Archive for the 'Green Condos' Category
Power Smart tips for energy efficient use of home appliances
May 26th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Real Estate News
Power Smart tips for energy-efficient use of home appliances
When using your household appliances, there are various, simple energy-efficient habits to implement that will help to reduce your monthly energy bills, as well as be more environmentally friendly.
When cooking, keep preheating to a minimum, and the oven door closed during use. You lose 20 per cent of the heat each time you open the oven door. You can usually turn the heat off about five minutes before the cooking time is up, allowing you to save energy by cooking food with residual heat. Read the rest of this entry »
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What is the Impact of the BC Building Code Going Green?
May 6th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Vancouver Real Estate
In February 2007 the BC Government signaled that a “BC Green Building Code” would be developed to help reduce global warming.
Their goals are identification and removal of barriers to sustainable building practices within current codes and regulations. Identification and proposal of new provisions for green buildings regulation and implementation of new provisions through administration, education and training.
The green building provisions will focus on sustainable sites, water conservation , energy conservation, materials and indoor environment. Read the rest of this entry »
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British Columbia Real Estate Association launches a Green Website
April 21st, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Vancouver Real Estate
BCREA is committed to providing “green” information to Realtors, homebuyers and homeowners.
Its new website will focus on green real estate, water conservation, energy efficiency and parks, all of which add to our quality of life and mirrors their Quality of Life philosophy.
Here you can find information on the benefit of greener homes, making greener renovations, links to rebates and incentives. Read the rest of this entry »
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Lions Gate Bridge Plunged into Darkness for Earth Hour
March 30th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Vancouver Events, Vancouver Real Estate
The Aussies are basking in the success of Earth Hour, which was started in Sydney in 2007.
This year it started in Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday, to raise awareness that generating electricity from coal and oil that produce greenhouse gases which are contributing to climate change.
The lights shut down over 14 time zones and 25 countries, the last being North America’s west coast. 1000,000 Canadians signed up.
In Vancouver the Science World went dark.
Do you think Canada should go nuclear for its electricity? BC Hydro has announced it will be raising our hydro costs 7% per year going forward, in order to build more infrastructure, rather than buying the shortfall.
What were the Canadian results?
Want to weigh in? Did you participate? Do you think Earth Hour was a success? How big will it grow next year and what will be the overall impact on the environment? Will it spin off to other things?
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Earth Hour In Vancouver
March 28th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Vancouver Real Estate
On March 29, 2008 at 8pm join millions of people around the world by making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.
All the City of Vancouver, B.C. Hydro and Vancity buildings have already committed to powering down for Earth Hour and BC Hydro will measure the drop of activity use for the hour.
Sign up for Earth Hour 2008, get involved, reduce your impact, create your own event, tell a friend.
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Can We Improve the Air We Breathe?
March 13th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Vancouver Real Estate
Yes! The amount of greenhouse gases in the air we breathe has risen steadily for 200 years.
In Vancouver we have pretty clean air, but we can always improve. A practical solution is to go carbon neutral by planting trees.
Tree Canada can help - people, companies and organizations. Their website says, on average, 98 trees capture and store one tonne of airborne carbon dioxide every year. If you visit their website, you can use their carbon calculator and learn how many trees must be planted to offset the carbon dioxide you produce.
Tree Canada is a charitable organization that partners with local volunteers to improve our quality of life by planting and caring for trees in our neighbourhoods and schoolyards. Let’s plant a tree!
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Who’s Generating Billions in Eco-Business to Vancouver’s Economy?
March 12th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Real Estate News, Vancouver Real Estate
10,000 Green entrepreneurs, policy-makes to converge on Vancouver March 12-14 at Vancouver Convention Centre
John Wiebe, President-CEO of Globe Foundation is confident Vancouver will emerge as “the capital for environmental services for the world” when he welcomes 10,000 of the world’s biggest environmental entrepreneurs next week. Vancouver is “being recognized around the world as the place to come every two years”. This is the 10th conference and trade show.
Vancouver is the recipient of about $20 million in benefits to the economy and the last event brought in $645 million in business. There will be representatives from about 80 countries.
People go where the jobs are and real estate is a recipient of a healthy job market.
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What is Geothermal Heating?
February 27th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Vancouver Real Estate
Buying a new condo? Geothermal heating will save you money.
Geothermal heating uses renewable energy and emits no greenhouse gases. It creates 75% less emissions than electric heating.
Solar energy is absorbed at the earth’s surface, from there it can warm the air. It is also transported downwards into the earth by conduction and washed downwards by rainfall. As you dig deeper into the earth the temperature becomes more and more stable until it approaches the temperature of well water…about 10 degrees C year round. This is called a geothermal reservoir. We then pump the heat by using a refrigeration unit to extract heat from the reservoir and supply it to the house or hot water. This is called a geothermal heat pump system.
This is the choice of Vancouver condo developers at present. I think the Shangri-la was the first pre-sale I remember offering geothermal heating.
Know of any other geothermal buildings? - Cielo, Donovan, Mantra, Lumen
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Vancouver Home & Garden Show Energy Saving Ideas
February 21st, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Vancouver Events, Vancouver Real Estate
Vancouver Home & Garden Show displays lots of ‘green’ ideas.
BC Hydro are offering Power Smart Mail-in Rebates for purchase of the following:
outdoor timers, dual rate energy meter, 8 outlet power bar with timer, UPM programmable thermostats, UPM 7 day programmable low voltage thermostat, touchscreen programmable thermostat.
In addition, Powersmart offer these tips to save energy: turn off the lights when you leave a room. Unplug your cell phone charger when charging is complete. Turn off your computer and printer when they’re not in use. Turn off your TV, DVD player and stereo when they’re not in use. Look for the ENERGY STAR symbol when choosing electronic appliances. Replace incandescent bulbs with energy efficient CFLs. Turn down your thermostat 1 degree. Wash your clothes in cold water.
They also offer a list of “No-Cost Options” and “Low-Cost Options” (under $50) to save energy.
Visit BC Hydro for more details on the above and all PowerSmart programs.
Have an energy saving tip you’d like to share with us?
Or found another Green idea at the Home
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What is Geo-Thermal Heating?
February 6th, 2008 Categories: Green Condos, Vancouver Real Estate
Buying a new condo? Geothermal heating will save you money.
Geothermal heating uses renewable energy and emits no greenhouse gases. It creates 75% less emissions than electric heating.
Solar energy is absorbed at the earth’s surface, from there it can warm the air. It is also transported downwards into the earth by conduction and washed downwards by rainfall. As you dig deeper into the earth the temperature becomes more and more stable until it approaches the temperature of well water…about 10 degrees C year round. This is called a geothermal reservoir. We then pump the heat by using a refrigeration unit to extract heat from the reservoir and supply it to the house or hot water. This is called a geothermal heat pump system.
This is the choice of Vancouver condo developers at present. I think the Shangri-la was the first pre-sale I remember offering geothermal heating.
Know of any other geothermal buildings? - Cielo, Donovan, Mantra, Lumen
| Discussion: No Comments »
