One of our most common energy efficiency questions comes from people with boilers or electric baseboard heating: How can they upgrade to a new system if there is no ductwork in their house? Ductwork can be costly and destructive to install in a home renovation. Central air-source heat pump units require ductwork to be able to heat and cool a home. A central unit could replace a natural gas furnace.  The most common heat pump solution for replacing a boiler is a type of heat pump made to work without ductwork. These models are called ductless air source heat pumps (also known as mini-spli ..read more

Birds are such fascinating creatures. As an environmentalist and a photographer, I am always raving about the wildlife there is to see in Waterloo and how diverse the bird species are in the area. Along with their gorgeous plumage and unique calls, birds are also an integral part in our ecosystem, which is why it’s important to monitor local and global bird populations. Birding is an activity that some people take very seriously, but everyone can take part in the experience casually, especially this coming-weekend. February 17th to the 20th is the Great Backyard Bird Count, an annual progra ..read more

Saving energy can be tough when you don’t have the ability to make big changes to your home. Tenants may be stuck with a rickety stove, gas heating or inefficient appliances. With that in mind, we’ve put together ten tips for tenants to save energy, reduce their emissions and save money. These tips focus on things that tenants can usually control. Many of them are low-cost or free, and will result in lower utility bills. 1. Know where your impact comes from. Project Neutral is an online tool that helps you measure your carbon footprint and make commitments to lower it. This tool can b ..read more

Our household is on a mission to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from operating our home. In doing so, we are helping to build a climate-safe future and demonstrating how every home can become a low carbon home.   In part 1, I outlined how we reduced our total annual energy demand by performing energy efficiency upgrades.   In part 2, I detailed how we moved off gas by adopting a cold climate heat pump that also reduced our energy use, reduced our emissions, and made our home more comfortable.   To achieve zero emissions, our home must generate e ..read more

There are significant, long lasting and extremely harmful environmental changes being considered and enacted by the provincial government. One thing is clear: now is the time to be alert and take action.  We owe a huge thanks to volunteer advocates in our community like the Grand River Environment Network (GREN) and 50×30 WR who are mobilizing the fight against Bill 23 and the Greenbelt changes. Environmental and professional organizations have also come out strongly against changes to the Greenbelt that would sacrifice pristine natural areas. While the government argues these changes wi ..read more

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What do batteries, toothpaste tubes and old shirts have in common? None of them can go in your blue bin — but they can be recycled! If you know where to look, common “waste” items can go to a new home or be recycled using special programs. The map embedded above shows locations in Waterloo Region where you can drop off items that are not accepted in curbside waste collection. From thrift stores that take old clothing to community recycling hubs, we have mapped out the places where you can contribute to the circular economy in Waterloo Region.  The circular economy includes conventional ..read more

Every year during the Zero Waste Challenge, we get the same question: how  do I get *insert pet name here* to go zero-waste?  Helping our furry friends go low waste is more important than ever. According to experts, pet treat and food packaging alone produces more than 300 million tons of non-recyclable waste every year in the United States. While trying to go zero waste with pets seems daunting, it is actually very doable! Check out three tips below that will help your pet go zero waste with you: Tip #1: DIY Your Pet's Toys The great part about pets is that they are us ..read more

Every year during the Zero Waste Challenge, we get the same question: how  do I get *insert pet name here* to go zero-waste?  Helping our furry friends go low waste is more important than ever. According to experts, pet treat and food packaging alone produces more than 300 million tons of non-recyclable waste every year in the United States. While trying to go zero waste with pets seems daunting, it is actually very doable! Check out three tips below that will help your pet go zero waste with you: Tip #1: DIY Your Pet's Toys The great part about pets is that they are us ..read more

Before Oliver was born, I had all kinds of grand plans about reducing waste. I vowed our first child would be warmly welcomed into a world of second-hand everything, coddled in reusable diapers, and cleaned with low-waste eco-friendly reusable cloths. We dreamed would float gently through babyhood, nary a wasted scrap of paper in sight.  Well, as the saying goes, no good plan survives contact with King Baby. Once the poop and barf start flying, and survival mode kicks in, you do what works.  Along the way, we have managed to keep the waste to a dull roar. Here are a few tips from a ..read more