’s a video from a neat campaign by Environmental Defence. They’re asking you to vote for Penelope, or rather, her future.

Do you think we can look long-term in this election? What issues matter to you?

Courtesy Bosch

If you’re considering upgrading an old appliance, the chart above helps illustrate how much you might save with that new fridge, washer or dishwasher. It illustrates the energy costs of operating an appliance over its lifespan, comparing 1990 appliances to those built in 2008. Whizzy new features and new functions aside, the savings from utility bills alone should convince you to make the switch.

I found that buying a modern, front-loading washing machine saved me money in another way too: the steam setting refreshes and  removes wrinkles from fabrics. I haven’t visited a dry cleaner since the new washer was installed. (And thus I’ve avoided perc and other dry cleaning chemicals as well.) I’m dreaming of a new dishwasher since, while the one that was installed in my home isn’t decades old, it’s incredibly noisy!

Bosch has added some energy and water-saving features to their dishwashers. Their ECOACTION function allows you to select an energy reduction mode, reducing consumption up to an additional 25 per cent. The ECOSENSE Wash Management System evaluates the soil level in the water via an infrared light beam and customizes the wash cycle accordingly.

When looking for more sustainable appliances, ask about lifespan, maintenance options and warranties, and also ask about how the appliance can be recycled at end of life. Ask whether there’s an appliance recycling program in place, and consider whether the appliance’s components are made from metals that are lucrative to recycle (e.g., steel, copper and titanium).

What’s your take – do you think replacing an old appliance is an environmentally friendly move?

Courtesy Ontario Parks

In late July, a community showed with hard work and with their pocketbooks that they care about their environment – by preserving a piece of it. Neighbours, volunteers, local and national environmental groups and politicians alike got involved, on July 16th they announced that they’d made it happen. The Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust (TIWLT), Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), The Government of Canada and The Province of Ontario announced the addition of 605 acres of ecologically significant land along Red Horse Lake to Charleston Lake Provincial Park (click here for map), an absolutely lovely area in Eastern Ontario.

According to NCC, “The property boasts a wide diversity of habitats including shorelines, wetlands, rock ridges, and forests, and includes approximately seven km of shoreline on Red Horse Lake and two km of shoreline on Little Long Lake.” What I can tell you is that it’s beautiful. I got the inside scoop on how the people who live in and love this area made this long-term land preservation happen. That’s because my mom, Marnie Ross, is Secretary of TIWLT.

How did this opportunity to protect land in Charleston Lake come to you?
We have worked with other conservation groups in the area in the past, so when interest to preserve the parcel of land was expressed by landowner George Sheffield, we believed it was a project we had to support. Mr. Sheffield volunteers for the County Leeds Stewardship Council, so the idea originally came through that group.

What’s so important about this land? Why were the owners, and TIWLT, keen to protect it?
Red Horse Lake is one of the few unspoiled trout lakes in southern Canada. It is important to maintain high water quality and protect the species of plants and animals in the woods around it. The Sheffields’ father wanted protection to be his legacy and expressed that desire to his four children. They were acting on their father’s wishes. In the deal, they also get to keep their cottages, which are on the property.

Did the project looking daunting at the outset? What needed to be achieved?
At first, a grand idea always seems doable to me.  After the initial euphoria of “doing something good” we came down to earth and realized we were never going to get there unless we dug deep… and acted fast. It was August [2010] and many of the “summer people” would be leaving. They are the people who care most about the area, and they needed to have the opportunity to contribute. That’s when the articles in the newspapers helped a lot [in creating awareness of the project]. Each group approached people who could afford a sizable donation and were influential in the area. This is always difficult but we went from there to going door to door on Red Horse Lake and parts of Charleston. We felt that it was giving people an opportunity to show they cared. And they did.

Which groups were involved in making this come together?
The group included the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ontario Parks, Charleston Lake Provincial Park, Chareston Lake Association, Friends of Charleston Lake Park and ourselves (TWILT). One thing the current government is doing well is preserving land. Through the NCC, a considerable part of the purchase price of $1.6 M was given. We had to raise $75,000 of that.

About how many individuals contributed funds to this project to complement the government funds?
There were 88 donors and the donations amounted to an astonishing $93,000. Some people contributed $25 and some $10,000. About 25 per cent were Americans; we could offer them receipts for the IRS from American Friends of Canadian Land Trusts of Seattle.

What do you think was most important in terms of making this initiative such a success?
Teamwork. We had people who knew people [who could donate funds] and others who were willing to go door to door. And we didn’t quit when we only had about $400 at the end of August. By the end of September we had almost all of the $93,000. Also, the legal people didn’t quit [in trying to work out the agreement], nor did the family [in sorting through the negotiations]. These things are never easy and they take far longer than you’d think. Then Ontario Parks was delayed in accepting the land. You have to all work and hope and believe it will work out. It was important for the Sheffields to know that people cared and were contributing because of their love for the land. That kept them going.

How will the Red Horse Lake area, now within the park, be preserved going forward?
We transferred the property to Ontario Parks, so it has become a part of Charleston Lake Provincial Park. It lies alongside the portage and includes two lovely bays with mature forest up hills and beyond as far as your eye can see. Ontario Parks will never promise to protect forever. That is the mandate of National Parks. Ontario Parks may eventually allow logging and many other activities or even sell the land. But it is as safe and as well looked after as possible.

While it’s relatively cool on Canada’s west coast, those of us in the central and east part of the country are feeling the heat. Smog is air pollution, that, according to the Toronto Environmental Alliance, is made up of ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and sulphates. Smog days are starting to stack up, making life less healthy for, well, everyone, but particularly for those with asthma.

How can you be part of the smog solution? Here are a few ideas.

Smog fighting tips provided by renewable energy supplier Bullfrog Power, the Asthma Society of Canada and Canadian Physicians for the Environment:
1. Leave the car at home and take public transit
2. Buy local, sustainable food to help reduce transportation-related emissions
3. If you live in Ontario, send a letter to your local paper or MPP supporting Ontario’s coal power phase-out
4. Support renewable energy with Bullfrog Power

And here are a few ideas from me:
5. Use your bike or your own two feet to do errands. Try commuting to work on your bike, but route through paths and side roads rather than major streets.
6. Try starting a carpool group at work. This tip saves money, too!
7. Consider making your next car an electric vehicle (EV). A few models should be for sale in Canada this fall.
8. Reconsider the camp fire. Sure, they’re romantic, but do you really need a fire on a hot summer night?
9. Retire you gas-powered lawn mower, power washer, leaf blower or trimmer. Electric models do a great job, and people-powered options offer a little character-building exercise!
10. Cut your power consumption to eliminate need for coal-fired plants (if you aren’t using renewable electricity and green natural gas). Right now that means avoiding using air conditioning, ensuring you have an efficient fridge and other major appliances, having faster, cooler showers and making more cold meals, such as salads.

When a smog day is announced:
- Stay indoors
- Exercise indoors or much later in the day
- Breathe through your nose if you are outside during high smog situations
- If you have asthma, monitor your asthma symptoms closely and talking to your doctor about having a written Asthma Action Plan that you can use if you start to have asthma symptoms.

Are you bothered by smog?

520 solar panels on this horse facility. Talk about competing in the solar arena!

Hurtling along South-Central Ontario’s Highway 2 on hot and sunny Canada Day weekend, I was thrilled — and surprised — to see many homes, barns and riding arenas clad with solar panels. Not just two or 10 but hundreds on some structures, enough generation capacity on a sunny day to fast-charge your electric car in the time it takes to have a cup of tea. A few people had even bought several photovoltaic solar arrays mounted on solar tracker posts. Their panels follow the sun like giant sunflowers.

Perhaps this is a bit of Deep Thought, but it struck me that those literal rural powerhouses had made a big investment in their future. They had decided to do something akin to buying a house rather than renting it. Instead of simply buying power from the grid at the current price of the day and being completely exposed to any future price, they have the flexibility to use their own power at essentially the amortized cost of buying the panels, helping them control their costs well into the future. Oh, and vastly reducing their contributions to climate change as well, of course. (I’m learning that farmers get climate change like few others in this country, but I’ll leave that for another post!)

And solar farming is a new way to make money on the rural landscape. These farmers and homeowners are taking advantage of Ontario’s feed-in tariff programs, available to even owners of small homes sporting small sources of renewable energy. The FIT and MicroFIT programs involve selling renewable energy into the grid for a premium price, and allow you to continue to buy energy from the grid at regular price as you need it. Few investments are as secure as this one (a major bank even has a special loans department for this purpose). But if  power prices become too expensive, there’s a long-standing power outage or other what-ifs pop up, these savvy solar array or wind turbine owners will  have a major source of power right there at home at no additional cost.

This opportunity for distributed, renewable power generation that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help bolster and diversity our power supply is at risk if a future government is crazy enough to cancel that program (read about the threat here).  People across the province are investing in our collective future through renewable energy, so hopefully our future governments will invest in it too.

Tell me what you think. Can small-scale renewable projects make up a valuable part of our energy supply? Every comment is an entry to WIN a collection of five environmentally friendly cleaning products from Method, Nature Clean and Attitude!